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Image courtesy of Niagara Falls National Heritage Area
Image courtesy of Niagara Falls National Heritage Area

3 new murals complete for Niagara Falls Heritage Arts fall season

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Fri, Nov 20th 2020 05:05 pm

Niagara Falls Heritage Arts, the public art initiative of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, fall 2020 mural season is in full effect through “NF Murals.” The project connects the public with contemporary art, showcasing the area's rich heritage and culture. Three new murals are complete at the cross streets of Main and Depot Avenue in Niagara Falls for the public to enjoy.

A press release said, “ ‘NF Murals’ highlights the deeply rooted strength and pride of residents in the surrounding neighborhoods. A new logo has been designed to inspire the discovery of art and history, which ‘NF Murals’ shares with the public. They have also launched a new website at nfmurals.org dedicated to following the artists' process and the inspiration behind their mural concepts.”

“NF Murals” fall 2020 artist LaShonda Davis’ depiction of Uhuru Love is now complete. Love was born in Niagara Falls, and is a widely recognized artist known for her artwork exhibits in the 1960s.

“Uhuru's work stood for freedom, and that's why it meant so much for me to be a part of this project.” Davis said.

Another “NF Murals” fall artist, Jalen Law, has completed his mural of Calvin “Pop” Porter, a Niagara Falls boxer who made it to the American Olympics and went professional in 1982.

“My design is built with the intention of shedding light on Porter's life through intentionally using vibrant colors,” Law said. “When viewers see this mural, I want the colors to pull them into the portrait, to educate them on who 'Pop' was and what he means for the City of Niagara Falls.”

The third completed mural, titled “The Niagara Movement,” was created by Thomas Asklar and Matthew Conroy, both of whom are artists and educators who have collaborated on numerous projects. Their mural depicts scholar and activist, W. E. B. Du Bois, who led the Niagara Movement, a civil-rights group founded in 1905 near Niagara Falls.

“Du Bois gathered supporters on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls to form a movement dedicated to social and political change for African Americans,” Asklar said.

“NF Murals” will announce more completed murals in the coming weeks. Follow the artists’ work on Instagram, Facebook and nfmurals.org.

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