Weybosset Facade Q&A: Amy Bartlett Wright

It’s hard to believe,  but last year’s Weybosset Facade Mural Residency artists, Amy Bartlett Wright and Sagie Vangelina are already looking towards the next installment of this unique public art project, done in partnership with Paolino Properties.  As we prepare to close out the one-year residency of their respective murals, “We Are One Flock” and “Young, Gifted & Black,” we caught up with the two artists about their experiences working in such a unique public space and what it means to make way for two new artists to keep this project going. Here is our conversation with Amy.

The Weybosset facade is such a unique “canvas,” so to speak. What was it like working on this project?
The Weybosset side offered an interesting challenge for me in that the brickwork could not be painted upon. For continuity of design, I wanted to break the interruption of the brick verticals between the window openings, so I made sculpted cut-out birds and painted those. I coated them with epoxy so they would be weather tight, then we attached them to the brick verticals through the masonry mortar joints. This provided the continuity I wanted and also brought a unique look in the combination of 3D and 2D painted mural.

How do you approach the decision of what to paint in such a high visibility location?
Many of my murals are similar in their visibility in well-trafficked areas. My murals feature natural history subjects which are non-denominational, yet can be symbolic, as these birds are.

How has the feedback from this project been?
I have heard many good comments about “We Are One Flock” online and through the community. And, of course, I am very proud and pleased to be connected to The Avenue Concept through this residency.

As you know, two new artists will participate in the Weybosset Facade Mural Residency later this summer, continuing the annual mural rotation at this site. Did knowing the work would be temporary change how you approached it?
Knowing the work is temporary meant I could try something new and that has been exciting.  The birds will come down this summer and I want to see how they held up after a year on display outdoors. I am certain I will want to incorporate sculpture such as this again in my mural painting.

What words of advice would you offer to the next two artists participating in the residency?
To do your best work and enjoy the exposure!