Vintage Peekskill Mural Brings Art Into the Public Sphere

The following was provided by artist Larry D'Amico:

The Vintage Peekskill Mural was conceptualized and co-created by mural artists Larry D’Amico and Sone Tower with over 50 Peekskill area residents from an antique postcard circa 1920. This exciting project grew out of an aspiration to bring locally themed art to public spaces in Peekskill, NY with a mix professional artists and the general population.  

There is a resonant interest in local history. The project was sponsored by the Field Library which has a long standing commitment to archiving local history.

This 12’x16’ mural (painted on plywood panels) was installed in mid-May in the center of the Peekskill’s Downtown Historic in Jan Peek Square; the corner of North Division St. & Central Ave.

An enlarged version of the postcard image was drawn out on the panels by the artists and painted in community workshops. This collaborative community sense ownership of the project. The people attending varied in skill levels from career artists to little or no experience painting. The range of mark making from this diverse group made for a lively and (with a good direction) cohesive result.

The project was funded in part by a NYSCA Arts Alive Grant through ArtsWestchester, the City of Peekskill, and hosted with generous support by the Field Library.