WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — Visit Buffalo, a local tourism organization, is starting a series of murals throughout Erie County to combine art with community spirit.
“Each one will take on the community, the village, or the neighborhood’s unique personality and vibe, but together these murals will all be like a trail of visual postcards across the county,” said Patrick Kaler, the president and CEO of Visit Buffalo.
The first mural of the series can be found on Main Street in Williamsville.
“This mural is more than just paint on brick, it’s a celebration of Williamsville’s character, it’s history and it’s community pride,” said Steven Meyer, a trustee on the Williamsville Village Board. “It’s a celebration of Williamsville’s story and how our story fits into the broader story of Western New York.”
Visit Buffalo worked with local legislature and local businesses to receive community input on what to add to the mural.
“I think that murals and public artwork are meant to engage us in dialogue, and it’s really wonderful to be able to be a part of such a large project that will spark conversation throughout all of Western New York,” said James “Yames” Moffitt.
Buffalo-based Moffit is the artist of the mural and will continue to contribute to more murals with Visit Buffalo.
He said the mural has a Ferris wheel to represent Williamsville’s Old Home Days, and that he learned more about the old amusement park that was once at Glen Falls Park. Moffit said he’s excited to discover more about Erie County.
“Erie County is so vast and I think it would be really wonderful to be able to learn things about these places that I visited throughout my childhood that I only know through my own experience,” said Moffitt. “So, it will be really wonderful to have similar experiences like I did here where I can see these areas through other people’s lenses.”
Visit Buffalo is looking for more mural space in Erie County, and are giving priority to walkable districts. To submit a suggestion, you can email them at info@visitbuffaloniagara.com.
Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.
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