Background

Muralgarten’s goal is to become a world class, year-round tourist attraction that combines murals, history panels, sculpture and native landscaping. Located in a former industrial area bounded by Cooper, Lawrence, Maple and Leonard Streets, Muralgarten will be a transformational catalyst in the most economically disadvantaged section of the City of Glens Falls and the wider region.

During the next several years, approximately 30 murals will be placed on the sides of the buildings and other surfaces in the former D&H rail yard area of the block to create the feel of a piazza. The murals, curated by Muralgarten board members, will be carefully selected based on the excellence of muralists’ ideas and prior portfolio of work.

To keep the venue fresh a portion of the murals will be changed on a regular basis. Surfaces such as boundary fences and shipping containers will be considered for these purposes. Over time we plan to add another 80 murals on these structures. A plaque installed at each mural will list the title, artist, year of completion, and a link to a website with more detailed information about the artist and project.

Giving muralists complete artistic control is a key Muralgarten principle, for we believe this approach will result in greater artist investment, superior execution and more engaging designs. Muralgarten will place no constraints on a muralist's creativity except that the imagery may not be violent or offensive.

Site Planning

Fred Holman, who has experience designing the layout for the 1980 Olympics as well as spaces such as zoos, has started to do conceptual design work for the Muralgarten site. He has considered event and parking requirements to develop a plan that allows for the natural exploration of the area. The buildout would include fencing, free standing panels, and containers that have been installed horizontally or vertically to serve as mural surfaces.

While some foot traffic areas will be turf, the landscaping will be mainly native plants, which require lower levels of maintenance, while providing refuge and sustenance for local pollinators. Informational signage will explain the importance of plant species to pollinators. A butterfly garden has already been established along the South facing wall of Rock Hill Bakehouse.

Local History

To provide context for the industrial setting of Muralgarten, the project also will include outdoor interpretive panels that explore the history of the D&H railroad through Glens Falls as well as the history of The Shirt Factory and other nearby buildings. The panels, distributed strategically throughout the site, will include links to the Muralgarten website for additional information.

Fundraising

While waiting for federal 501(c)3 designation, Muralgarten partnered with Community Action on grant applications for murals on their buildings. The Touba Family Foundation supplied partial funding for the storefront face of 190 Maple. The New York State Council on the Arts provided a Community Project grant through LARAC to partially fund a mural on the face of the garage at 188 Maple. Muralgarten also applied for Warren County Occupancy Tax funding through the City of Glens Falls.