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Artist Chuck Tingley adds color to his work on Main Street in Niagara Falls.
Stopped by the growing mural on the side of the Connections Building at 1700 Main St. Saturday around lunchtime Saturday.
Artist Chuck Tingley was busy with his lift airbrushing large partitions of the mural.
“We were here late Thursday on the projection night,” he said. “We didn’t leave until 3 a.m.. I took Friday off.”
Tyshaun Tyson, another artist of note, was there with Tingley on projection night.
The mural is progressing nicely. Tingley explained the process has multiple steps.
1) Create the design.
2) Prime the work surface (it’s white)
3) Project the image on the wall.
4) Stencil the outline of the image (that was the night work).
5) Airbrush the large colors.
6) Finish with spray paint.
I don’t know what comes next but I will keep stopping and documenting Tingley’s work. It should take about two weeks.
The Connections program caters to teens offering a wholesome, accepting environment. Kids are there every day in a mostly desolate stretch of Main Street stained by empty promises and forgotten dreams.
The project is one of several “artivism” efforts going on in Niagara Falls – It started with the murals by the train station, continued with painting the plywood in the bridge district and even extends to Heart, Love & Soul and the Prophet Isaiah House as well as cataloging and preserving the Polly King collection.
The whole art storm is attributable to the National Heritage Area which is in part funded by federal money thanks to legislation shepherded through the House and Senate and signed into law earlier this year by President Biden under the guidance of Sarah Capen. Funding for the nation's 62 National Heritage Areas for the next 15 years. The Heritage area also benefits from the Niagara County bed tax, operating the Underground Railroad Museum and the Discover Niagara Shuttle.
