Start of mural week, 2022 (updated)

 Murals

Mural week officially kicks off on Monday, July18, but work began on a big mural for Ayda's on Friday. The artist goes by the name Mr. Toledo and he painted a small mural in Mural Week 2020.

Below was the sketch that was on the wall when I visited the Farmers Market on Saturday morning.

On Saturday afternoon I caught him working on it. It is going to be spectacular and its subject matter fits its location.

I decided to take a look at how past murals are holding up to age and weather. Paint is flaking off some, such as on the retaining wall by the river.

Water seeps through the cracks in that wall and is slowly damaging the mural.

Exfoliation of walls also causes problems that can be seen on the turtle on the wall of Janet's Kitchen.

I did not expect to see damage on the mural of the girl on the back of the Horton-Yallaly building because that wall looked sound, but there is some.

Some of the bricks on the wall with the scarlet ibis are crumbling.

There are lots of little problems with the bricks on the wall of eMbers venue.

The worst damage seems to be on the mural done by Christine Riutzel. She painted by brush rather with a spray can and I wonder if the paint was for some reason not compatible with the bricks.

As I was walking the alley taking these pictures, I found a little painting that I had not seen before. It is on what I think is an electrical box.

I look forward to watching what new murals we will get this week.

Update: Ayda's will get a second mural, a picture of a buffalo, on its back wall. The alley next to Frida's will be painted, but no walls. There are three murals planned for Remington.

Some other things

Rensselaer received much needed rain last week and the result should be increased plant growth.

On Saturday there was a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Foundation Park. I stopped by during warm-up.

The restroom at the park will be getting an extension for a handicapped-accessible bathroom. The below-surface pipes have been installed.

Work on the new lift station has now begun to dig for the foundation of the building.