Building a Better Boyertown hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony this past weekend to unveil the stunning new Unity Mural, which graces the exterior of Rita’s Water Ice at 309 E. Philadelphia Avenue in Boyertown.
The event took place on Saturday, October 14th and was attended by a diverse crowd that came to witness the artwork’s grand reveal. Mayor Lori Carnes had the honor of cutting the ribbon, officially dedicating the mural to the Boyertown community.
The creation of this vibrant mural was a result of the artistic talents of Chris B. Murray, who brought the mural to life using special artist-grade spray paint. Chris was awarded the opportunity to work on this project after winning Building a Better Boyertown’s mural contest earlier in the year.
The journey to this new mural began after the unfortunate vandalism of the previous artwork in the fall of 2021. Building a Better Boyertown, along with several community partners, formed a diverse committee to reimagine the mural’s design. The committee sought to create a mural that would not only represent Boyertown as a welcoming community but also promote kindness and unity. To find the perfect design, they organized a public design contest, which attracted twenty submissions from both amateur and professional artists, aged 15 and up.
After careful consideration, the committee narrowed the selection down to the top three designs that aligned with the contest’s goals. The final decision was left to the public, who cast their votes for their favorite design. Chris’ Boyertown bear-themed creation emerged as the winner. Interestingly, Chris had ties to Boyertown, as his wife, Emily Jensen, grew up in the area and graduated from Boyertown Area High School in 2006.
The creation of this mural was truly a community effort. PA Industrial Equipment of Boyertown donated a scissor lift, allowing Chris to reach the entire 17′ x 35′ wall. Willow House Paints of Gilbertsville generously provided the exterior primer and anti-graffiti coating. Martignetti Construction Company, Inc. contributed their time and materials to create a stable platform for the lift to operate on. Furthermore, Blick Art Materials of Allentown offered discounted specialty artist spray paint, which Chris expertly used to bring the mural to life.
Building a Better Boyertown expressed its excitement at having such a vibrant and fun piece of public art in the heart of Boyertown. This mural symbolizes the unity and inclusivity that the community values.
