But sometimes an artistic vision is so clear, you can\u2019t settle for anything less.<\/p>\n
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Janson Rapisarda, a Wisconsin-based artist, flips through renderings for the mural.<\/p>\n
TARA MONASTESSE \u2014 THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE<\/p>\n
\u201cThe original call actually called for this space right here,\u201d Rapisarda said, gesturing to a smaller section of the wall on the mural\u2019s left-hand side. \u201cBut I felt like it would mesh the architecture better\u2026 to just cover the entire space.\u201d<\/p>\n
He and his wife, Katie Batten \u2014 who\u2019s been assisting with logistics \u2014 estimate the finished product will be roughly 65 feet tall and 120 feet across. Or, as Batten jokes: \u201cToo big by too big.\u201d<\/p>\n
A celebration of the wildlife and outdoor adventure that\u2019s abundant in the Berkshires, the mural depicts a landscape rife with the brilliant colors you might see unfurling around you during an ambitious hike. Against a backdrop of soaring mountain peaks, fiery sunsets and verdant foliage, there\u2019s plenty of animals local residents might have glimpsed in their backyards: a bobcat, a red-winged blackbird, a black bear.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also plenty of humanity, like a canoer paddling towards a waterfall and a pair of cyclists\u00a0pedaling towards the horizon. It also includes a baseball player mid-swing, presumably about to crack a home run ball into the stratosphere \u2014 a nod to the city\u2019s strong ties to the sport.<\/p>\n
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The artist\u2019s personal favorite section of the mural is\u00a0on the east-facing section, visible even from Park Square. It depicts a heron flying past a vivid orange sunset, gliding along on grey wings tipped with soft blue.<\/p>\n Besides the words \u201cWelcome to Pittsfield\u201d stretching across the piece, Rapisarda said he wanted the mural\u2019s aesthetic to feel unique to the city\u2019s history and energy.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a huge mural and a lot of color,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I really wanted to make sure that, if I’m going to be doing that, that it aligns with the area and really aligns with what people are interested in here.\u201d<\/p>\n Downtown Pittsfield’s latest mural, which spans the side of 7 North St., is the city’s largest so far.<\/p>\n TARA MONASTESSE \u2014 THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE<\/p>\n Expected to be completed\u00a0sometime next week, the mural acts as a vibrant aesthetic jolt to the historic Berkshire Life Insurance Co. Building, which today houses apartment units, the District Attorney\u2019s Office and several businesses.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the latest project supported through the Let It Shine! Public Art Partnership<\/a>, a mosaic of local organizations and foundations dedicated to funding public art projects. The mural was funded by Downtown Pittsfield Inc.<\/a> and the Mill Town Foundation, among other backers, with money from MassDevelopment through its TDI Creative Catalyst Grant.<\/p>\n City officials and community members, including Let It Shine! partners, came together Friday to celebrate the mural\u2019s debut with a ribbon cutting.<\/p>\n Janson Rapisarda, a Wisconsin-based artist, relies on a work van well-stocked with paint to produce his mural.<\/p>\n TARA MONASTESSE \u2014 THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE<\/p>\n Born in Springfield, Rapisarda said he spent much of his childhood in the Berkshires and still returns often to visit family in the area. Though he\u2019s completed over 50 murals across the country, he never expected to be able to return to Western Massachusetts for such an ambitious project \u2014 but he\u2019s glad it worked out that way.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s really cool to come back,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I think that was the biggest reason why I wanted to go so big, too. It’s where I’m from.\u201d<\/p>\n
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