When the Beautiful Blight Project was conceived its goal had been to install painted plywood over missing windows in a neglected building while tidying up the yard. Team leaders had been working with the City of Hartford to make this happen, but the first choice of a structure on Garden Street was said to have entered the sale process, so that was nixed.
It was important for the project to materialize in the neighborhood where most of the artists could see their work, so the next thought was to install the panels on a building on High Street across from the public safety complex. Everything looked good to go, until the City said that the group would need to be insured.
Community partners had completed their end of the deal, so instead of waiting indefinitely, the Beautiful Blight Project showed off the paintings in Keney Park on Monday afternoon.
Murals were designed and painted by a number of individuals and organizations, including Our Piece of the Pie, Global Communications Academy, Clark Elementary School, Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary School, Joseph Anthony, Olof Aspelin, and Claire Cronkhite.
Sponsors of this project have included the Mutual Housing Association of Greater Hartford, Home Depot, Hartford Baking Co., Wood n Tap, and Black Bamboo.
Project leaders Cesar Aleman, Max Condren, Saige Dupont, Aaron Frankel, and Yimary Rodgers remain hopeful that these panels will be displayed in a blighted building at a future date.
