Anyone driving or walking behind the Museum of Science and Technology in Armory Square is now greeted by a colorful 455-foot-long mural along the elevated railroad bridge.
“This is truly transformational, not just for this wall, but for the neighborhood,” MOST President Lauren Kochian said. “The difference that this makes for the children that come here, the visitors to Armory Square and downtown Syracuse.”
The mural is called “Powered by Wonder,” and was designed and painted by artist Tommy Lincoln. Much of the work was done by more than 100 volunteers during the United Way of CNY’s Day of Caring last month.
“Tommy Lincoln and the Stay Fresh team put in probably 420 plus hours themselves,” United Way of CNY President Nancy Eaton said. “And then Tommy sort of roped in all his artist friends to say, come on, you have to come over here and help us paint this gigantic mural.”
Tommy Lincoln said the plans go back almost a decade, but lack of funding kept it from becoming a reality. But the United Way and vendors stepped up with volunteers and supplies. Lincoln said the design is intended to flow the length of the wall.
“Everything is coming from prism at the front of the mural,” he said. “You see an astronaut going through space. You see the sun beaming array down to a scientist who's holding a prism, which then blasts this rainbow both in the background and in the foreground across the entire wall.”
If you look closely, the mural incorporates elements unique to Syracuse, including the shot clock, Brannock foot measuring device, and Lipe Gears. More than 130 gallons of paint were needed to create the mural, which is one of the largest in the city.
EDITOR'S NOTE: United Way of CNY is a financial supporter of WAER.
