PHOTOS: Batavia Welcomes New Downtown Art Murals

Batavia has some new additions to its outdoor art collection, and you won't have any trouble finding them.

Six murals were installed this fall along downtown Water Street as part of the Batavia Public Mural Program. The artworks depict everything from the fish in the Fox River to actual residents in a larger-than-life format.

Five of the murals are mounted on the west side of the building, 180 S. Water St. One of the murals is located just north of , 12 S. Water St.

A ceremony was held Saturday afternoon at , 160 S. Water St., to formally introduce the six artists who each created a mural. They are:

• Penny Boedigheimer
• Patricia Davoust
• Joseph Gagnepain
• Claire E. Sychta

A five-member jury selected these artists from a group of 40 who submitted mural designs. Artists applied over the summer and completed their work in time for the fall unveiling.

"I know it was a really quick turnaround to do these murals, and they're very beautiful," Joi Cuartero said to a group of about 70 people at the ceremony. Cuartero is the Executive Director of Batavia MainStreet, the Art Director of Water Street Studios and one of its founders.

Officials and residents hope the murals go a long way towards keeping Batavia's art scene thriving, and that the outdoor art becomes another destination in town for visitors.

Putting It Together

Cuartero thanked the city of Batavia and Batavia Enterprises for helping to fund the project.

The city and Batavia Enterprises each contributed roughly half of the $20,000 cost to complete the program. The Batavia City Council in the summer for its share of the project.

All six artists received $2,000 and a prominent place to display their work.

"It's a great opportunity to be recognized as an artist ... and to be recognized by Batavia Enterprises, Water Street and the City of Batavia," said Penny Boedigheimer, one of the mural artists.

Boedigheimer's mural, titled "Police Squad Car Light," depicts the red and blue lights on top of a squad in a fluid motion.

In her artist statement, she says:

“I have been a police officer for over 10 years. Finding ways to use my job and my life experiences in my art is, of course, a challenge, but one of the greatest challenges for me as an artist is to take an object or idea and create something new and different that will make the viewer see the world from a unique point of view … mine.”

 Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke said the project goes a long way toward completing a goal of Batavia artist Marge Rundle many decades ago.

Rundle lived on Water Street and said local artists needed to make their work more visible to the community.

"How pleased she'd be to see the artwork on the street," Schielke said.

More on the Murals

The murals weigh 270 lbs. each and five of them are mounted 25 ft. in the air. on the Pamarco Building.

The mural next to Enticing Cuisine is on the ground level and for good reason—it's interactive.

"We Are Batavia" depicts 21 different people that represent the city—students, emergency responders and people from various occupations. In the center of mural is a shadowed outline with the words "You Stand Here!" painted in the middle.

Claire Sychta, a 15-year-old sophomore at , created the mural. As a resident, she is especially excited to be part of the city Mural Project.

"It's fun to pass by it and be able to say that I painted it," Sychta said. "It's kind of like giving back to Batavia, and it's nice to see so many people pass by and smile. It's a really special feeling to be part of this (project)."

Supporters hope to add more murals to the city in the future.