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"Freedom is to define one’s reality without constriction."

Artist: Jalen Law
Depicting Calvin "Pop" Porter

"Freedom is the right to be yourself."

Artist: LaShonda Davis
Depicting Uhuru Love

“Freedom is absolute happiness!”

Artist: Princessa Williams
Depicting John Lewis

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nfmurals

Our Niagara Falls National Heritage Area is seekin

Our Niagara Falls National Heritage Area is seeking four artists to paint murals on Main Street and Depot Avenue in Niagara Falls, NY onsite of our Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center. The NF Murals Project on Main Street & Depot Avenue is entering its fourth mural making phase following the completion of sixteen murals to date since 2019. Murals feature stories of freedom and champions of change in the Highland Community of Niagara Falls.

Artists are invited to submit their qualifications for consideration. Upon selection, chosen artists will be given a set for the project and supplied the materials necessary to complete one mural each. Artists will work with the project team and with the community to develop the concepts of the murals.

To be considered, artists are required to complete an application and submit all necessary materials by Friday, June 17, 2022. Details can be found on our website: https://nfmurals.org/call-for-artists

Artists can apply at this Google form link: Link in Bio

It's officially spring, and while it might take th

It's officially spring, and while it might take the weather a little while to get the memo, we're excited for warmth & sun because that means perfect days for strolling around Niagara Falls & exploring our murals! The start of new mural projects is just around the corner! 🎨

📸: @alanadetolarts_photography

#murals #art #spring

"I never ran my train off the track and I never lo

"I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger."

It's Harriet Tubman Day! This year marks the Bicentennial celebration of the birth of the "Moses of her people" 200 years ago. After escaping from slavery, Tubman returned south numerous times to lead other enslaved individuals to freedom. Up for a road trip? There are plenty of places in the northeast that serve as historical markers to tell her story and honor her legacy!

1. The @niagarafallsugrr - Niagara Falls was the vital "last stop" of the Underground Railroad. You can actually see the remains of the suspension bridge that Harriet Tubman crossed as she led other freedom seekers to safety in Canada from the Heritage Center. Outside of the Heritage Center is an absolutely stunning mural by artist @MadonnaPannell called "Harriet Tubman: A Light of Hope" (pictured).
2. Speaking of murals, the "Take My Hand" @HarrietTubmanMural by Michael Rosato and the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center located in her hometown of Cambridge, Maryland, can't be missed.
3. A traveling statue of Harriet Tubman sculpted by Wesley Wofford was unveiled in Philadelphia earlier this year and is located outside of City Hall through the end of March.
4. Tubman Park in Boston's South End features a 10-foot bronze statue by Fern Cunningham.
5. The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Church Creek, Maryland, allows park visitors to explore exhibits or take the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway that winds for 125 miles and explores the places she was born, lived, labored, and eventually fled from.
6. The @HarrietTubmanMuseum in Cape May, New Jersey, is another great spot to check out.

📸: @alanadetolarts___photography

#HarrietTubman #Moses #UndergroundRailroad #KnowYourHistory

Happy International Women's Day! We're proud to sh

Happy International Women's Day! We're proud to showcase our talented female muralists whose visions have beautified our city and many times, brought attention to and told the stories of important women in Niagara Falls' history.

🎨: @art_ashleykay,@dope_art_by_princessa, @nat.museum , @sarazakart , @madonnapannell, @artbymircatsmind, Imani Williamson, @lashonda.studio, @abigailleepenfold
📸: @alanadetolarts___photography

#InternationalWomensDay #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInArt #FemaleArtists #NFMurals

The bicentennial of Harriet Tubman's birth and her

The bicentennial of Harriet Tubman's birth and her connection to Niagara Falls will be celebrated Thursday evening at the @niagarafallsugrr.

Be sure to check out artist Madonna Pannell's stunning "Harriet Tubman: A Light of Hope" mural while you're there! Photo by @alanadetolarts___photography.

Register for the "Echoes of Moses" event here: https://www.niagarafallsundergroundrailroad.org/event/echoes-of-moses-celebration/

Thank you for following as we celebrated local bla

Thank you for following as we celebrated local black muralists for Black History Month! We live Black history every day here, and we are proud to share stories of our community and ancestors through murals and public art. These artists' vision and talent illuminate our city.

Take the time to follow local Black artists, go see their work, support their businesses and share with others.

There's a lot more public art coming this spring in Niagara Falls. Stay tuned!

🎨: @art_ashleykay @edreys @lfthandedbandit @lashonda.studio @dope_art_by_princessa @madonnapannell @artbymircatsmind

📸: @alanadetolarts___photography

#MoreThanJustFebruary #KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals

Upon meeting John Lewis' family and studying his h

Upon meeting John Lewis' family and studying his history, Buffalo artist Princessa Williams (@dope_art_by_princessa) chose this specific image and quote, "Enjoy this day that God has given us," because it spoke to her not only as an artist, but as a woman of color - which she is first.

"'Enjoy this day that God has given us' speaks to his involvement in the lunch counter sit-in and the freedom rides on the interstate buses. Not to mention, he was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington," she said.

Princessa is the owner and operator of Princessa's Studio & Art Gallery on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo.

🎨: @dope_art_by_princessa

#KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals #BlackHistoryMonth

Princessa Williams' mural depicts the late John Le

Princessa Williams' mural depicts the late John Lewis, an American politician and leading civil rights activist who encouraged people to get into "good trouble." Princessa is an artist from Buffalo who works with paint to create illustrations that express emotions and to bring history and culture to life.

“As an artist, I work hard to develop paintings that speak to both myself and others about culture and emotion with influences from everyday life, history and worldly events," she said.

#KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals #BlackHistoryMonth

🎨: @dope_art_by_princessa

Madonna Pannell is an artist who was born and rais

Madonna Pannell is an artist who was born and raised in Niagara Falls. In 2018, she received her B.F.A in Studio Arts with a minor in Art History at the Rochester Institute of Technology and an A.S. in Business Administration at Niagara County Community College.

Before completing her "Harriet Tubman: A Light of Hope" mural in 2019, Madonna completed a mural in Niagara Falls’ Art Alley in 2016. When she isn’t creating artistic works, she works full-time as an accountant.

📷: @alanadetolarts___photography

#KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals #BlackHistoryMonth

This year marks the bicentennial celebration of Ha

This year marks the bicentennial celebration of Harriet Tubman’s birth, and she is immortalized in Niagara Falls thanks to the lovely “Harriet Tubman: A Light of Hope” mural by Madonna Pannell.

Harriet Tubman remains an inspirational figure, especially for underserved and overlooked communities. Madonna made Tubman's portrait the primary focus in her piece and overlooking the Niagara region, which was the last stop to freedom on the Underground Railroad, as well as an area that meant hope and freedom for so many.

In the mural, Tubman wears a red headscarf in stark contrast to the surrounding scene. Her face is framed by a blue and yellow stained glass brick pattern and halo, often seen in religious artworks, alluding to Tubman’s nickname, “Moses.” To the left is a scene of silhouetted escapees being led by a younger Harriet Tubman figure through a silhouetted forest. The forest and the figures lead us to the right of the portrait, where an exaggerated abstract scene displays the historic Suspension Bridge and Niagara Falls in the distance below.

📷: @alanadetolarts___photography

#KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals #BlackHistoryMonth

Edreys Wajed‘s mother and father are both artist

Edreys Wajed‘s mother and father are both artists — in fact, they met at the art department of Buffalo State when they were in college. So, naturally, art has always been a big part of Edreys’ life. It’s how he expressed himself growing up, as he painted on hats, jean jackets, canvas, and more throughout high school and college.

As an adult, Edeys’s focus was on graphic design, as well as black and white and portraiture. He eventually evolved into working with acrylic paints on canvas. He first mural was came to life when he was working as a substitute teacher at School #74 and created a mural on one of the school’s hallway walls. More recently, in 2017, he worked on the Freedom Wall with Albright-Knox. His John "Spider" Martin mural with NF Murals was his largest up to that point.

🎨: @edreys
📷: @alanadetolarts___photography

#KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals #BlackHistoryMonth

Edreys Wajed completed the John "Spider" Martin mu

Edreys Wajed completed the John "Spider" Martin mural in 2019 to honor the prodigal musician.

Edreys wants this mural to remind people of the importance of recognizing their own — of honoring the giants among us, whether living or otherwise. John “Spider” Martin toured with the likes of Miles Davis and other famous musicians of his day, but is still relatively unknown in his own hometown.

#KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals #BlackHistoryMonth

Imani Williamson has been involved in the fine art

Imani Williamson has been involved in the fine arts for a long time. She attended Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts and went to Daemen College, where she first studied animation and then switched to illustration. The Historic Cataract House mural is her first. Usually, she's focused on smaller scale drawings and paintings.

She specializes in both traditional and digital mediums, but she especially enjoys working with acrylics. Signatures of her work include vibrant colors as well as spiritual elements such as rays of sun, halos, stars, planets, and eyes.

#KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals #BlackHistoryMonth

We got to check out @lfthandedbandit’s amazing a

We got to check out @lfthandedbandit’s amazing artwork at the grand opening of the new Cataract House restaurant in Niagara Falls this evening! Art, food and history on display - get there ASAP to see (and taste) for yourself!

With the new Cataract House Restaurant & Academy's

With the new Cataract House Restaurant & Academy's grand opening this evening, it's the perfect day to feature artist Imani Williamson's mural paying tribute to the Historic Cataract House and the Black waiters there who led double lives as secret Underground Railroad agents.

When Williamson was first scheduled to create a mural, she went to the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center for a tour, which is where she learned about the Historic Cataract House. She instantly felt the community should know more about this important place and the waitstaff there who helped countless freedom seekers escape to safety in Canada.

Are you signed up for the grand opening of the new

Are you signed up for the grand opening of the new Cataract House Restaurant & Academy tomorrow evening yet?

This new space will use visuals, art and food to connect people to the stories of the Black waiters at the historic Cataract House, who led double lives as secret Underground Railroad agents.

The restaurant will also be a micro gallery, featuring artwork by @lfthandedbandit to kick things off!

It’s going to be a fun evening, and even if you can’t make it Friday, be sure to stop by after it’s open for some good eats from Chef Bobby Anderson from @hellskitchenfox and his @fbites_org crew!

For her “Women Empowerment” mural, artist Amir

For her “Women Empowerment” mural, artist Amira Moore was inspired by the women around her — women of all ages, sexualities, ethnicities, religions, income levels, etc. She wanted the piece to honor the achievements of women, the courage it takes to stand up for what you believe, and the power that comes from women rising up together. The colors Amira used were strategically chosen. For example, the pinks and purples are traditionally feminine colors, while a variety of skin-tone shades and the colors of the LGBTQ+ rainbow symbolize harmony among all women and the celebration of their differences.

#KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals #BlackHistoryMonth

Amira Moore has been an artist all her life, creat

Amira Moore has been an artist all her life, creating pieces even as a young child. She works in visual and digital art, and in her career has expanded to several different themes and mediums. Inspired by Black history and culture, she has created works depicting heroes such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman, as well as pieces honoring Black Lives Matter and gender equality movements. Amira mainly uses acrylic paints, but she also enjoys experimenting with oils and watercolors, and enjoys working in bright and vibrant colors. "Women Empowerment" was her first mural.

#KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals #BlackHistoryMonth

Tyshaun Tyson, aka “The Left-Handed Bandit,” i

Tyshaun Tyson, aka “The Left-Handed Bandit,” is an independent artist out of Buffalo who specializes in traditional and urban art. He's proficient in multiple mediums, including drawing, airbrushing, painting, photography and more.

Tyshaun has been an artist since he was a child. He went to Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts and then studied at Buffalo State, where he graduated in 2013 with a degree in art. After college, he started his own art business, The Left-Handed Bandit Artistic Services, based on a childhood nickname relating to the fact that he's left-handed. He created the "A Niagara Falls Love Story" mural in 2019, the Black Lives Matter mural in 2020 with fellow artist Ashley Kay, and is having his work displayed at the new Cataract House Restaurant & Academy's micro gallery beginning this Friday.

#KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals #BlackHistoryMonth

Happy Valentine's Day! What better mural to featur

Happy Valentine's Day! What better mural to feature than "A Niagara Falls Love Story," painted by Tyshaun Tyson.

For "A Niagara Falls Love story," Tyshaun was inspired by Charles B. Hayes, the first Black physician in Niagara Falls, and the work that he and his wife Alice did in the community. Dr. Hayes emigrated from Jamaica to New York City and made his way to Niagara Falls.

Tyshaun founded The Left-Handed Bandit Artistic Services in 2015.

#KnowYourHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #LoveBlackArtists #BlackArt #NFMurals #BlackHistoryMonth

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About the Initiative

The NF Murals project is part of Niagara Falls Heritage Arts, the public art initiative of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, made possible by a grant from the New York State Health Foundation.

Check out this season’s murals at Depot Avenue and Main Street in Niagara Falls, NY.

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