Murals give downtown Batavia a new look

It wasn’t just a feat of art that allowed five murals to be hung on a plain, tan building in downtown Batavia.

Hanging 275 pounds of art 25 feet off the ground on the side of a metal building from the 1940s also took the help of structural engineers and contractors.

But it was the art that was celebrated Saturday afternoon at a ceremony honoring six artists chosen to paint the murals, which were commissioned by Batavia Enterprises, Inc., in partnership with the city of Batavia, Water Street Studios, Batavia MainStreet and the Batavia Arts Council. #147;It#146;s really great for Batavia to have a public-private partnership like this to beautify downtown,#148; said Joi Cuartero, executive director of Batavia MainStreet, before she introduced the artists and their work to about 60 people gathered in Water Street Studios#146; main gallery. Work of five of the artists now hangs on the side of the Pamarco Global Graphics building, 180 Water St. #147;Windmill Capital of the World,#148; #147;Fish on the Fox,#148; #147;Police Squad Car Light,#148; #147;The Separation of Three#148; and #147;Batavia Through the Seasons#148; spice up the building#146;s tan metal siding with bright blues, shiny silvers and even a rainbow. #147;It#146;s a wonderful opportunity for any artist to have a mural commissioned,#148; said Patricia Davoust of Warrenville, a resident artist at Water Street Studios who created #147;Fish on the Fox#148; by crafting handmade, ceramic fish sculptures with the help of her daughter, Celeste, and affixing them to a background of bright blue water. The sixth mural, #147;We Are Batavia,#148; by 15-year-old Claire E. Sychta, a Batavia High School student, was hung on Water Street just south of Wilson Street. It#146;s at sidewalk level #8212; not 25 feet high #8212; because a plain black silhouette in the middle of the painting marked #147;YOU!#148; invites passers-by to pose for photos with the rest of the painted Batavia crowd.#147;We have begun the mission of putting the art out on the street,#148; Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke said. #147;This has blended so well into our short-term commitment and long-term commitment to art.#148;Artists had about five weeks to finish their pieces after being notified they were chosen, Davoust said.#147;It was a really quick turnaround to do these murals,#148; Cuartero said. #147;And they#146;re really beautiful.#148;