By Luca Gross
The Champlain Centre celebrates the Adirondacks and pollinators in a new mural.
The mall unveiled “Metamorphosis” a new mural by Outside Art: Plattsburgh Public Art Project on Saturday, Sept. 27.
The new mural features the Adirondack mountain range, Lake Champlain and several butterflies, including an interactive “selfie wall.”
According to the artists, the mural, which is located in the pollinator garden at the Northern entrance of the mall, celebrates Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks, as well as highlights the importance of pollinators.
Artist Amy Guglielmo, Town Supervisor Michael Cashman and Ally Baker, Champlain Centre Marketing Coordinator gave their remarks, thanked each other and the crowd before unveiling the mural.
Guglielmo reflected on the opportunity to return to the mall, an important third-space from her childhood, to paint a mural.
“It’s nice to come home to the mall, when the mall was first open I was on the Teen Corp I was the ultimate teen mall rat…I worked here, I came to the movies here, I grew up here so how cool is it to create a work of art here,” she said in her speech.
“And so it was a dream working with the mall…and my dream team I knew their style would be perfect for this, so we had a blast every single day, it was really so amazing that we got to do this.”
Guglielmo emphasized the importance of supporting local art.
“I am so grateful that the mall and the town recognize the value in art, because art matters,” Guglielmo said.
“When people see art, it’s welcoming, it brings people together, it builds community, it’s good for you and it’s good for the economy.”
Cashman called the event a “joy,” praising Amy Guglielmo, Giovanina Bucci and Abbie Duquette on their work bringing butterflies and the “natural beauty of the Lake Champlain region to life.”
“Public art like this makes a big difference in our community. It turns everyday places into something special and reminds us of the talent and creativity we have right here in the North Country,” he said.
Baker was pleased with the event’s turn out, which had a few surprise guests.
“It was a beautiful, sunny day, and we were even visited by some of our pollinator friends, a few monarch butterflies flew past … talk about an impactful scene,” Baker said.
Families came throughout the duration of the event to paint butterfly-themed artworks on mini-canvases and DJ Jamstar provided his musical services.
“We hope this mural reinforces to the community the mall’s commitment to bringing them fresh, valuable, engaging, and exciting experiences.” Baker said.
“We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Amy Guglielmo, Giovanina Bucci, and Abbie Duquette for lending their creative hands and working hard to bring this beautiful mural to fruition. They did an incredible job.”
