MuralFest is off and running
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
The history of Putnam took a giant step into the future with the recent kickoff of the MuralFest project.
And while the organizers begin their research, those interested in the murals project can help now. Organizer Elaine Turner said a bank account, MuralFest, is already set up at Jewett City Savings Bank and (tax deductible) donations are welcome. Some donations were collected during last week’s project kickoff, including a $10,000 donation from the Putnam Area Foundation.
She said all the money raised will go toward the project. If there’s any left over, it will go to mural maintenance.
In addition, general help is welcome and she asks folks to reach out by email (
The committee will also be reaching out to researcher Valentine Iamartino and the Aspinock Historical Society of Putnam to find historical events that will grace the murals.
Turner said the project involves historical murals painted on walls in Putnam — on a very grand scale. The town of Putnam partnered with the committee and applied to WallDogs, a group of professional mural artists, and was accepted. Only one in 200 applications to WallDogs is approved. She said a recommendation by Emilda Roller, a WallDogs muralist who worked on the MLK mural on the Hale YMCA, helped seal the deal for the town of Putnam.
The target date is in 2028, she said. Between now and then is a long list of tasks and research.
Turner said 52 people came to the introduction of the project last week, from all walks of life, businesses, Day Kimball, the VFW and more. “It was a very strong start,” she said. “Everyone is all in.”
In the next month or so Turner and the committee will be researching every aspect of the project — from the possible number of murals to the costs to the historical content of the murals. They will be heading to Keene, N.H., as that town recently completed a WallDogs project.
“I want to look at the nuts and bolts; I want to see the spreadsheets,” Turner said.
“Our goal is not set yet. We need to do more research,” she said, starting with the Keene trip this month. Following that the committee will be meeting with those people who showed an interest to keep everyone involved.
When the numbers and ideas become clearer a presentation to the town will be made.
“The important thing is we have to know we can raise enough money,” Turner said.
Costs depend on the number of private buildings that might be in the running. Town-owned buildings are a possibility as well. The search will be on for possible sites.
Traditionally with the WallDogs costs would include transportation to bring in the WallDogs muralists, lodging (some artists bring a camper to live in), food, supplies, portable rest rooms, scaffolding and lifts, ladders, permits and more. Stipends go to the WallDogs coordinator and to the mural team leader. Local artists will be taking part as well.
Artists do an artist’s rendition of how the mural would look and that gets approved. Then, Turner said, a prep team is sent first, making sure the chosen walls are ready for the artists. Then the artists descend on Putnam for a three-day flurry of painting murals.
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