MuralFest Putnam secures 2028
for Walldog Mural Festival
PUTNAM — A historic public art project is coming to Putnam two years earlier than anticipated. Community organizers of MuralFest Putnam, who requested the date change, learned recently the Walldog Public Art Movement agreed to move the date of their planned mural painting festival from 2030 to June 2028.
“The room erupted with joy,” said MuralFest Putnam Community Coordinator Elaine Turner. “We’ve been working hard to show the Walldogs that our community is well-prepared for this project. Fortunately, they saw what we saw and awarded us the 2028 date as affirmation of that hard work. It’s a dream come true for us.”
A “walldog” is a historical term for a professional outdoor muralist or sign painter who often worked on tall buildings. The Walldogs are an internationally renowned movement of present-day sign and mural artists. Selected communities organize an annual festival where hundreds of artists descend upon a town to paint an agreed-upon number of murals over three to four days.
Walldog Founder Nancy Bennett, Walldog Jay Allen, and MuralFest Putnam Walldog Coordinator Emida Roller joined the meeting via Zoom. The announcement was made following a presentation by MuralFest Putnam Marketing & Communications Chair Linda Colangelo, who took the Walldogs on a virtual tour of Putnam.
“It was so important to show them the physical characteristics of our beautiful town, along with its passionate, festive vibe, commitment to public art, can-do spirit, and the warm, welcoming nature of our residents,” said Colangelo. “We quite literally put on the dog for the Walldogs, and it paid off.”
Nineteen committee members each spoke of their love for the Putnam community and their commitment to move the MuralFest Putnam project forward. The effort launched in May 2025 and has already raised $45,000 in private funds, attracted dozens of volunteers, and garnered commitments for building locations to display the murals. The Aspinock Historical Society has been vetting historic individuals and events that shaped Putnam’s history as subject matter for the murals.
MuralFest Putnam is a public art collaboration that welcomes sign painters and muralists from across the country and around the world, and engages local artists, supporters, businesses, organizations, donors, and the community-at-large. Plans call for Putnam’s rich history to be captured in a series of privately funded, stunning, storytelling murals.
The beautiful artwork elevates community pride, drives economic development, and boosts tourism. Learn more about The Walldogs at https://thewalldogs.org/, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalWalldogs/.
Walldog Jay Allen, author of the book, ‘The Walldogs – America’s Different Breed of Public Art Muralists,’ explained that a Walldog festival in a selected town is a win for everyone. “It’s a win for the Walldogs and their ability to promote public art. It’s a win for the people of Putnam who are going to give this gift to future generations…and the bigger win is humanity. This project takes us back to the same place, and that is the root words of ‘community,’ ‘common,’ and ‘unity.’ That weekend, we all have one common unity, and that is the beautification of your town,” he said.
Walldog Founder Nancy Bennett commented on the unique passion displayed for Putnam, and quipped, “I feel like we’re going to have to get on this bandwagon and hang on.”
The date change allows organizers to advance efforts for fund-raising, mural selection and locations, lodging, meals, transportation, and other logistical planning. The town of Putnam has posted information at https://www.putnamct.us/departments/economic-and-community-development.
To join the movement, contact MuralFest Putnam Community Coordinator Elaine Turner
Captions:
Volunteer members of MuralFest Putnam celebrate the news that the Walldog Public Art Movement has moved the historic public art project coming to Putnam from 2030 to June 2028.
Walldog Founder Nancy Bennett (lower left), Wall Dog Jay Allen (lower right), MuralFest Putnam Walldog Coordinator Emida Roller (upper left), and MuralFest Putnam volunteers meet via Zoom on January 15, 2026.
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