On Friday, Mayor Joe Schember unveiled the finished murals on the City of Erie’s two bandwagons, after a year-long process to select an artist, paint and refurbish both before the end of the year.
“I am very impressed with how these murals turned out,” said Schember. “These bandwagons will bring a sense of Erie pride to about 40 local events each year. I expect that they will be seen by thousands next summer.”
Local artist Antonio Howard conceptualized and painted both Erie-themed murals with the help of his wife Sarah and more than a dozen community members.
“This project was a welcome opportunity to challenge my limitations, set an example for those I leave behind, contribute to the developing beauty and richness of the Erie landscape and work toward leaving an indelible mark in this world,” said Howard.
Howard also created the artwork for interior acoustic panels, which were installed by Grise Audio Visual to provide better sound quality for performers and audiences.
The bandwagon transformation included:
- Two vibrant murals on the exterior of each bandwagon
- New interior acoustic panels, which will provide better sound for performers and audiences
- Artwork on the acoustic panels, which are located behind performers
The City was able to fully fund this project through two grants: a “Helping Today” grant from the Erie Community Foundation and a “Community Asset” Grant from ECGRA. In addition, Sherwin Williams donated the paint and supplies needed, and EMTA provided their state-of-the-art indoor shop facility for Howard to paint and Grise Audio Visual to install the acoustic panels.
