Like many Historic Downtowns across the United States, Downtown Danbury is experiencing a revitalization as young professionals seek exciting, vibrant communities. CityCenter Danbury is an organization dedicated to promoting the vitality of Downtown Danbury, and in May 2018, they commissioned Mural Envy to transform three boarded-up windows with a public street art mural.
The boarded-up windows house the kitchen of La Mitad del Mundo, an Ecuadorian restaurant situated on Danbury’s Historic Main Street. To honor the location of the mural, CityCenter Danbury requested that the imagery reflect the city’s diverse cultural heritage, specifically that of Ecuador and Brazil.
For the mural design, we researched traditional Ecuadorian patterns and color palettes used in textiles and ceramics. Mural Envy’s work almost always includes themes from nature, so we also looked at images of birds and plants native to Ecuador and Brazil. We chose birds because they are often associated with freedom and movement from one place to another, two themes that Danbury residents from all backgrounds can identify with. The bird that we chose for its visual interest is a Hoatzin, found both in Brazil and in Ecuador, though we have taken some artistic license with its plumage.
The finished mural, entitled, Migration, is now a key feature in the renewal of Danbury’s Post Office Walk, a pedestrian passageway linking Main Street with Danbury City Center Green and the Danbury Ice Arena. It brightens the corridor with vivid, welcoming colors, and is a popular subject of Instagram posts and selfies. We are honored to be part of Downtown Danbury’s cultural revival!
