By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Warsaw officials celebrated the completion of its newest mural Friday and an official with the company that authorized it — AkzoNobel — confirmed they’re considering another one in the city.
Muralist Chris Catalogna finished the mural — this one on the west side of the YMCA’s new downtown facility — in just four weeks.
“Luckily, it was super warm in October so that was awesome, but I knew I was pushing my luck if I was to go into the last week of October,” Catalogna said.
The mural honors the old Madison Elementary and shows children streaming out of the old school which had been located where the new YMCA now stands.
The west-facing mural is adjacent to a new city park which is part of an overall residential development by G&G Hauling and Excavating.
Support for the mural was led by the Warsaw Public Arts Commission and other groups including the YMCA of Kosciusko County
AxoNobel, a global supplier of paints and coatings, proposed the mural as part of its initiative to add color to communities across the world.
Catalogna said while he’s done numerous other murals, but this is the first that is adjacent to a public park.
During the project, he said he often chatted with children and parents who were visiting the park, which led to a better understanding of the neighborhood and the impact.
“Until you’re here talking to people, you really don’t know so I got a really good perspective on what this mural’s going to do and the kids — who’s going to be impacted,” he said.
AkzoNobel’s Warsaw Site Manager, Hector Loyola, thanked Catalogna for his work.
The company has completed 3,059 community projects globally and Loyola said they were “eager to bring our passion for coloring” to Warsaw.
YMCA CEO Jim Swanson said he appreciated the way the mural helps keep the history of Madison alive.
Paulette Davis, with the Arts Commission, thanked AkzoNobel for contacting the commission and giving it the opportunity to further expand its mission of expanding public art.
Others supporting the project included the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Warsaw, and Clearly Kosciusko.
Newanna Moore, management assistant for AkzoNobel, confirmed the company wants to do another mural in Warsaw.
“We’re hoping to do another one soon,” Moore said. “I have been talking with Suzie Light with the arts commission to see what our next options are.”
She said they’re looking at a possible location and a theme for the mural.
