ROCKLAND — The painting of an abstract mural on the side of Planet Toys in downtown Rockland is drawing community artists, art students and the public to Oak Street.

In its second week of the three-week project, the wall has been cleaned, primed and marked, with some spaces painted by Alexis Iammarino and her small mural-painting team of Jessie Unterhalter and Katey Truhn. The latter two have been creating murals and large-scale installations across the country since 2001.

Iammarino, instructor of a mural class at the Farnsworth Art Museum, also painted the mural inside the Rockland Recreation Center.

Eight to ten students of her class at the Farnsworth, which is funding the Oak project through grants, have been lending assistance at various times throughout the five days per week that the team is working.

The team has also received help by a couple who happened upon the project and devoted three hours to painting, according to Truhn.

According to the Farnsworth, the museum received a $5,000 grant from the Emily and William Muir Fund and the Knox Fund for Youth Arts of the Maine Community Foundation to engage Knox County youth in the conception and execution of a mural on a prominent outdoor wall in downtown Rockland this summer. 

The purpose of this Farnsworth-led project is to engage Knox County high school youth in creating public art in downtown Rockland.  

Business owner Richard Aroneau is the “wall partner” for the outdoor mural that will cover the 147 x 20-foot Oak Street façade of his building at 318 Main Street.

He said, in a news release: “I see this as an exceptional opportunity to support area youth and artists, the Farnsworth, and the City in their efforts to demonstrate the vibrancy and cohesiveness of our community. I also believe this project will provide an outstanding experience for local youth, encouraging them to develop confidence, have positive and creative social interaction, and take pride in contributing to their community in a publicly visible way. It is my hope that other businesses and building owners will agree and follow suit.”

Local painters Greta Van Campen, Sarah Rogers and Ariel Hall will also be contributing their time in the next few days, according to Iammarino.

Community painting hours are reserved for Saturday afternoons, 1 to 5 p.m.; however, those interested are welcome to stop by anytime to see if they can be of help.

“I keep telling people, it sort of depends on what we’re doing that day,” said Iammarino. “If there’s stuff to get people involved in, we’re definitely going to put a roller in their hands and put them to work.”

Along with offers of assistance, pedestrians have been stopping by to engage in conversation.

Where are you from, they ask Ulterhalter and Truhn, both of Baltimore. What are you doing here, is the question that follows.

The two painters are muralists as well, having painted in Philadelphia, New York City, and coordinated a mural in Liberia without travelling there.

Compared to the major cities Truhn has visited, Rockland has been a great place to be.

“It’s very relaxing compared to other places,” she said. “Everybody’s so nice.”

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com.