2021

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210614 New Mural 1<br />
James Neiss/staff photographer <br />
Niagara Falls, NY - Local artist Nate Reilly, right, with help from his brother Josh, left, are painting a 60 foot wide x 11 feet tall mural under the Whirlpool Bridge train bridge on Whirlpool Street next to the historic United States Custom House that houses The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center. The project is spearheaded by the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.<br />
<br />
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2021<br />
Contact: Sabina Ramsey 716.308.6208 sabina@thinkinsight.co<br />
<br />
Niagara Falls Resident and Artist Nate Reilly Began Painting Whirlpool Ave Mural on Wednesday<br />
<br />
(Niagara Falls, NY) — Local artist Nate Reilly officially began painting a new mural on Whirlpool Avenue on Wednesday, June 9 as part of the NF Murals project spearheaded by the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.<br />
<br />
Reilly, a resident of Niagara Falls, had proposed an idea for a mural that could help to beautify a highly utilized area near his home in the North End of the City of Niagara Falls. Although that particular wall is not yet ready for a mural, Reilly’s design found a home on a wall at 2245 Whirlpool Avenue next to the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center and U.S. Customs House.<br />
<br />
“I want people to feel welcomed when they see my mural,” Reilly said. “The piece is meant to help uplift the community and make people smile. All of the pieces in the NF Murals project so far have an element of hope that makes you feel good as you pass them. I want my piece to do that, too.”<br />
That intention was the inspiration behind Reilly’s design, which features approximately 50 smiling faces of community members, using his signature cartoon-influenced, color-blocking style. The mural will also feature the quote, “Take a smile, leave a smile.” <br />
This will be Reilly’s first solo mural. Previously, he has worked on murals alongside his former teacher and local artist Rob Lynch, as well as Thomas Paul Asklar, who also worked on “The Niagara Movement,” another mural part of the NF Murals project. Reilly has been creating art since he was a child, developing an interest in painting in high school and completing an internship with Arts Services Initiative of WNY. Today, although he is not studying art full time, he is pursuing an art minor during his undergraduate studies at Cornell University. And, of course, he creates art constantly in his free time.<br />
Tyshaun Tyson, NF Murals artist liaison and local artist also known as “The Left-Handed Bandit”, is looking forward to collaborating with Reilly to bring his vision to life. <br />
“Nate’s design fits so well with the overall mission of this initiative,” Tyson said. “The mural is going to be optimistic, joyful, and vibrant, just like this community. And with so many faces being included, it will be an inspiring representation of Niagara Falls and the power that lies within welcoming people of all backgrounds and perspectives to our city.” <br />
According to Ally Spongr, project director of NFNHA, the location of this mural is key. <br />
“This piece will be located right near the U.S-Canada border, facing the entrance from the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge into the North End of Niagara Falls,” she said. “It will be one of the first views of America that people receive when they cross over. That means that the message can be even bigger than just Niagara Falls. It will serve as a statement not just about this community, but about what this country can be — a symbol of hope and unity.” <br />
The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is located at 825 Depot Ave W, Niagara Falls, NY 14305. <br />
For media files, visit here. <br />
About Niagara Falls National Heritage Area & NF Murals <br />
The NF Murals project is part of Niagara Falls Heritage Arts, the public art initiative of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (NFNHA). The NFNHA facilitates partnerships between artists, public and private organizations, and community members and stakeholders to envision and create public art, impacting the cultural landscape with pieces that reflect and honor the history and legacy of Niagara Falls. Learn more at nfmurals.org & discoverniagara.org. <br />
About Nate Reilly<br />
Nate is an artist from Niagara Falls, New York. He will be graduating from Cornell University in 2023. To view some of his previous artwork, visit his website, <a href="https://natereillyart.crevado.com/">https://natereillyart.crevado.com/</a>.

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210614 New Mural 1
James Neiss/staff photographer
Niagara Falls, NY - Local artist Nate Reilly, right, with help from his brother Josh, left, are painting a 60 foot wide x 11 feet tall mural under the Whirlpool Bridge train bridge on Whirlpool Street next to the historic United States Custom House that houses The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center. The project is spearheaded by the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2021
Contact: Sabina Ramsey 716.308.6208 sabina@thinkinsight.co

Niagara Falls Resident and Artist Nate Reilly Began Painting Whirlpool Ave Mural on Wednesday

(Niagara Falls, NY) — Local artist Nate Reilly officially began painting a new mural on Whirlpool Avenue on Wednesday, June 9 as part of the NF Murals project spearheaded by the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.

Reilly, a resident of Niagara Falls, had proposed an idea for a mural that could help to beautify a highly utilized area near his home in the North End of the City of Niagara Falls. Although that particular wall is not yet ready for a mural, Reilly’s design found a home on a wall at 2245 Whirlpool Avenue next to the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center and U.S. Customs House.

“I want people to feel welcomed when they see my mural,” Reilly said. “The piece is meant to help uplift the community and make people smile. All of the pieces in the NF Murals project so far have an element of hope that makes you feel good as you pass them. I want my piece to do that, too.”
That intention was the inspiration behind Reilly’s design, which features approximately 50 smiling faces of community members, using his signature cartoon-influenced, color-blocking style. The mural will also feature the quote, “Take a smile, leave a smile.”
This will be Reilly’s first solo mural. Previously, he has worked on murals alongside his former teacher and local artist Rob Lynch, as well as Thomas Paul Asklar, who also worked on “The Niagara Movement,” another mural part of the NF Murals project. Reilly has been creating art since he was a child, developing an interest in painting in high school and completing an internship with Arts Services Initiative of WNY. Today, although he is not studying art full time, he is pursuing an art minor during his undergraduate studies at Cornell University. And, of course, he creates art constantly in his free time.
Tyshaun Tyson, NF Murals artist liaison and local artist also known as “The Left-Handed Bandit”, is looking forward to collaborating with Reilly to bring his vision to life.
“Nate’s design fits so well with the overall mission of this initiative,” Tyson said. “The mural is going to be optimistic, joyful, and vibrant, just like this community. And with so many faces being included, it will be an inspiring representation of Niagara Falls and the power that lies within welcoming people of all backgrounds and perspectives to our city.”
According to Ally Spongr, project director of NFNHA, the location of this mural is key.
“This piece will be located right near the U.S-Canada border, facing the entrance from the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge into the North End of Niagara Falls,” she said. “It will be one of the first views of America that people receive when they cross over. That means that the message can be even bigger than just Niagara Falls. It will serve as a statement not just about this community, but about what this country can be — a symbol of hope and unity.”
The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is located at 825 Depot Ave W, Niagara Falls, NY 14305.
For media files, visit here.
About Niagara Falls National Heritage Area & NF Murals
The NF Murals project is part of Niagara Falls Heritage Arts, the public art initiative of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (NFNHA). The NFNHA facilitates partnerships between artists, public and private organizations, and community members and stakeholders to envision and create public art, impacting the cultural landscape with pieces that reflect and honor the history and legacy of Niagara Falls. Learn more at nfmurals.org & discoverniagara.org.
About Nate Reilly
Nate is an artist from Niagara Falls, New York. He will be graduating from Cornell University in 2023. To view some of his previous artwork, visit his website, https://natereillyart.crevado.com/.

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