SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The entrance to downtown Scranton has a vibrant upgrade.
A massive mural along the President Biden Expressway, showcasing the beauty and diversity of Lackawanna County.
The mural was officially dedicated this morning the project, commissioned by the Lackawanna County Department of Arts and Culture, aims to brighten up the city and showcase the diverse beauty of our region
This mural is now the first thing people see as they enter Scranton off Interstate 81, offering a vibrant snapshot of life in Lackawanna County.
"I mean it really pops, it makes people happy, it colorful, it captures our county and our city so I just feel so happy," stated Maureen McGuigan, Arts and Culture Director in Lackawanna County.
Julie Hunter, one of the artists, knows these seasons well. A native of NEPA, she and fellow artist John Park collaborated with local officials and the community to ensure every detail represented the spirit of Lackawanna County
Guests grab the umbrellas to enjoy the 169th Bloomsburg Fair
"Julie was such a huge help and just hearing all the stories of her growing up here," said Park.
"There was also a lot of back and forth coordination with the commissioners, Maureen and Tracy, to make sure this was reflecting what their idea for the mural could be as well," stated Hunter.
The artists embodied the mural theme as they painted through all 'four seasons' to bring this project to life
"We started it last fall and worked into the winter, so we were dealing with having our paints freezing up and dealing with just not being able to paint certain days because of the frost and the cold, to then coming in on a heat wave and having to be covered from head to toe because of the hazardous materials we're working with and just kind of sweating it out," explained Park.
The mural’s completion had been eagerly awaited, and after 15 months of planning and painting, arts and culture director Maureen McGuigan is pleased with the new art for all to enjoy
"They took kind of the spirit of Lackawanna County through the four seasons and captured it. Public art is so important to communities both for community and economic development."
Now that the mural is completed, the right lane on the Biden Expressway will officially reopen to traffic on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
