New Downtown Oswego Mural to Be Dedicated Oct. 20

OSWEGO – A new 20-by-50-foot mural celebrating the city’s waterfront and local identity will be dedicated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the mural site adjacent to 5 W. Cayuga St.

The City of Oswego worked with artists from Mural Mania on the public artwork along West First Street. It was installed Oct. 8 and features a sunset over Lake Ontario, recreational activities and the historic West Pierhead Lighthouse, according to an Oct. 16 city news release.

The mural was funded entirely through the New York State Council on the Arts’ Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals, or CHARM, program. NYSCA’s regional partner, CNY Arts Inc., facilitated funding and installation.

Established by Gov. Kathy Hochul and administered by NYSCA, the CHARM initiative supported 40 murals across more than 30 New York counties this year, the city said.

“It brings color, creativity, and energy to our downtown, and it offers residents and visitors alike a place to pause, appreciate, and connect,” Mayor Robert Corradino said. “Projects like this showcase Oswego as a city that invests in culture, embraces collaboration, and celebrates the arts.”

Mural Mania has more than a decade of experience creating public art in neighboring communities. This is the company’s first mural in Oswego.

A team of muralists hand-painted individual panels before transporting them to the city for installation.

“What began as a surprise phone call in August became a remarkable work of art through passion, teamwork, and dedication,” said Mark DeCracker, owner of Mural Mania. “Together, we turned a vision into a 1,000-square-foot mural that will leave a lasting mark on the City of Oswego. Great things happen when a community comes together, and this mural is a reflection of that spirit.”

A small group of community members and city officials developed the initial design, which Mural Mania’s artists refined and finalized. Inspired by classic “Welcome to” signs along well-traveled routes, the design was intended to create a welcoming presence downtown for residents and visitors.

The city invited the public to attend the dedication ceremony.