Local artists help ensure pedestrians cross safely and in style in Stamford
This spring, a call for artists went out from Stamford Downtown and the City of Stamford to paint a mural at the Bedford Street Garage (17 Forest Street) and the crosswalk connecting the garage and the Bedford Street Passageway (189 Bedford Street). Stamford artist Lauren Clayton, like many others, jumped at the opportunity to respond to the call. Clayton had worked with Stamford Downtown once before. In May 2022, Clayton, with the help of family and friends, transformed Kiwanis Park outside of the Palace Theatre into a promenade with two ground murals. One of which draws pedestrians through the park connecting Atlantic and Summer Streets and the other reads, “Now Playing, Stamford Downtown,” inviting passersby to engage with the art and take photos to share with friends.
This year’s Stamford Downtown’s Public Art Mural Project represents a partnership between the City of Stamford and Stamford Downtown, the business improvement district within the City’s urban core.
The Bedford Street Garage and the adjacent surface parking lot are on the cusp of transformation. The City of Stamford recently completed a multi-million-dollar investment in the garage by making a series of repairs and much needed maintenance that has made the garage safer, brighter, and more inviting. Simultaneously, the city has completed a redesign of the surface lot, to improve the motorist and pedestrian experience. Additionally, the long-awaited redevelopment of 128 Broad Street to a 194-unit residential building with ground floor retail space is on track to break ground later this year. As these changes play out over the coming years, the City and Stamford Downtown want parking in the garage to be the most attractive and easiest option for drivers destined to the downtown’s shops and restaurants.
Strengthening the connection between the garage and Bedford Street via the Bedford Passage (the hallway linking the parking lot to the street by Capriccio Café) is a very important piece of making the garage easier and more comfortable to use. Stamford Downtown and the City believe that a mural providing a visual connection between the garage’s first floor and the Bedford Street Passage will significantly create beauty and legibility for users of the area.
The mural portion of the project is set to begin this week. “All Walks of Life,” named by the artist, is an extra special project for Clayton because she’s collaborating with talented local artists, Tara Blackwell, Alissa Siegal, Bry Isriel, Mike Bazelais, Weverson Ponte, and Byron Soza. Many of this team are from and/or live in Stamford. “I wanted to work with amazing local artists who will have the chance to regularly see the impact of their artwork,” Clayton says.
The wall mural between the elevator and the pedestrian exit of the Bedford Street Garage will be painted with iconic crosswalk figures. Each figure will be linked hand-to-hand and painted by a different artist. “I hope this wall mural conveys that we all come from different walks of life, but can be unified,” Clayton states.
The mural in the crosswalk between the garage and the Bedford Passage, painted by Clayton and Soza, will depict a variety of familiar traffic figures and wildlife including a deer, goose, dog, seagull and of course a chicken.
“One of Stamford’s greatest qualities is its diversity. It is in a way a city in a crossroads, bringing people (and animals) from all walks of life together. I am excited to work with these artists, the City and Stamford Downtown Special Services District to help transform this popular area with art.” Clayton says.
The mural project is due to be completed by mid-July. To learn more about the project and its artists, click here.
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