A picture's worth

Building on the Quasquicentennial celebration of the Village of Monroe, Monroe Councilman Sal Scancarello recently commissioned a special “postcard-style” painting, with the permission of Village officials, commemorating the significant anniversary.

The artwork installation, painted on a the side of the Shortline Bus depot building in the center of village’s business district, depicts various scenes from around the village which will be familiar to local residents – the village hall, the bandshell, the movie theater, the waterfall and the Monroe-Woodbury Crusader.

How did the mural project happen? As Scancarello explains, after seeing a story in The Photo News featuring local artist Jordan Robinson and the artwork he had created for the Spill the Beans eatery, he asked Robinson to paint a similar sign on his family’s newly opened Lovebites Chocolate Shoppe.

“His artwork seems to have an old-style look, a throwback type of artwork with which I was very impressed,” recalled Scancarello. “While he was painting the Lovebites sign, Jordan expressed his interest in painting a building in Monroe with a 'postcard-greeting style' look."

Together, they located the building on Millpond Parkway, and Jordan enlisted the help of fellow artist Steve Babcock."

Scancarello and the two artists brainstormed the idea of painting local scenes within each letter of MONROE.

“I thought the idea would work out very well, as it symbolizes everything Monroe stands for in our amazing history,” Scanacarello said. “The mural adds some character to the Village of Monroe as we continue to improve and revitalize the downtown Village.”