Work is well underway towards the completion of a giant mural in the Old First Ward. Earlier today artists Vinnie Alejandro and “Yames” were hard at work, tackling the giant work of art that will depict different stages of history along the Buffalo River. Alejandro and his team are painting a 5000 square foot piece at 60 Alabama Street, on the side of the Community Steel Building facing Republic Street.
The highly visible work of art adds a vibrant splash to an otherwise industrial-looking site. The mural can be viewed from McCarthy’s Pub and Brewery, and is a beacon for other projects that are said to be coming to the neighborhood. You can see the history of the mural by clicking here.
For Alejandro, this work symbolizes his return to Buffalo and the Old First Ward, where he hails from. Many of the recent developments depicted on the wall were not even dreamed up yet when he first decided to return to his hometown (see back story). This work is a testament to the ongoing changes that can be seen in the neighborhood – with new parks, a brewery, a distillery (coming soon), and the Ohio Street Boulevard (formerly Ohio Street).