The courtyard of the former Linde Air Manufacturing complex at 155 Chandler Street is getting a splash of color, thanks to the handiwork of muralist Chuck Tingley. Developer Rocco Termini reached out to Tingley to paint the concrete block portion of the courtyard. It tuns out that this project is Tingley’s largest to date in the city of Buffalo.
When I spoke to the artist about the project, he was a bit emotional, as he talked about the growing mural/street art scene in Buffalo. Never did he think that he would be offered a chance to tackle a project of this magnitude.
It took 80 gallons of the sealer, and 80 gallons of primer, before Tingley could even begin to paint the walls. Termini gave the artist full reign over the subject matter. “He said that he wanted it colorful,” Tingley. “That was it. I decided that I should research the history of the site. One of the tenants was Bell Aircraft Corp. Coincidentally, I recently inherited some of my great grandmother’s stuff and found some Bell Aircraft pins (inset) – I think someone in the family might have worked at the company. So I incorporated that theme, and the logo on the pins, into the mural. I also found some old Bell Aircraft manuals and vintage Linde Air Manufacturing sign online, so I’m taking inspiration from those as well.”
Tingley noted that the scope of this project is so big, that for the first time ever, he has painter’s elbow. That’s the price that he paid for taking on such an extensive mural effort by himself.
I will revisit the massive work of art when it is completed later this week.
