In Pictures: A Mural Welcoming Refugees and Immigrants

We are excited to announce the completion of a collaborative public artwork in central Ithaca celebrating refugees and immigrants of Tompkins County and the culture of welcome that is integral to our community. IWR has been working with muralist Hugo Medina on this project for nearly two years, with practical and advisory help from Ithaca Murals, and financial support from the Community Arts Partnership on behalf of the New York State Council on the Arts, and the Tompkins County Tourism Board.

The design brings together perspectives expressed by a wide range of local residents, including many with lived experience of displacement, and community members got together to join in bringing the idea to fruition at a paint day on May 9th, a ribbon cutting with the Tompkins Chamber on June 3rd, and finishing painting touches throughout the summer. The completed artwork can be found opposite Tompkins County’s Department of Social Services, at 314 West Martin Luther King Jr. St./ W. State Street. We invite you to stop by and enjoy the finished piece!