Thanks to artist Lindsay Fuori and the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, the community’s dog park — Newtown Park & Bark on Old Farm Road — has a brand-new and colorful mural overlooking the property for all to enjoy.

Fuori is a graduate of Newtown High School and the Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven. She gained a positive reputation in town for her skills and work ethic through various school productions, and she has since gone on to be a professional theater designer.

Back in the spring of 2020, Fuori submitted a grant proposal to the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission hoping to create public artwork in town. The commission was receptive and had faith in her abilities, so its members worked with her to find a location and concept.

When they set their sights on creating a mural on the side of a town-owned garage next to the Newtown Park & Bark, they received complete support from Newtown Parks & Recreation.

On July 19, Newtown Cultural Arts Commission members Andrea Spencer and Laura Lerman, as well as Newtown Parks & Recreation Director Amy Mangold, proposed the initiative to the Newtown Board of Selectmen (BOS) for their approval, since it was to be done on a municipal building.

The BOS unanimously endorsed the mural for the dog park, prompting Fuori to begin her work on Monday, August 9.

Spencer and Lerman were on site that morning as Fuori — donned in artist-earned splatter paint clothes — set up her supplies and measured out the design.

Fuori climbed a ladder and began the first brushstrokes of a vibrant green paint that would be one of many colors for the mural’s background.

She told The Newtown Bee that while she has painted large scale murals before, this project would be the biggest she has done to date.

Fuori used outdoor paint with primer, since the building’s corrugated metal and rivets had been painted before. With that paint selection, she anticipates the mural will hold up well against the elements.

She worked with both a brush and a roller to get in between the metal grooves, and attached a bamboo extender to the handles for hard-to-reach places.

In addition to adapting to the literal highs and lows of painting such a massive piece of art, Fuori also persevered through the less-than-ideal weather of scattered rainfall and soaring 90 degree temperatures.

An important part of the painting process for Fuori was also being mindful to make sure any dogs walking by the mural would not have access to paint on the ground after she left each day.

‘Moment Of Delight’

After roughly 60 hours of work, Fuori completed the mural and met with members of the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission for a small celebratory gathering on Monday, August 16.

Spencer spoke about the importance of public art for communities and how in many places it can revitalize areas, especially economically.

Public art has a unique way of bringing people together, she explained, and already the mural at the Newtown Park & Bark has begun to do that for residents.

Fuori said that while she was painting, she frequently had people of all ages coming up to her and talking to her about the mural or taking photos of their dogs in front of it.

“Everyone who comes by has been really excited about it. The thing I hear most about is comments on the color — how colorful it is, how cheerful it is,” Fuori said.

She has even received positive feedback from her new canine friends visiting the park.

“I’ve had dogs barking at me, and I feel like they were cheering me on,” Fuori said with a laugh.

Over time, Fuori got to know many of the regular visitors of the dog park, who frequent it daily. She also witnessed some first-time park go-ers who found where to park thanks to the mural.

One person even commented that the dogs on the mural were the “welcoming committee” to the park.

Despite being a bit sunburned from the experience, Fuori is thrilled to have accomplished the mural and received so much support from the community already.

“It’s playful, it’s happy,” Fuori said about the style of the mural. “I wanted it to be a moment of delight for people walking by, and I think that’s been what people are experiencing.”

With a job well done, Lerman raised her flute of ginger ale in the air and cheered, “To Lindsay: Hear, hear!”

The public is invited to stop by the Newtown Park & Bark to see the mural anytime.

While in the area, people are also encouraged to visit the Fairfield Hills campus to see Newtown artist Paula Brinkman’s paintings. She painted realistic windows over plywood on boarded up, broken windows thanks to a grant from the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission.

To see more of Fuori’s art, check out her work with the Music Theatre of Connecticut in Norwalk for their upcoming season.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.