UTICA — After 10 days and over 800 votes casted, Steven Teller was chosen as the mural artist whose design will replace the former sunburst mural at Liberty Bell Park in Utica.

Teller, who will spend time in Utica coming from his hometown in St. Augustine, Florida, has created large-scale murals in cities across the world.

Teller’s mural concept for Liberty Bell Park depicts colorful roses and bluebirds across a black and white backdrop of historical moments in Utica. The roses and bluebirds represent New York State’s official flower and bird, while the depictions of Utica’s past show significant moments throughout the city’s history, including images of the Utica Belt Line Trolley, textile mill workers, and a packet boat along the Erie Canal.

“It is a testament to the city’s past, present and future, a celebration of its unique energy, resilience and hope,” Teller said on his mural design. “Like the river of roses that flows through it, this mural promises to be a vibrant and dynamic work of art, a beacon of light and inspiration for all who pass by.”

The mural wall in Liberty Bell Park became structurally unsound over the years, to the point of needing to dismantle it for public safety. With continuing the mission of improving Utica’s parks, city officials announced back in December that funding would be allocated from the Downtown Revitalization
Initiative and the State and Municipal Facilities Grant for the overall reconstruction for the park and it’s mural.

A search for mural artists commenced, with a city public art committee receiving submission from 28 artists both locally and around the country. The committee narrowed down the submissions to the following four mural artists: Linda Fernandez and Keir Johnston of Amber Art & Design from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Carlos Barboza from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Rafael Blanco from Chicago, Illinois; and Steven Teller from St. Augustine, Florida.

With a 10-day voting period, based on ranked choice voting, the public was able to visit Munson or Utica City Hall and choose which mural design they wanted to see downtown. Over 800 votes were cast between both locations, with Teller’s design being chosen as the first choice from 395 votes.

Teller will begin working on the mural next month, with the mural expected to be completed by September.