New mural at Rochester’s Lyell Branch Library celebrates family connections and nature

Rochester, New York – Children exploring nature and families sharing everyday moments are the focus of a new mural on the western wall of Rochester Public Library’s Lyell Branch.

Local artists gathered at the library for the unveiling of “Take Care,” a collaboration between Francheska Diaz, a Roc Paint Division alumna and lead staff member, and Callisto Daly, the program’s youth educator.

The artwork is one of four community murals installed across Rochester and the surrounding region with funding from the New York State Council on the Arts’ Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals initiative. WALL\THERAPY administered the grant.

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Five scenes make up the library mural. Daly designed the two outer sections, showing children splashing in a puddle and catching ladybugs. Diaz created the three central scenes, which portray family connections and relationships between generations.

Roc Paint Division youth artists and alumni helped install the work. Their participation gave younger artists practical experience while bringing former program members together again.

“As a muralist, my goal is to create work that is not only visually exciting, but also positively impacts the community,” said Francheska Diaz. “Art is a right, not a privilege. My murals aim to make art accessible to every space. As I continue working on murals, I strive to include other young artists. It is a pleasure to work with Roc Paint Division alumni and youth and help foster the next generation of muralists.”

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The project also provides jobs and mentorship. At each location, current Roc Paint Division youth artists work alongside graduates and lead muralists to learn how large public artworks are produced.

“Brightening up a Rochester neighborhood that has not had a significant investment in public art meant everything to me,” added Callisto Daly. “Bringing joy to a community through your work is truly all you can hope for when doing public art.”

The Lyell Branch mural is at 956 Lyell Ave. Other participating locations include Dutch Creatives’ Collaborative on East Main Street in Rochester, where Sarah Rutherford was the lead artist, and Rio Tomatlan in Canandaigua, where Justin Suarez and Pamela Carvalho led the work. Suarez also served as lead artist at The Lockstone in Albion.