Visitors to downtown Sykesville will notice a new mosaic mural, representing friends, family and the town’s place in a global community.
The 10-foot by 20-foot mural at 7547 Main St., was unveiled Friday evening. The mosaic incorporates 2,200 unique 6-inch by 6-inch tiles that create one larger image of a colorful tree. It is displayed on the wall of the Weisse Miller Law Group building next to Sykesville’s town hall.
About 100 of the tiles in the mosaic were created by local artists. One was created by Gov. Wes Moore and another was designed by Carroll County Commissioner Ed Rothstein, who lives in Eldersburg and represents the southeastern part of the county, including Sykesville. Other designs come from people from around the world, said Julie Della-Maria, executive director of Downtown Sykesville Connection.
The mural is a project of the Canadian company Mural Mosaic Global Roots, which aims to use art to connect people from around the world. Murals created through the project feature a central image of a tree, symbolizing connection.
During the first few weeks of June the company helped to unveil tree murals similar to the one in Sykesville in Colorado, North Dakota and Alberta, Canada. Hosting a mural through the program costs $4,500. Della-Maria said Downtown Sykesville Connection covered about half of the cost and other funds were provided by a Carroll Arts Council beautification grant.
“We followed what we believe is our mission, which is to make life better in downtown Sykesville for visitors, residents, and business owners,” Della-Maria said. “I think there will be a lot of community pride from anyone involved, being able to see their artwork incorporated into something that includes people from all over the world, and right in the middle of their downtown.”
Robin Weisse, a partner at the Weisse Miller Law Group, created a tile during a community paint night held at The Local Motive, 7540 Main St., Sykesville. She said many people at the event made artistically impressive and thoughtfully designed pieces for the project. A second paint night was held at Patapsco Distilling Company, 609 Main St., Sykesville.
“It is going to be such a wonderful talking piece for us to look at, in terms of people who come to visit Sykesville,” Weisse said.
Tile kits are purchased through Mural Mosaic, Della-Maria said, then pictures of each finished tile are uploaded to the company by email. Next, the company accepts bids from local contractors to make the mosaic into a physical mural. In this case, Shannon-Baum Signs, a small business based in Sykesville, was chosen.
About 80% of each tile must be of a pre-assigned color, so that the mosaic comes together to create one cohesive image, Della-Maria said.
Members of the law office were given the opportunity to create tiles because the firm offered use of its wall to display the mural, Della-Maria said, adding that the location, in the middle of downtown Sykesville, is perfect, since it will highlight the nearby community garden and is near to the historic Town House.
Weisse lived in Sykesville for 35 years before moving near Hampstead in 2016, but her business is still located in town. Hosting the mural on the law firm’s wall is another way to be a good neighbor, Weisse said. .
“It really takes the whole area and uplifts all of it,” Weisse said. “Sykesville is unique anyway, but this really makes Sykesville a unique place to come visit.”
Della-Maria said she knew that Sykesville would be a good fit to host a mosaic through the Mural Mosaic program.
“What is amazing about the program is that it creates an opportunity for very creative tourism,” Della-Maria said.
Della-Maria believes that hosting a mural in Sykesville could lead to increased tourism. Some tile artists determine a vacation destination based on where their tile is placed, Della-Maria said, which puts Sykesville on the map for hundreds of people across the world who made tiles for the town’s mosaic.
Lewis Lavoie, mural designer with Mural Mosaic based in Alberta, Canada, talks about the Global Roots mural project before its unveiling in downtown Sykesville on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
People gather around Mural Mosaic's Global Roots mural project during its unveiling in downtown Sykesville on Friday. Lewis Lavoie, mural designer from the Mural Mosaic company based in Alberta, Canada, used digital copies of painted tiles from Sykesville locals and other people around the world to create the mural. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
Harini Narla of Sykesville shows off her tile painting of a flower next to its location on Mural Mosaic's Global Roots mural project during its unveiling in downtown Sykesville on Friday. Lewis Lavoie, mural designer from the Mural Mosaic company based in Alberta, Canada, used digital copies of painted tiles from Sykesville locals and other people around the world to create the mural. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
People gather in front of Mural Mosaic's Global Roots mural project during its unveiling in downtown Sykesville on Friday. Lewis Lavoie, mural designer from the Mural Mosaic company based in Alberta, Canada, used digital copies of painted tiles from Sykesville locals and other people around the world to create the mural. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
Julie Della-Maria, executive director for Downtown Sykesville Connection, left, and town mayor Stacy Link hold their own painted tiles as they discuss the final product of Mural Mosaic's Global Roots mural project during its unveiling in downtown Sykesville on Friday. Lewis Lavoie, mural designer from the Mural Mosaic company based in Alberta, Canada, used digital copies of painted tiles from Sykesville locals and other people around the world to create the mural. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
Blaire Bycoffe of Sykesville holds up her painted tile, representing a scene from nearby Burkett Park, next to its location on Mural Mosaic's Global Roots mural project during its unveiling in downtown Sykesville on Friday. Lewis Lavoie, mural designer from the Mural Mosaic company based in Alberta, Canada, used digital copies of painted tiles from Sykesville locals and other people around the world to create the mural. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
People gather in front of Mural Mosaic's Global Roots mural project during its unveiling in downtown Sykesville on Friday. Lewis Lavoie, mural designer from the Mural Mosaic company based in Alberta, Canada, used digital copies of painted tiles from Sykesville locals and other people around the world to create the mural. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
A section of Mural Mosaic's Global Roots mural project, featuring locals artwork during its unveiling in downtown Sykesville on Friday. Lewis Lavoie, mural designer from the Mural Mosaic company based in Alberta, Canada, used digital copies of painted tiles from Sykesville locals and other people around the world to create the mural. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
Hannah Mitchell of Catonsville holds up her tile featuring a guitars while pointing to its location near the top of Mural Mosaic's Global Roots mural project during its unveiling in downtown Sykesville on Friday. Lewis Lavoie, mural designer from the Mural Mosaic company based in Alberta, Canada, used digital copies of painted tiles from Sykesville locals and other people around the world to create the mural. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
A section of Mural Mosaic's Global Roots mural project, featuring locals artwork during its unveiling in downtown Sykesville on Friday. Lewis Lavoie, mural designer from the Mural Mosaic company based in Alberta, Canada, used digital copies of painted tiles from Sykesville locals and other people around the world to create the mural. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
People gather in front of Mural Mosaic's Global Roots mural project during its unveiling in downtown Sykesville on Friday. Lewis Lavoie, mural designer from the Mural Mosaic company based in Alberta, Canada, used digital copies of painted tiles from Sykesville locals and other people around the world to create the mural. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
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