More Murals to Come to the Downtown Lebanon Tunnel

Residents and visitors have likely noticed the existing sculpture and mural installations in the Downtown Lebanon Tunnel, providing public art for the enjoyment of pedestrians and cyclists using the path between the Northern Rail Trail and the Mascoma River Greenway. These installations have been created by local artists and supported by Lebanon ArtWays, the Arts and Culture Commission of the City of Lebanon. Before long, additional installations will join the first four, adding vibrancy throughout the tunnel and expanding the public art offerings in Lebanon.

The goal of commissioning art installations in the tunnel, says Recreation, Arts, and Parks Department director Paul Coats, is to “have Lebanon stand apart as a municipality in the Upper Valley because of our devotion to public art” and also “to make that tunnel more attractive” as a recreational space. Artistic, aesthetically pleasing spaces attract development, tourism, and recreation, while also discouraging less attractive graffiti such as tagging. The effort also enlists local artists and provides fair compensation for their work.

Earlier this year, Lebanon ArtWays presented a Request for Proposals for installations to fill the tunnel with art, owing to the availability of TIF district funds to provide stipends and materials reimbursement to artists. In May, the commission reviewed and recommended approval of five proposals, covering a range of styles, formats, media, and subjects. This was followed in July by a site visit to consider the locations and sizes of each proposal. Lebanon’s Heritage Commission is also involved in the process, intending to support art that highlights the history of transportation locally.

What can viewers expect to see in the coming months? Here is a preview:

Emily Battles has proposed an interactive, three-dimensional installation consisting of hundreds of wooden blocks attached to a grid and painted in varying hues and shades. Emily’s intention is to allow viewers to engage with the installation by rotating the blocks and changing the appearance of the wall. This incorporates viewers into the generation of art, giving passersby the opportunity to create a unique display from the positioning of the blocks. To better engage younger members of the community safely, this installation will be affixed to the northern wall of the tunnel, farther from the section used most frequently by cyclists.

Julio Muñoz Uribe, also known as Ragko, created the recently-completed community mural that adorns the building of COVER Home Repair in White River Junction. His proposal for Lebanon superimposes a collection of images that evoke a sense of place for those in the tunnel: a mountainous backdrop above a map of the City; the distinctive cupola of Lebanon City Hall, and brightly colored fish to represent the river that flows beside the trails. The proposal plays heavily on the concept of confluences, as the images combine in the space between the restored stone wall of the tunnel, in a space that connects two trails that bring riverside nature to a municipal downtown area. Additionally, the colors of this mural will, Julio hopes, complement the colors of the sculpture installation beside it.

Marley Dube mural proposal – Mother Nature

John Garoutte in 2023 painted “Patchwork,” which he describes as “a giant quilt, with patches that depict scenes from Lebanon both past and present,” as an homage to the textile industry of New England. The piece currently resides near the western end of the tunnel’s south wall. His latest proposal expands this mural eastward, incorporating more seasons alongside the estival images tunnel users already enjoy. John notes that “the seasonality of New England is unique and beautiful in so many ways, and I wanted to contrast the warmth and energy of the summer with the cool quiet of the winter.” John’s art is inspired by his snowboarding and his work as a stone wall builder; his love for public art emerges from the idea that it “humanizes the built environment and has the ability to transform and invigorate spaces in ways that make public space so much more inviting and comfortable,” and “it can provide everyone in the community direct and ongoing encounters with art.”

Nicholas Cain is working with Kay Curtis and a team of four volunteers on what he describes as “a parade through the tunnel, playfully illustrating Lebanon’s culture and activities using many of the iconic Lebanon landmarks.” The larger-than-life mural will consist of two stacked panels, sixty feet long and each measuring seven feet high for a total of fourteen vertical feet looming over the tunnel’s visitors. The project sketches show animated figures, evocative of cubism and engaged in activities of celebration and daily life.

Marley Dube is a graduate of Lebanon High School, and in 2019, she painted a mural in the school, so she is familiar with public art. Her submission is titled “Mother Nature” and, like John’s “Patchwork,” depicts the seasons of the region. Marley’s mural leans heavily into organic imagery, including leaves and stars and water in a semi-abstract design embodying the natural environment that draws so many people to the community and its many offerings. Positioned in the western part of the tunnel near to the Mascoma River, “Mother Nature” is sure to evoke in viewers an appreciation of the trails they are enjoying.