VILLAGE OF FAYETTEVILLE – After a month of carefully considered brushstrokes, a Fayetteville freelance artist is putting the finishing touches on his outdoor mural near the entrance of the village.
Facilitated by American Rescue Plan funding aimed at making the village more vibrant, the artwork embellishes the side wall of the Freedom of Espresso coffee shop on West Genesee Street.
Mark Noble, the man behind the brush, received input from the village board related to the design stage and the inspiration that went into the commissioned painting.
To prepare, Noble spent hours flipping through historical photographs of the village while the department of public works removed the overgrowth of vines covering the wall.
With depictions of the local churches, a carriage house, the Limestone Plaza storefronts up the road and the original Fayetteville High School, the mural draws on recognizable landmarks to act as a representation of the community through the years.
Measured at about 70 feet in length and 13 feet in height, the mural also relied on Noble’s artistic license to meld those iconic buildings with the flowing waters of the Erie Canal in his imagery.
As Noble painted through the days of August, often waiting for the heat of the sun rising over the trees to pass, folks strolling through Canal Landing Park would stop by to see the progress. He said some of the older villagers would even have interesting facts and stories to relay about the buildings in the mural.
A resident of Fayetteville for seven years now, Noble has steadily been able to put his degree in illustration from Syracuse University to good use over the last two decades. It wasn’t until he left his previous full-time job early last year and returned temporarily to house painting, however, that he was presented with the opportunity to freelance.
“It’s rewarding work,” he said. “I get to be creative and do a lot of different things from sculptures to murals to logo designs.”
The project that jumpstarted Noble’s current path was his nautical-themed art that welcomes patients inside Pediatric Dentistry & Family Orthodontics in Fayetteville. Since then, he has gone on to receive business via word of mouth and a dash of Facebook advertising.
His latest mural adorning Freedom of Espresso is set to have a ribbon painted across the top that reads “Village of Fayetteville, established 1844.” He said the acrylic paint should last for about 10 years before it starts to fade, though he has additionally contemplated sealing the wall to protect the mural from damage like graffiti.
Overall, he called the summertime project a bonding experience for the village that brings pride to the nearby neighborhood.
“I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from the community,” said Noble, who was also a Village of Manlius trustee from 2013 to 2015. “Everyone is so grateful and thankful and excited to see more work like this.”
Noting its proximity to the park and the attachment to a well-frequented coffee shop, Noble further suggested that the site of the mural would be a fitting spot for senior photographs come spring.
To see more of the artist’s work, visit marknobledesigns.com.
