Athena Haralabatos, sustainable community development, has been painting public murals all around Springfield, MA, and the Pioneer Valley. Throughout the mural-making process, she has witnessed people connect with her art and with each other. For her honors thesis titled "Painting Place: Murals as Tools for Community Engagement and Spatial Transformation," Haralabatos analyzed her creative portfolio to explore how public art can have a broader impact on community development, identity, and urban revitalization. Haralabatos began her project with a general analysis of her murals and creative process. She then focused on four of her murals as real-life examples of how public art can foster place-making.
"Until I took the time to reflect on my work through my thesis, I did not realize that painting murals had helped me create a sense of identity and community in a new city" - Athena Haralabatos.
Examples of Athena Haralabatos' Work
Tuffula Trees (Springfield, MA), inspired by Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. Springfield was the birthplace of Dr. Seuss.
A Snapshot of Sustainability (Located at the New2U Thrift Store in Hampden Commons at UMass Amherst)
The Student Prince and the Fort (Springfield, MA)
Springfield to Saturn (Springfield, MA)