Anya Miller

Inspired by “Illuminated”, a mural by Cara Hanley

A Symbolic Mural of Albany

When I arrived at the mural “Illuminated”, by Cara Hanley, it caught me by surprise. I was amazed by how many different elements of the mural there were, and by how much detail there was that couldn’t be seen in the photos. I immediately recognized the Albany homes and architecture, as well as the Empire State Plaza buildings. I noticed the water, and the bridge crossing it. I saw the background of a moon and stars, and a window framing everything. I realized that if someone had asked me to design a mural summarizing Albany, I would paint a lot of the same things that Hanley did. As I gazed at the window outlining the mural, I wasn't sure what it might represent. I looked at the biography of the mural on Albany Center Gallery’s website, and it said that the mural is “a dream-like depiction of a river and the Albany skyline”. That made me think that the window was a way of showing that the city in the mural isn’t the city we live in right now. Rather, it’s a city that we hope Albany will someday look like.

When I observe the Plaza buildings, they remind me of what makes Albany unique. I didn’t realize that the mural was depicting Albany until I recognized those buildings. I live a few blocks from the Plaza, so I spend a lot of time near the buildings. Over the years I’ve played soccer, learned to roller skate, attended concerts, gone on picnics, played on the playground, gone ice skating, and eaten lunch with friends below those very buildings.

The moon and stars make me think about how most nights, I can’t see any stars. The stars in the mural further contribute to this “dream” city. Moon and stars make me think of the country and being able to stargaze. Albany is an amazing city because it’s so close to nature. Usually, one has to choose between nature and urban areas, but it feels like you can have both with Albany.

The open book symbolizes how Albany embodies knowledge and education. Education and books in Albany bring to mind so many things for me. I go to school in Albany and there are multiple colleges and libraries within the city. Almost everything I know I learned in Albany. I love reading and have probably read hundreds of books I borrowed from the Albany Public Library. At any given moment, I probably have about ten unread books in my room from a local library.

The clear, blue water, might represent the Hudson, and how in this dream city, the water is clean and clear, instead of the dark, murky waters that consume theHudson right now. In fourth grade, my class went on a field trip to the river, and we learned about how much pollution and garbage is in the water. It’s horrible that the Hudson has become that, and I, too, wish that it was clear and clean. When I see the bridge crossing the water, I think about the bridge symbolizing the new idea for an “upstate Venice”; a plan to make canals in downtown Albany, recreating Venice. It could also be a bridge across the river, or even a bridge to a better world. I was surprised to learn that the artist planned most of this mural while in Venice! When I see the colorfully painted buildings, it reminds me of my own house, and the other houses in my neighborhood. The houses in downtown Albany are beautiful. Just like the mural, they’re really colorful, almost a work of art on their own. I was reading about the artist, and I enjoyed learning about her process of making the mural. One thing that I found interesting was how much we had in common. She said, “I have lived here most of my life and yet when I walk around, I continue to find details, like the intricate cornices of buildings or the greenery popping up through the sidewalk, that I hadn’t noticed before.” I often find myself studying the small details in Albany, and in any other city I visit. I love the old architecture, noticing that the trees are starting to bud, and all the people wandering the city.

One of the reasons I was drawn to this particular mural was its composition. I love graphic design, and the color coordination, and the way things are outlined look beautiful. I was surprised by how vibrant the colors are in person. I also noticed how the color palette of the mural matches the color palette of the wall it’s on. The red of the houses matches the red brick of the wall. The yellow of the houses and the moon coordinates with the yellow parking lot marker. The grey of the plaza buildings matches the gray cinder block wall. When I chose to write about “Illuminated”, I walked down to it to see it in person. The mural is a few blocks from my house, but I hadn’t really taken it in, unlike other murals on the list. When I first saw it, I was surprised by how much detail there was that couldn’t be seen in the photos. I also noticed the window for the first time, and I was a little surprised I hadn’t seen it before. I also observed how secluded and gloomy the area around the mural is. I love the initiative to add murals in Albany, because as I’ve grown up, I’ve watched some of the most run-down and ugly walls turn into beautiful art, just like this one. “Illuminated” is on a wall near a parking garage downtown, very close to the oldest building in Albany. It breaks my heart that the space around that building has become a wasteland of parking lots and uncared-for buildings, and I’m really happy that there’s a mural now, because slowly, the neighborhood is coming back to life. I’m so thankful for the Capital Walls project.

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