Mural festivals are all about celebrating community! As part of Chautauqua County’s first mural festival, Paint CHQ, four communities are installing murals by regional and international artists, as well as hosting artist talks, mural dedications, and an exciting lineup of local art events – all FREE and family friendly!
Attend an event, observe the process of a mural being installed throughout the week, or follow the mural trail and see them all!
UPDATE: Due to an issue involving his arrival to the United States, the dates and times for events involving Dunkirk muralist Alain Welter has been postponed, with a reschedule date and time TBD.
*notes Paint CHQ sponsored event
Friday, September 5
Westfield
- First Friday – 5 to 8 p.m.
Visit the Village of Westfield’s First Friday where you’ll enjoy local businesses, vendors, live music, and a pedestrian-only Main Street from Pearl to Portage Streets. Include a stop at the Living Glass Gallery for the opening of the exhibit Biophilic Design with Art and Glass with Q&A from 6 to 8 p.m.
Sunday, September 7
Westfield
- Songwriters Circle – 1 p.m.
Stop by Lake Shore Center for the Arts (49 S. Portage St.) to help celebrate the Center’s 10th anniversary with a special edition of Songwriters Circle. at 1 p.m., featuring Danny Lynn Wilson, Miranda Wilcox, Michael Gerholdt, and Keith Medley.
Monday, September 8
Sherman
- *Paint CHQ Mural Festival Artist Talk – 6 to 8 p.m.
Kicking off the Paint CHQ Mural Festival at The Cornerstone Restaurant (104 E. Main St.), this event with muralist duo Justin Suarez, aka Aerosol Kingdom, of Rochester and Emily Ding of L.A. will include a discussion on their art and careers, with time for Q & A.
Tuesday, September 9
Westfield
- *Paint CHQ Mural Festival Artist Talk – 5 to 6 p.m.
Join us at Eason Hall (23 Elm St.) as Paint CHQ muralist Dominic Laporte (Drift Mural Co.) of Ottawa, Ontario speaks about his work and takes your questions.
Wednesday, September 10
Sherman
- LMNOP Gallery: Extended Gallery Hours – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cache Baroque Art & Antiques: Extended Hours – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Westfield
- Artist Talk with Audrey Dowling – 1 to 2 p.m.
Join us for a reception and artist talk by local artist and gallery owner Audrey Dowling, celebrating the official unveiling of Sunrise to Sunset, a 4′ x 10’ mixed media mural at the Portage Hill Art Gallery (6439 Portage Rd.) You may also visit the gallery during business hours this week on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, September 11
Falconer
- *Paint CHQ Mural Festival Artist Talk – 6 to 8 p.m.
Discover more about the muralist Mandi Caskey, aka Miss Birdy, who joins Paint CHQ from Columbus, Ohio. This talk will take place at the Falconer Central School Auditorium (2 East Ave.).
Sherman
- LMNOP Gallery: Extended Gallery Hours – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cache Baroque Art & Antiques: Extended Hours – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, September 12
Westfield
- *Paint CHQ Mural Dedication – 5 to 7 p.m.
See the unveiling of Westfield’s newest mural by international artist and Paint CHQ muralist Dominic Laporte of Drift Mural Co. on the side of Grace & Abe’s (14 N. Portage St.), then stick around to enjoy live music, food and drinks, and more!
Can’t make it to the Mural Dedication in Westfield? Watch the livestream on Youtube!
Sherman
- LMNOP Gallery: Extended Gallery Hours – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cache Baroque Art & Antiques: Extended Hours – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 13
Sherman
- *Paint CHQ Mural Dedication – 1:30 p.m.
Local Artisans – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Music Festival – 2 to 11 p.m.
See Sherman’s first mural gracing The Cornerstone Restaurant by the talented muralists pairing up for Paint CHQ, Justin Suarez and Emily Ding! A full day of entertainment starts at 11:00am, when a variety of local creatives will be showcased, including Rosemary Crane (11:30am-5pm), Artigenics Body Art and Fine Art (Th & Fri 3-6pm and Sat 2-6pm) Cotey & Michelle Thiem from Adaptive DIYers (11:30am-5pm), Walt Covert (11am), Amy Polcaster from Full Spectrum Tie Dye (11:30am-late afternoon), Journey Inn Ministries (11:30am-late afternoon), and the Village will host an “Express Yourself” station for all ages (11am-5pm). Then stick around for the Sherman Music Festival with games and entertainment, vendors and food trucks, and live music into the night. - LMNOP Gallery: Extended Gallery Hours – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cache Baroque Art & Antiques: Extended Hours – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Falconer
- *Paint CHQ Mural Dedication – 3 p.m.
Start the day at Davis Park for the Farmers and Artisans Market at 10:30 a.m., enjoy live music, food trucks, face painting, scavenger hunt, historic walking tours, and then help the Village celebrate the completion of its first mural by Mandi Caskey on the State Lanes Bowling Alley (16 E. Main St.)! After the dedication, head back over to Davis Park for more family fun and a chicken barbeque by the Volunteer Fire Department. Throughout the day, West Main Mercantile will be holding demos and workshops, food tastings, crafts and more.
Saturday, September 20
Dunkirk
- *Paint CHQ Mural Dedication
You won’t want to miss Paint CHQ Mural Festival’s culminating celebration at Dunkirk’s Block Party, where you’ll enjoy live music, food, ice cream, beer and wine, face painting, bounce house, crafts, and more, up and down the 200 Block of Central Ave, which will be turned into a pedestrian-only street for this event. AND be one of the first to see the new mural on the side of the historic Coburn Building (123 Central Ave.) by international artist Alain Welter, marking the completion of his first mural in the United States!
To Be Determined
Dunkirk
- *Paint CHQ Mural Festival Artist Talk
Here you will have the opportunity to learn about the career of muralist Alain Welter from Luxembourg. The talk is tentatively set to be held at the Center for Innovation and Economic Development, (214 Central Ave.), just across the street from the site of his newest mural.