Mural might be moved

But whether it should be is a point of dispute

When it was created, the mural outside the former Libby’s Torrington Furniture store was intended as “a gift to the people of Torrington.”

The future of that gift recently became a point of contention, and those seeking to preserve are working on a solution, though not everyone agrees on what the outcome should be.

The issue of saving the work of art arose after Vincent Cappelletti this summer purchased the Main Street building that formerly housed Libby’s. Cappelletti noted his intent to remove the mural painted in 2011 by students in the After School Arts Program of Washington Depot and in its place install period windows during his rehabilitation of the building for apartments, a diner and an a emporium.

The plan drew opposition from those who do not agree that the mural should be removed.

Karl Noelke, owner of Noelke Gallery on Water Street informed the group “Our Culture is Beautiful” of the mural removal plan and a meeting was recently held at the site across from the side entrance to City Hall. Cappelletti and Mayor Elinor Carbone and about 100 other people attended the meeting.

Now, according to Joanne Torti, executive director of the After School Arts Program!, a nonprofit organization, Cappelletti is willing to carefully remove the panels under the supervision of the person who originally installed it, a search is under way to find a location that “best serves the community it was intended for,” and she believes they might have found a location that “will best serve the community.” She did not disclose the potential site.

Torti said in her experience Cappelletti is an advocate for the arts, has communicated well about the issue and expressed concern when he bought the building about whether the mural could be preserved. She said the mural was an project that brought together students from Washington, Litchfield, Torrington and beyond to “work towards a common goal and create a meaningful piece of art that

could be shared by all. It was a gift to the people of Torrington.”

Cappelletti was at the building this week, as he is most days, while he and workers renovate the space.

“I have agreed to work with the original installing artist to take the mural down panel by panel, number them, and store them

properly until a new home for the mural can be found,” he said. “The mural is showing some wear and may need some repairs. I simply need to remove it soon to be able to install the windows and I need to do it by Nov. 1 to allow my workers to be ready to put the windows in.”

Cappelletti said he would not be adverse to having another work of art grace the side of the building facing City Hall at some point in the future.

But Noelke said objections remain to moving the mural.

“This is an iconic sitespecific art work that was designed and inspired by its location. Joanne Torti has not sought approval from our side on the site,” Noelke said.

He said the shape of the building affects the mural.

“Is she (Torti) going to insure that it is north facing light so the art is shown in the original light intended?” Noelke said. “Will she orient the compass component in space exactly as the lead artist intended? The young artists around the corner are heartbroken and devastated about moving their mural.”

Noelke called the mural “a very high quality work of art with a tremendous welcoming spirit.” Matt Wood, the lead artist, packed the mural with subtle powerful content and it was executed mainly by the young artists under his guidance, Noelke said.

John Torsiello / For Hearst Connecticut Media Work is ongoing to preserve this mural that was created former Libby’s Torrington Furniture store and move it to another location.