For Jason Mumford, what is a passion for painting is also a passion for portraying Erie.
The 36-year-old Erie native has completed a dozen large-scale mural paintings around northwestern Pennsylvania since founding The Patriot Mural Company, an enterprise that touts its ability to "convert building facades and room walls into vibrant, colorful paintings," in 2005.
Not surprisingly, his work often radiates patriotic themes. But some of his most well-known and most-loved pieces are about his hometown. Like the mural across a railroad bridge proclaiming "Erie's on the move!" — it now covers what was once just peeling paint. Or the one commissioned by a logistics company that welcomes visitors to downtown Erie — it paints a scene of Erie’s treasured Flagship Niagara’s role in the War of 1812 and riffs on Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's admonition to "Don't give up the ship!" (In this case, it’s "Don't give up the shipment.") Though it's not always easy transforming a huge industrial facade into something artful, Mumford has nothing but love for his job.
Keystone Edge (KE): Where did you learn how to paint?
Jason Mumford (JM): I took a painting class in my senior year of high school. That experience gave me the "painting bug," so I decided to study art at Houghton College in Western New York. They have a very, very good program.
KE: The subjects of your murals are so fascinating. Do you come up with the ideas for them–or is that a decision you cede to your clients?
JM: Generally speaking, the client has the wall space and some sort of basic idea as far as subject matter. From there, I'll do some scale drawings, and I'll revise them until something clicks with the client. So you could say it's a back-and-forth process.
KE: How long does it take for you to complete a typical project?
JM: It really depends. My most recent project, which I just finished this past August, was my biggest one to date, and it took about three months. That is pretty typical for a large-scale mural project.
KE: We just had one of the hottest summers on record. How did you handle working in the heat?
JM: Dealing with the weather is definitely the hardest part of my job. Luckily, my body gets acclimated to the sun.
KE: What else is challenging about creating these murals?
JM: The job is so physically demanding. You have to prep the wall with a lot of scrubbing—which I do all by hand—and pressure washing. Erie has a lot of old buildings that need a lot of prep work.
KE: Many of your projects depict the most storied chapters in Erie's history. Do you feel art like this instills pride in local residents?
JM: I think so. Erie is a great place to live and work, and my work tends to celebrate that and the spirit of Erie.
KE: Many of your projects are located in high-traffic areas of Erie that could benefit from an aesthetic lift. Do you think your murals make Erie a more appealing place to live?
JM: I do. So many buildings are in a state of disrepair, so it's important that we clean them up and brighten them up with some artwork. There's no doubt about it that art is a big part of a community—when you go to big cities like Philly, you see a lot of murals. Erie is a smaller city that lags behind in that respect, making it all the more important to have art out there for the public to see.
KE: Do you think local and state government should invest more in public art?
JM: Yes, Erie should put more money behind public art. But the art should be funded by private donors and businesses as I think whatever monies the local government has available should go toward encouraging potential employers to set up shop in Erie to revitalize our local economy.
Speaking of revitalizing, I think a great place to put colorful murals is the 12th Street business/industrial corridor that has hemorrhaged manufacturing jobs in recent years. Perhaps that would be a component in encouraging those potential employers to move here.
KE: I imagine people have lots of nice things to say about your work.
JM: So far, I've never received a negative comment — only lots of positive ones!
KE: What would be your dream project?
JM: My last project was my biggest one yet at about 4,800 square feet — but even still, I'd like to go bigger. Larger murals are more challenging. Plus, the size of the image makes it more powerful and makes it hold more weight.
As for subject matter, I'd love to depict the Battle of Lake Erie from the War of 1812 again. That event is at the heart and soul of the city's history — and we as a city are about to celebrate the bicentennial of the War of 1812.
KE: Okay, back to reality. What is your next project?
JM: I just quoted a project for GE Transportation. It would depict a locomotive scene that depicts their history as an Erie employer. Right now, I'm still in discussions.
AMANDA PRISCHAK is an Erie-based freelance writer. You can read more of her work here, or send feedback here.
