PHOTOS: Wilkes-Barre mural causes controversy
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A large mural is the cause of controversy in a Wilkes-Barre neighborhood. Neighbors are now taking their complaints to the city to see what can be done about the concrete canvas.
Is it art? Or just an eyesore? A new mural in the Rolling Mill Hill section of Wilkes-Barre is causing controversy.
Several street artists painted on this building at Blackman and Arch Streets in recent days, and neighbors we spoke with are not happy about it.
'It's just not a good, it's just not a good look for the area, I don't think for anywhere in the city,' Rolling Mill Hill Resident Association President Linda Joseph told 28/22 News.
Joseph says other residents have reached out to her to complain about the abstract artwork.
Laura Mudlock is among them. She is the owner and director of a funeral home just across the street from the massive mural. Mudlock also lives above the funeral home.
'It's very upsetting to me. I don't like, I feel like I live in the ghetto right now,' Mudlock said.
But to many in the area, it isn't the spray paint that's the issue. It's what the paintings depict, and what neighbors say is a misrepresentation of the neighborhood.
Turning lemons into hope at lemonade stand in Scranton
'There's a police officer on the right side, the extreme right of the building, with what appears to be holes- bullet holes,' Joseph stated.
The painting Joseph is referring to shows what is supposed to be the antagonist from James Cameron's 1991 movie, Terminator 2. On the arch street side, another character from the film is featured.
Mudlock says, although they are characters from a movie, the artwork has a deeper meaning.
'This is pretty plain. This says I will not respect authority in any way, shape, or form,' Mudlock added.
28/22 News Reporter Avery Nape reached out to Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown for comment on the mural:
I understand that some residents are not happy with the drawings that were placed on the building. However, since the drawings were approved by the owner of the building, the city cannot mandate the drawings be removed.
Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown
That was not the response Joseph was hoping for.'How does that make you feel?' Nape asked.'Disappointed that we can't but determined to try to get something to change in the future,' Joseph replied.
28/22 News tried contacting the building owner where the mural exists, but was unable to reach him in time for this story.
In the meantime, Joseph says she and 10 to 15 other residents will take the issue to city council this week to see if anything can be done about the mural.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
PHOTOS: Wilkes-Barre mural causes controversy
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A large mural is the cause of controversy in a Wilkes-Barre neighborhood. Neighbors are now taking their complaints to the city to see what can be done about the concrete canvas. Is it art? Or just an eyesore? A new mural in the Rolling Mill Hill section of Wilkes-Barre is causing controversy. Several street artists painted on this building at Blackman and Arch Streets in recent days, and neighbors we spoke with are not happy about it. 'It's just not a good, it's just not a good look for the area, I don't think for anywhere in the city,' Rolling Mill Hill Resident Association President Linda Joseph told 28/22 News. Joseph says other residents have reached out to her to complain about the abstract artwork. Laura Mudlock is among them. She is the owner and director of a funeral home just across the street from the massive mural. Mudlock also lives above the funeral home. 'It's very upsetting to me. I don't like, I feel like I live in the ghetto right now,' Mudlock said. But to many in the area, it isn't the spray paint that's the issue. It's what the paintings depict, and what neighbors say is a misrepresentation of the neighborhood. Turning lemons into hope at lemonade stand in Scranton 'There's a police officer on the right side, the extreme right of the building, with what appears to be holes- bullet holes,' Joseph stated. The painting Joseph is referring to shows what is supposed to be the antagonist from James Cameron's 1991 movie, Terminator 2. On the arch street side, another character from the film is featured. Mudlock says, although they are characters from a movie, the artwork has a deeper meaning. 'This is pretty plain. This says I will not respect authority in any way, shape, or form,' Mudlock added. 28/22 News Reporter Avery Nape reached out to Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown for comment on the mural: I understand that some residents are not happy with the drawings that were placed on the building. However, since the drawings were approved by the owner of the building, the city cannot mandate the drawings be removed. Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown That was not the response Joseph was hoping for.'How does that make you feel?' Nape asked.'Disappointed that we can't but determined to try to get something to change in the future,' Joseph replied. 28/22 News tried contacting the building owner where the mural exists, but was unable to reach him in time for this story. In the meantime, Joseph says she and 10 to 15 other residents will take the issue to city council this week to see if anything can be done about the mural. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
6 hours ago
- CBS News
Some Three Rivers Arts Festival artists feel temporary location led to lower turnout
Temporary changes made to this year's Three Rivers Arts Festival created challenges for some attendees, which in turn impacted artists. Due to construction ahead of the NFL Draft Downtown, organizers were forced to find a new home for the festival. It was held on a parking lot in the Strip District between the Veterans Bridge and the 16th Street Bridge. Instead of being held over 10 days, it was held over four days. "It's affected my sales pretty harshly," said Dawn Lombard, a Milford, Pennsylvania-based artist who was selling her art, made of glass and metal, for the first time at the festival. Her artist friends raved about the festival, and she was expecting a similar experience. Instead, she said her sales were 75% down from where she had expected them to be by the end of the festival, ultimately meaning she lost money throughout the festival, combined with her travel and lodging costs. "It's hurtful to the pocketbook," she said. Chaz Letzkus, who has been selling his hidden-image art at the fair for the past quarter-century, said he believed the location of the festival this year was a major reason he was seeing fewer sales, along with it being a shorter festival and rain, which has become a regular occurrence at the festival. "I look at it as an outlier; it is not a normal Three Rivers Arts Festival," he said. "From what the vendors I've talked to said, Thursday and Friday were just kind of down, not normal. Yesterday was a great day. Today, not so much." He believes that after so many years Downtown, some people have trouble finding the festival. "I think people didn't know where it was or were not sure," Letzkus said. Brooke Horejsi, the Programming and Engagement Officer for festival organizer Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, said they did their best to educate the public beforehand on the location of the festival this year. Responding to concerns about the location, she said it was tough to find a site for the festival because of the construction Downtown ahead of the draft. "It took a couple of tries to find a space that could accommodate us," Horejsi said. "We're super excited to have a place this year." She explained the location was a factor as to why the festival was four, not 10 days this year. Both artists and attendees told KDKA-TV that they wished the festival were longer. Another challenge attendees faced in coming to the festival was parking. "I felt like it was somewhat of a barrier to coming just because we spent so long looking for somewhere to park, driving around the neighborhoods," said Ava Meadows. They told KDKA-TV that they had to park Downtown, and worried about having to carry any art they bought far distances. Others told KDKA-TV that they tried going to the festival, but after they were unable to find parking, they just went home. Festival organizers, for their part, ahead of the festival, encouraged people to take public transportation. "We did our best to get information out about getting down here early or parking in Downtown, in the Cultural District, and then taking public transportation here," Horejsi. "But we understand it's frustrating to come to an area where there's a lot going on and you have to try to find a spot." Not all artists had less than expected sales during the festival. "This has been a successful year for me," said Lawrenceville-based artist Sarah Watkins. "I find that a lot of people were in the Strip District making a day of it, going out to lunch and breakfast or dinner, and didn't even realize the festival is here, and kind of just made an afternoon of being here." She saw her sales increase year-over-year. Letzkus said he's been chatting with artists like Lombard, who are at the festival for the first year and are unhappy with the turnout. "Don't take this as the way it is. I think it will be better and better next year," he said. The reason is that next year's festival will be held at the under-construction Arts Landing, providing the festival with a permanent home. "In our view, next year is going to be even better than even previous years," Horejsi said.
Fox News
9 hours ago
- Fox News
Kobe Bryant mural vandalized for 2nd time days before riots grip Los Angeles
A mural dedicated to the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, in downtown Los Angeles was vandalized just a few days before the city exploded into riots over the Trump administration's illegal immigration raids. The "Mambas Forever" artwork showed the late Bryant family members embracing each other. White spray paint was used to deface the piece, according to FOX 11 Los Angeles. The mural is located in the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles, about 20 miles from Paramount, where the riots have taken place for several days. The artwork had just been restored on May 30 after it was initially defaced in April. Lakers star Luka Doncic helped pay for the mural's restoration at the time. It took weeks for the mural to be restored. Artist Louise Palsino celebrated the restoration just a few days ago in a post on Instagram. "Fully restored Kobe and Gigi mural all thanks to @lukadoncic and everyone who donated to the go fund me," he wrote. "It's great how a bad situation can bring so many people together to bring something back greater. There was so many people that had showed up to help out and it was highly appreciated. I really felt the LOS ANGELES love on this one." No suspects have been named. It's unclear if the mural will be restored for a second time. Bryant, an NBA superstar who spent his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and his daughter were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas in January 2020. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
