History of Pawtucket

Adorning the side of the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, the Pawtucket History Mural is freelance artist Brent Alan Bachelder’s tribute to Pawtucket and its role in shaping US history as the birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution. At its top, the mural brings viewers through a timeline of events and inventions dating as far back as 1789 and ending at 2001, along with an ordered list of all the US presidents. On either end is a depiction of Pawtucket, one set in the past painted in sepia and black and white, and the other set in the present, depicting Pawtucket’s revitalization as a energetic and exciting city as it ventures into the future.

The mural is one of many for Bachelder, who has maintained a freelance practice for over two and a half decades through his business, Club Neopolsi Designs, producing vibrant creations for businesses and organizations all over Rhode Island and beyond. Originally from Newry, Maine, he attained a BFA in sculpture at the Rhode Island School of Design in 1989 and a BFA in Graphic Design from Rhode Island College in 1999. He has left his vibrant designs in schools, day care centers, community organizations, roller rinks, laser tag arenas, restaurants, nightclubs, and more, and is also an avid arts educator, serving on the VSA Arts and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Education Rosters.

Todd Stong

Sources:
Correspondence with the artist

Lot Tot Mural

The Tot Lot Mural represents a community-wide beautification effort, led in large part by the Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation, as part of the 2008 Pawtucket Proud Day. The artist hired to carry out the bulk of planning for the project was Brent Alan Bachelder, who has completed a number of murals throughout Rhode Island. To come to a final design, Bachelder outsourced to neighborhood children, whose drawings he combined and projected onto the fence. At that point, with the outlines visible, the community took to painting. Color choices went to whoever held a brush, with the Bachedler’s stipulation that the grass had to be green and the sky had to be blue. Once the entire fence was painted in, Bachelder did touch-ups where necessary and painted black outlines around all the shapes to give them a graphic, popping feel. At six feet tall and 128 feet long, the mural was a substantial project, and one that transformed the previously blighted lot into a community center and gathering place for young children to play safely.

Todd Stong