Tkazyik, left, and Palaia

POUGHKEEPSIE – In celebration of public art in Poughkeepsie, local artist Franc Palaia was joined by Mayor John Tkazyik and members from the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Tuesday to commemorate the relocation of his mural “Swimmers & Rowers” to the Duro parking lot on the corner of Main Street and the Arterial.

“We are celebrating the move of a beautiful mural that was painted in 2005 to commemorate the Empire State Games,” said Chamber Executive Vice President Audra Gerty.

Originally, Palaia was commissioned to paint the murals in honor of the games by the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. “This particular theme was athletics,” said Palaia explaining how there are four sections to the mural that each represents a different sport that was hosted at the ESG: swimming, rowing, hockey, and gymnastics.

The swimming and rowing sections are the two pieces of the mural that were dedicated to the Duro parking lot during Tuesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony and the hockey portion is on display in the Civic Center skating rink while the gymnastics portion is still “looking for a home.”

The wall that the mural is installed on is owned by the city and, according to Mayor John Tkazyik, helps enhance the quality of life for Poughkeepsie residents and promote rich educational and recreational opportunities.

  “We’ve really have a walking tour in Poughkeepsie and murals are one part of them,” said Tkazyik added saying that the mural dedicated on Tuesday is now an additional destination for those who come to enjoy the artistic culture in Poughkeepsie.

Tkazyik said Poughkeepsie is fast becoming “the mural capital” of the region.