ROCHESTER — An 85-foot wall at the city’s James W. Foley Memorial Community Center is being transformed into an explosion of color by North Berwick, Maine-based artist Spencer McLeod.
Originally from Portland, Macleod attended the Maine Art Institute. He said he has been making art for decades, including murals and other street art.
“I connected with Matt Wyatt and Amy Reagan (of the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts) through social media,” McLeod said. “I went to a digital art show they made, in December or January I think. It’s new to me, but I had a lot of fun.”
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“We’ve worked with Spenser before,” said RMFA co-founder Matt Wyatt. “He’s very talented and I’m looking forward to seeing the finished mural.”
Wyatt said the mural was commissioned by the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts and paid for through sponsorships and donations.
One of Macleod’s favorite types of art is what he calls mash-up collage. Murals in the community center will be in this style.
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“There’s a lot of vintage cartoons like the 1950s and 1960s with their own palettes and different retro eras.”
McLeod says his preferred medium is spray paint, a water-based interior paint he feels comfortable working with.
The mural is expected to be complete and ready to view by the end of the week.
People saw his art near the coast and they probably didn’t know it was his.
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“I did a 60-foot mural at the Ox Bow Brewery in Portland,” he said. “I did two murals at Stoneface Brewing Co. in Newington, both in their dining area, and I did the beer label design for them as well.”
In Portsmouth, patrons of Mr Bubble’s car wash may have seen giant murals on the side of the building depicting local landmarks. This is also Macleod’s work.
Macleod can be found at spensermacleod.com and Instagram @leonardodevinci, or email [email protected]
