A blank wall at the Cold Spring Coffee House is being transformed into a colorful mural thanks to the efforts of the Haldane Art Club. The project, which has been in progress throughout the school year, will depict a story of coffee, community, and the Hudson Valley in a single piece of artwork that will soon be available to view in one of Cold Spring’s most popular gathering spaces. The mural features a coffee cup spilling vibrant colors which create an abstract image of the Hudson Valley.
“The club felt like incorporating elements of not only coffee, but of Cold Spring’s location, would be important for where the mural is going to be displayed,” junior and Art Club President Frances Donahue said. The mural stretches across three wooden panels, each measuring four by six feet.
Donahue explained that the final design combined ideas from multiple students’ sketches in the art club. Art Club Vice President and junior Jacqueline McCormick helped create early designs, and Art Club Treasurer and junior Ruby McCormick, the Art Club’s treasurer helped organize the project’s expenses.
In previous years, the club focused more on smaller projects, such as creating posters and sets for the plays and musicals, but this year the group decided to challenge themselves with the mural. “One of my main goals this year as president was to get the club more involved in our community,” Donahue said.
After Donahue approached Craig Roffman, the owner of The Cold Spring Coffeehouse, with the pitch for the mural, he reportedly was very open to the idea. The outdoor seating area at the cafe contains a large blank wall, and the business has a history of displaying local artwork. Roffman worked closely with the students throughout the planning process, but allowed the club creative freedom when it came to the final design.
The project was funded primarily by a grant sourced from the Haldane Arts Alliance. The club wrote the grant proposal before holiday break and received approval in January.
Students in the Art Club currently meet during tenth period several times a week to continue work on the mural, often staying after school until late afternoon to make additional progress. “I feel the mural will be a popular attraction for tourists to take photos next to, and just in general make the place really cater towards that Hudson Valley vibe,” Ruby McCormick said.
The club hopes to complete the mural sometime in June. Once finished, the artwork will serve as a permanent connection between Haldane and the Cold Spring community.
