Frederick, MD
In late 2023, I had the privilege of painting a stunning new addition to Frederick’s public art landscape — The Friendship Bridge Mural, located on the north wall of The Center – Sound, Mind, Body at 28 East 6th Street.
This full-wall mural was designed by the building’s owners and inspired by one of Frederick’s most cherished landmarks: the stone arch “Friendship Bridge” over Carroll Creek. My role was to take their beautiful design concept and translate it, with precision and care, onto the large exterior wall — transforming their vision into a lasting, vibrant reality.
The owners of The Center described the mural as a long-planned, community-oriented art project — one that would create a meaningful visual connection between downtown and uptown Frederick.
Their proposal was enthusiastically approved by both the Frederick Arts Council and the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), each recognizing the value of expanding public art into the north end of downtown. The project reflects the growing identity of the North Market Area (NOMA) — a district increasingly known for its art galleries, creative spaces, and local culture.
The mural’s imagery draws inspiration from Carroll Creek’s iconic Friendship Bridge. The design depicts the bridge reflected in rippled water, where a lotus-like mandala centerpiece emerges in the reflection — a symbol representing collective humanity and connectedness across cultures and time.
The lotus theme, as the owners describe, “evokes ancient airs of civilizations past,” celebrating both our shared human story and the harmony between downtown’s historic beauty and uptown’s creative energy.
My responsibility was to ensure that the mural’s design came to life faithfully on the building’s surface. Large-scale murals require meticulous layout, scaling, and color matching. Each detail — from the arches and water reflections to the intricate mandala — had to be accurately proportioned and visually balanced at full scale.
Using high-performance exterior paints and a combination of spray and brush techniques, I worked section by section, building up color layers to capture the illusion of movement, depth, and light. The wall’s texture added another dimension, giving the artwork a sense of permanence and integration with its environment.
Bringing a community’s design to life is always an honor — it’s a collaboration between imagination, craft, and purpose.
The Friendship Bridge Mural now serves as both a visual anchor and cultural symbol for Frederick’s north end. It celebrates Carroll Creek’s charm while highlighting the creative spirit and collaboration that define this city.
For me, this project was about more than painting a wall. It was about helping translate a community’s message — one of unity, connection, and beauty — into something tangible that residents and visitors can experience for years to come.