WILKES-BARRE — What if it was possible to create a fantasy world — one that broke down political and societal barriers, one that welcomed a diversity of ideas, one in which two people of different backgrounds were seen shaking hands, both stripped of their labels and seen, at their foundation, as humans. A world that ignited hope.
That is what Stephen Taren and Stephanie Cobb seek to create with their ongoing project: a 16-foot-high, 180-foot-long mural that is splashed across the side of what used to be an abandoned, decaying building.
“This is my fantasy,” Taren, 58, said of the 152 Horton St. building’s mural.
Walking along the mural, which resembles a lively city block, Taren pointed out many of the unique details that encompass the art. Among the printed vinyl is Karl Marx selling T-shirts, Marilyn Monroe and Bob Dylan sitting alongside one another on a stoop with a sign behind them that reads “Come in, it’s lonely,” Malcolm X and Richard Nixon shaking hands and Jesus with a cup of coffee. There is a tattoo shop, a psychic, a bike shop and a tavern side-by-side in the fictitious city.
Taren and Cobb, 23, took about four months to design the mural, which is still being put up. Taren said the initial idea was his, but that it was a “collaborative effort,” with Cobb as the graphic designer of the project.
Cars driving by slowed down to appreciate the life-like details of the mural as Taren discussed the celebrities, poets, artists and activists that he and Cobb chose for the mural. They are all people from different backgrounds and different eras that would not typically be hanging around together, Taren said. That’s what makes it a “fantasy world.”
“With today’s world, where everything seems so divided, I think this piece serves as an important reminder that we should always be kind to one another,” Cobb said.
Taren bought the building with the idea to restore it and brighten up his hometown of South Wilkes-Barre. The building is covered in different types of art, with the mural, which is 80 percent complete, being the biggest. Inside the building is Wet Paint Printing and Design — the business that helps fund this $8,000 project.
The fantasy does not end here, however. Taren’s ultimate goal is to get all the abandoned buildings in South Wilkes-Barre on the tax roll and “fill them with life.” Taren said it would be ideal if city officials would be willing to give away these buildings to local start-ups, in exchange for the new owners paying taxes and turning the buildings into “something more,” whether that be restaurants, shops or a piece of art — like he did.
“It’s about fantasy and hope,” Taren said of the message he strives to convey through the mural.
This idea was sparked by similar projects that Taren saw in Austin, Texas, and other big cities where neighborhoods that were run down were “afforded new life” by government initiatives.
The mural has had a great response so far, with people stopping by to admire it and offering compliments, but members of the public aren’t the only ones who enjoy the art.
According to Taren, Mayor Tony George loved the mural and the suggestion to improve more abandoned buildings when Taren mentioned it to him at the store’s opening six months ago. Taren is not sure what, if any, plan the city has to execute this idea, however.
Taren firmly believes that more projects such as this one could significantly benefit the city and those who occupy it. The area’s abandoned buildings are difficult to afford due to high insurance rates, he said. If the city provided more people with the opportunity, Taren contends, great improvement could be seen.
To quote a sign on the mural: “Keep your coins, I want change.”
