As members of Scranton Tomorrow’s Mural Arts Committee and their partners prepare to unveil the latest in a series of public art works in Downtown Scranton, two upcoming events will showcase the message behind Matthew Willey’s “The Good of the Hive” mural: a master class and lecture with the artist on October 14, and a Mural Dedication at First Friday in November.
Willey is installing “The Good of the Hive” mural on the Scranton Civic Ballet Company building, Rear 234 Mifflin Avenue, Downtown Scranton. A project of Scranton Tomorrow, presented by the Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement, “The Good of the Hive” is made possible with support from community sponsors, including: Lackawanna County Commissioners, Lackawanna Heritage Valley, The University of Scranton, Space Time Mead and Cider Works, Terrana Law Firm, and Lackawanna College.
Willey is world-renowned muralist who is raising awareness about the importance of pollinators through his art. He’s been painting the bee-themed mural in Scranton since late August, and the piece will be complete at the end of October. This project brings him closer to achieving his personal commitment to hand-paint 50,000 honeybees — the number of bees in a healthy, thriving hive — in murals around the world. “Matthew’s work is much more than an inspiring mural,” said Rose Randazzo, chairperson of Scranton Tomorrow’s Mural Arts Program. “It’s a movement. Scranton is now connected to a global initiative to save the bees through public mural art.”
The Good of the Hive Lecture
As a gift to the community, Willey will present a lecture, "The Good of the Hive" on Friday, October 14, at 6 p.m., at Lackawanna College, 501 Vine Street, Downtown Scranton. The event is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first-served. Lackawanna College is the academic sponsor of this event.
“We are honored to be the premier sponsor of this unique mural project that will be on display in our city for years to come,” said Kara Seitzinger, director of public affairs and advisor liaison to the president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “Matt's work is inspiring communities around the world to think collectively, in the same way that honeybees do. The health of a honeybee hive is the perfect metaphor for the health of a community. We encourage the community to attend his lecture to hear his fascinating story and insights.”
Mural Dedication Ceremony
The completed mural will be unveiled at a Dedication Ceremony at the Scranton Civic Ballet Company building, Rear 234 Mifflin Avenue, on Friday, November 4, at 5 p.m. Everyone in the community is invited to the celebration. For details, visit scrantontomorrow.org and follow Scranton Tomorrow on social media.
Learn More
For more information about Matthew Willey's global arts project, "The Good of the Hive," click here.
For more information about Scranton Tomorrow's Mural Arts Program, click here.
To learn more about The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement, click here.