Painting the City: Corning’s Alley Art Project
You can’t walk through Corning without noticing the vibrant walls of color that fill the community’s alleyways and the historic brick buildings of the Gaffer District. These beautiful murals are part of The Alley Art Project, a 17-year collaboration between The Rockwell Museum, Corning’s beloved Smithsonian Affiliate, and the High School Learning Center (HSLC) of the Corning-Painted Post Area School District. Since 2022, Corning Community College (CCC) has also joined in on the fun!
Every year, HSLC students paint a mural under the guidance of renowned contemporary artists, local muralists, and Rockwell educators. Past collaborators include artists like Virgil Ortiz, Sarah C. Rutherford, and Alice Mizrachi. These murals can be found in various locations, from hallway walls on CCC’s campus to large-scale installations on the backs of Market Street’s iconic buildings. Each mural is inspired by an artwork from The Rockwell Museum’s permanent collection. With mentorship from Rockwell educators and artists, students design murals that incorporate their unique ideas into meaningful public art, all while drawing creative inspiration from their selected Rockwell artwork. These carefully crafted murals capture the vision of Corning’s youth and encourage viewers to see art, color, and shapes in new and unexpected ways.
Painting a mural is no easy task, it requires months and months of meticulous planning. From scouting a location and selecting an artist mentor, to drafting designs and bringing them to life, the annual tradition of the Alley Art Project is a display of passion, creativity, and community outreach.
Not only do participating students get to leave a lasting mark on Corning’s art scene, they also gain academic credit! Yet, for the students involved, painting a mural is more than just academic credit, it’s an opportunity to collaborate, express their voices, and leave a lasting impact on their community.
Students join the mural class with varying levels of artistic experience, some with prior skills, others without, but regardless of their starting point, they all develop a sense of ownership and pride in their work throughout the process. From the initial stages of mural planning to adding the finishing touches, students refine their creative skills while learning key elements of art like color theory and composition. Beyond artistic skills, they also develop valuable life skills, including teamwork, project management, and the confidence to bring their creative ideas to life.
Check out the past three Alley Art murals:
The 2024 Alley Art Project, Cosmic Connections, explored students’ relationships with the people who shape their lives, like their friends and family. The Rockwell Museum, HSLC, and CCC collaborated with artist Alice Mizrachi to design the mural, which is located at the Schuyler Hall Maker Space on Corning Community College’s campus.
Before painting the Cosmic Connections mural, we had the privilege of sitting down with Rockwell educator and Alley Art Project specialist Amy Ruza, along with 2024 Alley Art teaching artist Alice Mizrachi, on our What the FLX! podcast. To hear about the mural from their POV, check out Episode 7: Making Connections Through Art!
The 2023 Alley Art Project, Heroes, celebrated local youth and their impact on society. The Rockwell Museum, in partnership with HSLC and CCC, worked with students and teaching mural artist Sarah C. Rutherford to bring this vision to life. This mural can be found at the Marconi Italian American War Veterans Post 47, located at 26 W Pulteney St, Corning, NY.
Inspired by The Rockwell’s 2022 annual theme, Spark! From Inspiration to Creation, the 2022 Alley Art Project, Worlds Collide, was created in collaboration with HSLC and CCC. Under the guidance of teaching mural artist Tori Burdick, HSLC coordinator Dave Quackenbush, CCC art professor Hiram Cray, and Rockwell education staff, students designed and painted this mural at the Digital Dome Theater at SUNY Corning Community College, located at 1 Academic Drive, Corning, NY.
The Alley Art Project has left a lasting impact, not only on the teaching artists, students, and Rockwell educators involved, but also on the Corning community and the many visitors who experience the vibrant public art. Whether you’re a local, or out exploring the Finger Lakes region, these murals invite you to witness the area’s growing art scene. Use the digital Alley Art Project Mural Map to discover all 16 murals scattered throughout Corning, or, if you’re up for a challenge, stop by The Rockwell Museum to pick up an Alley Art Project Scavenger Hunt handout and put your sleuthing skills to the test!
In 2025, The Rockwell Museum’s programs and exhibitions are celebrating the theme of Color! and the 2025 Alley Art Project will follow suit. Painting normally takes place in the fall, so mark your calendar and stay tuned to RockwellMuseum.org/events for updates on Alley Art-related activities.
Alongside the Alley Art Project, public art thrives throughout Corning and its neighboring communities, like Hammondsport and Hornell. As you explore our region’s art scene, take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship behind the murals and sculptures brought to life by local artists.
Painting the City: Corning’s Alley Art Project
You can’t walk through Corning without noticing the vibrant walls of color that fill the community’s alleyways and the historic brick buildings of the Gaffer District. These beautiful murals are part of The Alley Art Project, a 17-year collaboration between The Rockwell Museum, Corning’s beloved Smithsonian Affiliate, and the High School Learning Center (HSLC) of the Corning-Painted Post Area School District. Since 2022, Corning Community College (CCC) has also joined in on the fun!
Every year, HSLC students paint a mural under the guidance of renowned contemporary artists, local muralists, and Rockwell educators. Past collaborators include artists like Virgil Ortiz, Sarah C. Rutherford, and Alice Mizrachi. These murals can be found in various locations, from hallway walls on CCC’s campus to large-scale installations on the backs of Market Street’s iconic buildings. Each mural is inspired by an artwork from The Rockwell Museum’s permanent collection. With mentorship from Rockwell educators and artists, students design murals that incorporate their unique ideas into meaningful public art, all while drawing creative inspiration from their selected Rockwell artwork. These carefully crafted murals capture the vision of Corning’s youth and encourage viewers to see art, color, and shapes in new and unexpected ways.
Painting a mural is no easy task, it requires months and months of meticulous planning. From scouting a location and selecting an artist mentor, to drafting designs and bringing them to life, the annual tradition of the Alley Art Project is a display of passion, creativity, and community outreach.
Not only do participating students get to leave a lasting mark on Corning’s art scene, they also gain academic credit! Yet, for the students involved, painting a mural is more than just academic credit, it’s an opportunity to collaborate, express their voices, and leave a lasting impact on their community.
Students join the mural class with varying levels of artistic experience, some with prior skills, others without, but regardless of their starting point, they all develop a sense of ownership and pride in their work throughout the process. From the initial stages of mural planning to adding the finishing touches, students refine their creative skills while learning key elements of art like color theory and composition. Beyond artistic skills, they also develop valuable life skills, including teamwork, project management, and the confidence to bring their creative ideas to life.
Check out the past three Alley Art murals:
The 2024 Alley Art Project, Cosmic Connections, explored students’ relationships with the people who shape their lives, like their friends and family. The Rockwell Museum, HSLC, and CCC collaborated with artist Alice Mizrachi to design the mural, which is located at the Schuyler Hall Maker Space on Corning Community College’s campus.
Before painting the Cosmic Connections mural, we had the privilege of sitting down with Rockwell educator and Alley Art Project specialist Amy Ruza, along with 2024 Alley Art teaching artist Alice Mizrachi, on our What the FLX! podcast. To hear about the mural from their POV, check out Episode 7: Making Connections Through Art!
The 2023 Alley Art Project, Heroes, celebrated local youth and their impact on society. The Rockwell Museum, in partnership with HSLC and CCC, worked with students and teaching mural artist Sarah C. Rutherford to bring this vision to life. This mural can be found at the Marconi Italian American War Veterans Post 47, located at 26 W Pulteney St, Corning, NY.
Inspired by The Rockwell’s 2022 annual theme, Spark! From Inspiration to Creation, the 2022 Alley Art Project, Worlds Collide, was created in collaboration with HSLC and CCC. Under the guidance of teaching mural artist Tori Burdick, HSLC coordinator Dave Quackenbush, CCC art professor Hiram Cray, and Rockwell education staff, students designed and painted this mural at the Digital Dome Theater at SUNY Corning Community College, located at 1 Academic Drive, Corning, NY.
The Alley Art Project has left a lasting impact, not only on the teaching artists, students, and Rockwell educators involved, but also on the Corning community and the many visitors who experience the vibrant public art. Whether you’re a local, or out exploring the Finger Lakes region, these murals invite you to witness the area’s growing art scene. Use the digital Alley Art Project Mural Map to discover all 16 murals scattered throughout Corning, or, if you’re up for a challenge, stop by The Rockwell Museum to pick up an Alley Art Project Scavenger Hunt handout and put your sleuthing skills to the test!
In 2025, The Rockwell Museum’s programs and exhibitions are celebrating the theme of Color! and the 2025 Alley Art Project will follow suit. Painting normally takes place in the fall, so mark your calendar and stay tuned to RockwellMuseum.org/events for updates on Alley Art-related activities.
Alongside the Alley Art Project, public art thrives throughout Corning and its neighboring communities, like Hammondsport and Hornell. As you explore our region’s art scene, take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship behind the murals and sculptures brought to life by local artists.
