Keller and Bloom are now artistic partners who are giving back to the society that once persecuted them. Keller and Bloom have both had several run-ins with the law regarding graffiti charges.
“The first night we met we painted together,” Bloom said. “We’ve painted every single day together except for the weeks when Ben was in jail.”
Now, they’ve paired up to paint murals all around town. Graffiti no longer tempts them.
“We don’t want to do that anymore,” Bloom said. “And we’re too busy.”
Many residents in town have commissioned murals from Keller and Bloom.
“We want to put our two cents onto the community,” Keller said.
Now, the community of Willimantic, Conn., is getting brighter thanks to inmates who create art in the area.
“Inmates with artistic skills have been painting murals all over the city,” said Jerome Paun, the attorney who represented Keller during a graffiti charge. “There are hundreds of murals. It lets them give back to society.”
Bloom agrees and is eager to continue to create.
“I see a really big vision in this town,” Bloom said. “There are so many blank canvases.”
Painting murals is an excellent outlet for creative energy that contributes to the beauty of a community. Enroll today in a class on mural painting to find out how you can complete projects that will brighten up your hometown. Classes will be tailored to students of all artistic levels from beginning to advanced. Professional teachers will offer valuable insight and knowledge on mural paintings.
Read the entire Courant article at http://www.courant.com/entertainment/arts/hc-willimantic-muralists-0728-20130726,0,4290791.story.