We caught up with Jesse Melanson this week, who you’ve probably all seen hovering on a lift above Centennial Circle, painting one of two murals that are part of a public art initiative by the Arts District of Glens Falls. He shares a bit about his background, the inspiration behind his design, and some impressions of our little city over the course of his time here…
Jesse Melanson in front of his completed mural | Photo: Bri Lyons
Tell us about yourself!
I'm from Truckee, California, which is North Lake Tahoe for those who don't know that area. I’ve been painting murals since 2019. I've done maybe a dozen across the country, ranging from smaller walls like 10x12 feet to as big as this current one, which is almost 50 feet high by 100 feet wide. This is the largest square footage mural that I’ve done. I painted one in Malden, Massachusetts that was 65 feet high by 45 feet wide, so that was a little higher, but the square footage was a little less.
How did you get your start as an artist?
I moved to Austin, Texas from Tahoe during a career transition. I had a hard time finding a job in Austin and adjusting to the city life and culture, but eventually I got a job as a digital art teacher at a high school. I did that for a year. I'm not a teacher. I'm not very good at it. So I quit and I was back in a transition period.
There were a lot of murals around Austin, and I saw that they had a public arts division for community and culture. In Austin, 2% of the total cost of new construction has to be allocated to the arts. It's a booming city, so we're talking about millions of dollars. So, I started going to informational meetings just to figure out how I could get involved. From there, I applied and landed my first mural in Austin, and continued to build my portfolio in cities across the country.
How did this opportunity catch your eye?
Actually through an Instagram follower. She had seen this opportunity on a Facebook group and forwarded it to me. I applied right away.
It was also a plus that I have a connection to the Lake George area. My mom’s side of the family is from Latham, and she grew up there. As a kid, we spent a lot of time at our condo on Lake George.
What was the inspiration behind your mural?
My main inspiration was the Adirondacks. I know there’s not necessarily a waterfall here like the one pictured, but I thought it was a nice tie to the mountains farther north. As for the fox, it’s just an animal I admire, and I love the contrast of its colors with the greens and blues. Originally, there was a 50 foot moose where the hot air balloons are, but I was told there’s no moose in the city. Apparently there are hot air balloons!
With these projects, it’s important to get feedback and make sure that it’s a collaborative effort to come up with the final artwork. These things shouldn’t just be about the artist, it’s about the community. It’s about making sure everyone feels involved, connected, and included. I would never want the art to be directed at only one audience. I prefer that it’s open to interpretation, and that everyone can somehow see themselves represented in it.
Mural in progress: just prior to adding the hot air balloons
Tell us about your process. What challenges did you face and what did you love about painting this mural?
The wall was in really bad shape. It was crumbling. Anytime I sprayed it, it would spray pieces of brick back at me. I put about 50 gallons of masonry sealant on it. The sealant helped to harden the surface and also helped to flatten it, which helps when painting it.
I always prep the walls for my murals myself, and I always end the project saying I should have hired someone else to prep it. But at the end of the day, it’s rewarding to know that I did it all myself — and saved myself some money, too.
Prepping the wall took about four days, and once that was done, I completed the painting in eight days. I’ve had a couple of people say that seems fast, but when you’re focused on one thing for 10 hours each day, you’d be surprised how much you can get done. And that applies in all of life!
Mural in progress: the first spots of color over the “doodle grid”
How has your experience in Glens Falls been? What was your favorite downtown spot to visit after you were done painting for the day?
Glens Falls seems pretty hip! I can see it’s moving in a positive direction. It’s a nice mix of the new and old, but I can see it’s becoming a little bit more modern, more contemporary.
I really liked Raul’s. They were really sweet and generous, and I loved having one of their margaritas after a long day. Mean Max was another favorite. I truly liked every place I stepped into. They were all equally welcoming.
So many people have stopped to say hello, or to say how much fun it’s been to watch, or to say thank you. Everyone has been really gracious, and it’s so nice to hear that something I’m doing is creating a positive impact.
