Norwalk's first public art mural debuting Saturday

The “Spread Your Wings” mural at Norwalk Town Square. Photo courtesy NewMark Merrill Companies Inc.

NORWALK — Norwalk’s first public art mural will be officially unveiled this Saturday during a community celebration at Norwalk Town Square.

The mural, titled “Spread Your Wings,” was painted on an exterior wall of the soon-to-open Grocery Outlet, one of the new anchors of Norwalk Town Square.

NewMark Merrill Companies Inc., which manages Norwalk Town Square, commissioned the original design from Beautify Earth, a non-profit organization dedicated to beautifying neighborhoods and communities. The mural will “serve as an artistic gathering place for the people of Norwalk to reflect on the vision for their community,” officials said.

“We are proud to commission the ‘Spread Your Wings’ mural as an artistic focal point and inspiration for our community,” said Sandy Sigal, president and chief executive officer of NewMark Merrill Companies. “The store wall provides a perfect canvas for the giant mural design which blends the history and cultural transformation underway in Norwalk.”

Norwalk Mayor Margarita Rios said Norwalk Town Square “provided the ideal location for the installation of this beautiful art project.”

“The City of Norwalk is a community that embraces the beauty in art and culture, and the addition of the art mural truly captures the message of connectedness, inspiration, and hope we want to share with residents and visitors alike,” said Rios. “I want to thank the artists and NewMark Merrill for their help in transforming a plain wall into a vision many will be able to enjoy for years to come.”

“Spread Your Wings” was created by artists Ruben Rojas and Cloe Hakakian.

A Los Angeles native, Rojas has painted in France and in cities across the United States, including for the cities of Santa Monica and West Hollywood. His work has been commissioned by the Los Angeles Zoo, along with corporations such as American Express and Reebok.

Hakakian is also a Los Angeles native whose media ranges from spray paints, oil paints, acrylics, and watercolors, and everything in between. She graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Neuroscience, and her field of study is evident in the fine detail and fascination with anatomy in her artwork.

Hakakian’s art commissions range from murals to traditional canvas work to tattoos, logo designs, and urban street art.

Saturday’s public celebration begins at 11 a.m.