The Brightside: Local muralist honors Harriet Tubman
CAMBRIDGE, Md. – Every time Michael Rosato’s paint brush glides across yet another brick, he becomes one brush stroke closer towards finishing his masterpiece.
“This is a woman who needs to convey to the viewer, the person she’s about to draw in, you’re going to be safe. Its’ going to be daunting and scary, but trust me you know this is it,” explains Rosato, a local muralist.
It’s a message everyone needs to hear at some point in their life, but getting that message across through art is no easy task. It takes weeks to perfect, but luckily this isn’t Rosato’s first attempt at it.
“Art to me is the expression of that journey and it takes on a lot of different mediums, you know, in murals, in voices, in stories and so I’ve been doing it on my own for 35 years.”
And latest mural just happens to be next in a series of murals painted all across Dorchester County. Art that signifies Eastern Shore’s rich and unique history.
“I think it’s important because we all have a sense of place and belonging and in order for that to really root with inside yourself you have to look at the history of the place,” exclaims Rosato.
And Rosato’s latest piece of artwork does just that, it tells the important yet powerful story of the abolitionist leader Harriet Tubman.
A story he hopes will create special moments with those that get a chance to see it firsthand.
“I just hope that they’re engaged, that they get out of the moment, you know, the worrying about the bills or whatever and just take a moment to see outside the norm, to see possibilities.”
That’s why Rosato keeps going. Why he goes up and down the ladder for weeks. Why he dips his brush back in the paint, all for that reaction.
“You have to get away from the negative and just grasp a positive and embrace it.”
A goal the City of Cambridge has embraced since hiring Rosato to paint these powerful works of art, to do just that.
Downtown Cambridge Director Katie Clendaniel explains, “Putting up the public art builds a relationship with the community between what were trying to do to make things better. And it helps people see the better side of things versus the negative side of things.”
A relationship, a special moment that has the power to stop time even if its just for a few seconds.
“You can’t help but to look around and say wow this is special we have a gift, you know, this thing life as hectic as it gets it just takes a moment to step back and look at the beauty of individuals, the beauty of nature,” exclaims Rosato.
Since Roasto finished the mural on Monday, a picture of a little girl holding Harriet Tubman’s hand has gone viral.
It’s picture of a 3-year-old girl named Lovie was shared on Instagram and has captured the hearts of everyone across the nation and even internationally.
Tracy Kilgore Lynndee, a local shop owner, took the picture of her granddaughter before the mural was even finished.
