Residents can help create a rainbow mural in Rockville Centre

Rainbows have become a symbol of hope amid the coronavirus pandemic, with many kids and families coloring rainbows and hanging them in their windows for the community to see when they get out for some fresh air.

As Laura Montaruli, owner of Hue Studios on Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre, was driving around the village recently, dropping off to-go art kits at students’ homes, she saw the rainbows and had an idea.

“I saw rainbows in all these windows, and I thought it was amazing,” she said, “I thought of doing a rainbow mural for the studio window, and students would be able to do their own piece…

“Then, as I thought more about it, I said, ‘it doesn’t just need to be my students,’” she explained. “I started reaching out to the community and the Chamber of Commerce about it.”

Soon after, the art teacher was on the phone with Mayor Francis X. Murray, who agreed to display the finished mural inside village hall.

Now Montaruli is asking the entire community to get involved with the “Rainbow of Hope” project. She is delivering the 4-by-4-inch canvas squares to houses in the village for families to make art together. Those squares will make up a large rainbow mural, and people can register on Hue Studio’s website to receive a blank square.

Each square has one color assigned to it, and the artist can decorate the square using materials of only that color. However, no artistic ability or even art supplies are required. Montaruli is encouraging people to “get creative” with whatever they have at home. For example, one person’s color was green so they collected leaves from their backyard and glued them to the square.

“It’s open to any mixed media,” Montaruli said. “The more materials used, the better it will look. This is really for anyone and everyone [to participate.]”

Once she has all the squares, Montaruli will connect them on wood to make a mural about 5 feet tall and 9 feet wide. So far, she’s handed out more than 200 squares. She’ll need about 200 more to complete the mural as planned, but the size is subject to change.

Montaruli hopes the project will keep people busy while staying at home, and also give everyone something to look forward to. “I’m excited to put it together,” she added. “I miss working and teaching, so it gives me something to do, too. ”

The illustrator and Pratt Institute graduate grew up in Rockville Centre and opened Hue Studios in September 2019. While the business is currently closed, it usually offers kids’ workshops, portfolio classes for students applying for art school, events for adults, birthday parties and other art programs.

Montaruli would like all completed squares to be returned by May 11. If social distancing measures are lifted soon after, she would hope to have her students help her assemble the mural.

For more information, click here.