Last week there were several businesses, organizations and residents around the city doing their part to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and the legendary “I Have a Dream” speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. 

Local hair salon Gel Salon has decided to commemorate King and his speech by having a mural of King painted on the side of the salon’s building. Gel Salon, located on Park Ave., is co-owned by James Carducci and his wife Missy, and they have been in business over ten years. 

The city required that the building’s wall be painted, and Carducci decided to take advantage of an opportunity presented to him from one of his stylists. Heather DeMars, the stylist, said, “My brother-in-law, Joe Mora, is a huge part of Wall Therapy and asked if we would be interested in putting up a mural on our building. I was just the middle-man who asked James Carducci if he would like to participate in something like that, and he was all about it. As for the image of the mural, that was all the artist’s idea.”

Wall Therapy is a project sponsored by Dr. Ian J. Wilson, of the University of Rochester, in an effort to use mural art to drive artistic expression and inspiration. 

Case Maclaim, one of the Wall Therapy artists, was flown in from Germany to paint the mural, which will cover the wall of one side of the building and be repaired as needed for one year. 

Owner James Carducci said, “This is a conservative area and I thought it would great to have such a great man on our building.” 

In addition, DeMars said she thinks the mural will be a figure for peace and unity for the community. 

“I would like to think that the mural would have a great effect on the Park Ave. community,” DeMars said. “There is nothing like this anywhere in the Park Ave. area and it is nice to see Park Ave. be a part of something like Wall Therapy. To me, it's a sign of coexisting and peace, and just happiness and understanding. It's a positive thing, and I think people in the community will feel its positivity.” 

“Gel Salon is a great little salon that has so much positivity and love for the community,” DeMars continued. “Our doors are open to everyone, and all the stylists in Gel are amazing people and the owner is a great, giving man. And if this mural brings anything to Gel, then I hope it's recognition for their support of the community. And I hope people feel comfortable walking through our doors even just to say hi and get a haircut.” 

Carducci said, “Who’s gonna’ talk smack about Martin Luther King and all he’s done? I’m excited that we’re gonna’ have an icon on our building. It’s gonna’ be cool.”