Madacyne Leatherman has been working on a mural celebrating Syracuse on the facade of AIA Countertops building located south of the railroad tracks in Syracuse. The mural, which is a project of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce is expected to be completed next week. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — As Madacyne Leatherman worked, folks honked their horn in appreciation and support as they drove by. Since July 21, Leatherman has been up on a hydraulic lift busy painting a mural on the east side of the AIA Countertops building, located on SR 13 in Wawasee Village.

The mural is a project of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce that has been in the works for quite a while. Staci York, executive director of the chamber, explained the mural is being funded through a variety of sources, including a grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, a chamber project and private donations.
The grant from the KCCF was awarded when Renea Salyer was the executive director.

Leatherman and the chamber have been working on the design since February. The theme will be celebrating Syracuse and its history.

The mural features a lake scene with cranes and water lilies. Across the top, Leatherman plans to paint vintage post cards highlighting Syracuse.

Leatherman said she started painting on July 21. “I’m glad it cooled down,” she said during a break Monday afternoon, July 31. Since she started she’s had to deal with high heat and humidity along with thunderstorms.
Her goal is to have the mural completed by Wednesday, Aug. 9, when the final grant report is due to the community foundation.

Leatherman has done exterior murals for Coffee Depot and interior murals for Ligonier businesses, which is where she’s from, and she’s interested in doing more. She also owns an all-women tattoo shop in North Webster.

Leatherman is using normal exterior paint. She explained she purchased the three primary colors: red, blue and yellow and has been hand mixing her colors. She explained she had to mix the light blue color five times to cover the space on the wall. With the warm temps, she said the paint cures quickly.

Madacyne Leatherman works on the fine details of a fish on mural she’s painting on the AIA Countertops building. The mural will celebrate Syracuse and its history. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.