Bristol boasts a lot of scenic roads, including Rhode Island’s first (and to date, only) Federal Scenic Byway. Franklin Street between Buttonwood Street and Metacom Avenue has never been included among them — but that may have to change.

The recent unveiling of a colorful mural by Christine Depoto, a series of 13 portraits of Freedom Riders of 1961 — activists who rode integrated, interstate buses through the segregated south — is catching the eye of drivers heading towards Metacom Avenue.

The mural is on a series of containers at a commercial property owned by Andy Tyska, founder and president of Bristol Marine. The businessman and naval architect is also an art aficionado and sponsor who currently serves as the President of Board of Directors at the Bristol Art Museum. Over the past several years he has been slowly but certainly building attention to this corner of town, adding large-scale artworks and murals to what would otherwise be fairly barren, industrial structures. Very visible, on the north side of Franklin Street, is a yellow sculpture by Rob Lorenson of Concentric Fabrication. Less visible, located throughout the adjacent properties, are works by street artist Tom Bob and another mural by Depoto.

Tyska was initially inspired to art-up the neighborhood years ago, by the 4th of July mural just east of Franklin Court. “It’s a great piece and we are continuing that feeling,” he said. “There’s lots of good stuff happening here, artwork and more.”

When Tyska wanted to commission something grand along the container faces, he went back to Depoto, who he hired to create several black and white murals depicting Bristol’s commercial and manufacturing history about a decade ago. A Warren native and self-taught artist, Depoto currently works with her father painting handmade signs, murals, and boat lettering at their shop at Parker Mills.

Honoring everyday heroes
“Andy Tyska approached me about this project just as COVID struck,” said Depoto. “It was at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests and the George Floyd murder, and I found myself naturally curious about the Civil Rights Era; I felt that a lot of people didn't know too much about what happened then.”

Then the death of Congressman John Lewis, one of the 1961 Freedom Riders, drew Depoto’s attention to the group.

“I was so intrigued by the Freedom Riders because they were everyday people who were able to make real change in this country with perseverance and dedication and working within the law…And I feel that the movement should be paid its due.”

According to Depoto, it was Tyska who suggested the graphic, Andy Warhol style. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that the Freedom Riders would make perfect subjects.

“Andy Warhol would typically use very famous people, musicians and actors, and put them on a pedestal,” said Depoto. “He did some work with the Civil Rights Movement, but it wasn't as big as, say, his Monroe and his Jagger paintings. But you know, that's a lot of fluff. So I thought it would be interesting to put people who are not idolized in that style…not false idols, let's switch it up and pay attention to people who really deserve it.”

“I just chose something that that spoke to my heart. This is an important part of history — it's not ‘wokeism,’ it's old news, but for some reason we’ve gone backwards in our dialogue in recent years.”

An 18-month effort
“It took you it took me about a year and a half to come up with ideas and to work on studies before I got my hands on the big materials,” said Depoto. “I also wanted to know more about the subject matter, so I would spend a few hours here and there, watching documentaries. That was really important to me.”

Depoto began with some small studies, trying to figure out the color palette. “These are the exact mugshots that the prison took of them, and when they went down there they wore their Sunday best — they knew what they were in for, and they were prepared to have to take these photos.”

“I did work on the composition for quite a bit.” she said. “I wanted to get it right and it's a tricky spot too, being on the side of the road. It's not a walk-by mural.” She couldn’t paint on site because it was too hot, and her tiny shop meant that she had to work very up close to each image. In addition, each portrait is actually painted on two panels, so Depoto had to keep her measurements precise to make sure they all came out about the same size.

She randomly chose from the mug shots of the Freedom Riders (though Lewis is included.) “I was going to do them in black and white but when Andy mentioned color I realized that was meant to be…It was such a strange time and the Jim Crow laws structured and defined people by their skin tone, but here, everyone’s in color.”

Depicted Freedom Riders are (l-r) Joan Mulholland, Carol Ruth Silver, Peter Stoner, Lula Mae White, Rev. Donald H. Grady, Judith Frieze, Price Chatham, Catherine Burks- Brooks, Lewis Zuchman, Frances Wilson, Stokely Carmichael, Chela Lightchild, and John Lewis.

With 400 Freedom Riders, Depoto would love to see this artwork expanded, with other artists depicting other riders in other cities and towns across the country. “It would make sense, instead of just being in Bristol,” she said. “It's a mobile idea — they rode buses — I’d like to get a portfolio of this going and contact other cities. I don't have to be the artist, they can choose a local artist, but just keep the the story alive.”

Both artist and patron are thrilled with the final result. “Andy’s a very ‘go big or go home’ kind of guy,” said Depoto of Tyska’s vision.

“I’m so proud of what she was able to envision and create,” said Tyska.