Learn how curb extension murals promote pedestrian safety here.
Our latest projects
When selecting project locations, we focus on spots with safety concerns that have potential for design improvement. Proximity to busy areas and areas on major RTS lines or the Transit Center are other considerations due to high pedestrian density, and traffic volume.
Have you visited one of our installations? Let us know what you think!
E. Main & Gibbs
Artist: Fran Diaz
Installation Date: 2025
Due to its immediate proximity to the Eastman School of Music with all its associated student housing, as well as its adjacency to Rochester’s East End neighborhood, not to mention the half mile walk to the RTS Transit Center or Jazz & Fringe festivals, East Main & Gibbs St would certainly qualify as a pedestrian heavy zone. Car speeds and the width of the road itself show strong potential for design improvement for the numerous daily pedestrians. Plus this intersection is no stranger to on-street art installations.
About the artist: Fran Diaz is a professional illustrator, muralist, and the lead artist at Roc Paint Division. After being selected via an RFQ process, she created designs to pay homage to the iconic music corridor at E Main & Gibbs. Check out more of her work at https://www.instagram.com/francheskathesun/
W. Broad & Fitzhugh
Artist: Chloe Smith (in collaboration with Hodinöhšyo:ni:h artist Lauren Jimerson)
Installation Date: 2025
Just down the road from Blue Cross Arena, the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, the Genesee River, and local government buildings, West Broad and Fitzhugh is a vibrant area of downtown Rochester with heavy pedestrian traffic which would benefit strongly from safer pedestrian infrastructure. This is a large intersection with ample asphalt, offering an opportunity to optimize space for all road users.
About the artist: Chloe Smith (she/her) is a muralist & visual artist based in Rochester, NY. She has been working on a commission basis since 2012, and has created over 80 murals throughout upstate NY. Her work has been featured in Life in the Finger Lakes Magazine, Canvas Rebel Magazine, and City Newspaper. Her work combines portraiture & natural themes, drawing from life’s meaningful human encounters, the natural world, and passion for gardening & environmental stewardship. She is also the founder of 490 Farmers, a Rochester community garden & urban farm. Check out more of her work at her website: https://www.chloesmithillustration.com/
Lauren Jimerson (she/her) is a Hodinöhšyo:ni:h artist who lives and works in her ancestral homelands of Gasgo’sagö:h (Rochester, NY). She utilizes traditional mediums such as drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture as well as non-traditional mediums such as digital drawing, digital painting, video and audio. Her work explores topics such as human emotion, mental health, tragedy, trauma and her Indigenous identity while employing colorful media and often incorporates the human figure. With a background in art therapy, Lauren also holds an interest in wellness and works as a fitness coach and does public speaking on various topics.
Artist Statement (Chloe): The concept for the SmART Streets intersection mural at Broad & Fitzhugh is an homage to the indigenous history of the area, including its native plant and animal life. Rather than honoring the white settlement of the city, this mural is dedicated to the Seneca people in honor of their millenium long stewardship and rightful claim of the land we call Rochester. The mural is based on the design of the Seneca Nations flag featuring the 8 clans of the Seneca people (Deer, Heron, Bear, Turtle, Snipe, Beaver, Hawk, and Wolf clans) and incorporates native keystone plant species such as sweetgrass, wild strawberry, beech and alder trees.
Artist Statement (Lauren): The Indigenous peoples that inhabited the Rochester (Gasgo’sagö:h, pronounced gah-skoht-sah-gohn) area are known as Onöndowa’ga:’ (o-nohn-doh-waht-gaht) or People of the Great Hill. They are also known as the Seneca people. The eight clans are symbols of lineage, which are organized into two groups- birds and animals. Heron, Snipe, Hawk and Deer clans make up the birds side while the animals side consists of Bear, Turtle, Beaver and Wolf. Traditionally, clans were inherited through the mother’s line and the oldest woman of each clan was the Clan Mother. Women hold a certain type of wisdom in her mature years and the Clan Mothers would elect Chiefs and raise up Warriors from a young age. Since Clan Mothers did elect Chiefs, they could also de-horn them or take away their position if they did not do right by their people. A portrayal of the power and influence that women historically have in Onöndowa’ga:’ and Hodinöhšyo:ni:h (ho-dee-no-sho-nee) (People of the Longhouse) culture, the role of Clan Mother continues to be a practice in present-day and comes with specific duties in the ceremonial Longhouse. Onöndowa’ga:’ continue to exist as a matrilineal society where clans are inherited through the mother.
Installation media links:
Reconnect Rochester installs new murals to increase street safety (Rochester First)
Piano key crosswalks and musical murals: Smart streets initiative enhances pedestrian safety (WHEC)
Rochester to unveil curb extension murals for street safety initiative (13WHAM)
Downtown SmART Streets media links:
SmART Streets project combines art and pedestrian safety measures (Rochester Beacon)
Reconnect Rochester using curbside murals to improve pedestrian safety (Spectrum)
‘SmART Streets’ project seeks local artists to create safety-enhancing street art in Rochester (WHEC)
New street project in downtown Rochester combines infrastructure and art to promote safety (WXXI)
Local nonprofit using art to promote pedestrian safety in Rochester (Rochester First)
