BY JIM LOCKWOOD
A mural of John Lennon on a building in downtown Scranton may be completed by the weekend, depending on the weather, the organizer said Tuesday.
Frank Dubas, who is having a mural of Lennon painted on the east-facing, blank stucco wall of a building he owns at 518 Lackawanna Ave., chose designs for the artwork submitted from Marywood University art students Krista Perdomo and Leagen Wallace.
The mural will commemorate the upcoming 40th anniversary of Lennon’s death on Dec. 8. 1980.
A big Beatles fan since the ’60s, Dubas, 67, a Jessup native now living in Connecticut, retired a few years ago after a career in accounting and has since purchased several properties in Scranton, including 514, 516 and 518 Lackawanna Ave.
With those buildings vacant and his development plans for them undetermined, Dubas decided to put a Lennon mural on the large empty wall overlooking Renaissance Plaza. He contacted Marywood University about having students, faculty or staff submit designs for a Lennon mural and on Monday selected the winners.
Perdomo and Wallace each will receive a $500 scholarship for their winning entries.
CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Frank Dubas holds his vinyl copy of the Beatles’ “Sgt. Petter’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” record in front of a blank wall at 518 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton. Dubas owns the building that’s now home to a John Lennon mural.
Perdomo’s design featuring a portrait of Lennon will cover an 18-foot square of the wall. Wallace’s submission incorporating the word “imagine” and several creative images of Lennon will be installed on a poster below the mural.
Perdomo’s “portrait of John Lennon reminds me of the Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’s’ era. That’s when I think Lennon did some of his best work,” Dubas said. Meanwhile, Wallace’s “take on Lennon reminds me of his post-Beatle career, when he challenged the world to ‘Imagine.’”
Local artist Ryan Hnat began creating the mural Tuesday night. Dubas also may display the works of all students who submitted designs.
“I am extremely grateful to the students, faculty and staff of Marywood University for making Scranton’s tribute to John Lennon come alive as we celebrate his life of 40 years, and sadly remember the 40 years since we lost him,” Dubas said.
Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5185
