Bloom Where You Are

Artist

Shawn Dunwoody

Location

36H Hall Manor Pl, Harrisburg, PA 17104

“In times of struggle creativity is key to unlocking the door to a greater person within you,” says Rochester-based artist Shawn Dunwoody, who painted this wrap-around mural in the summer of 2025. 

The bright blue wall features motivational quotes for community members in English on one side and Spanish on the other, each drawn next to hand-painted flowers.

“We are the change we have been waiting for,” reads one of the quotes, from President Barack Obama.

“Podrán cortar todas las flores, pero no podrán detener la primavera,” reads another, by Chilean poet and diplomat Pablo Neruda. [“They may cut all the flowers, but they cannot stop the spring.”]

“The design of the mural was influenced by the environment around me,” Dunwoody explains. “Without any flowers in the area, I felt the need to add flowers to the mural for passersby to have an ‘ever-green’ experience.”

Joking that he was going “old-school” with his technique, the artist sketched out the letters for the quotes using a yardstick and chalk before immortalizing them in paint. Children from the community helped him fill in the text and flowers around the building, after which he added layers on-top for added depth and detail.

“I had an amazing experience interacting and painting with neighbors of Hall Manor,” Dunwoody says. “It feels good to have folks come talk to you about how your mural makes them feel.”

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