Rainbow Way

Artist

Sofia Ramirez

Location

100 Hall Manor Place, Harrisburg, PA

Colorado-based artist Sofia Ramirez completed Sprocket Mural Works’ first-ever sidewalk mural in the summer of 2025.

Rainbow colors mimicking the curves of a topographic map roll out over the sidewalk from Hall Manor’s Community Center toward the Harrisburg Boys and Girls Club’s John N. Hall Club House.

“The mural for me is a celebration of the color and vibrancy of Hall Manor’s spirit,” says Ramirez. “The significance around rainbows for me has to do with celebrating every shade of humanity, it’s a nod to diversity and how we all contribute to the beautiful spectrum within the human experience.”

She notes that she ended up free-handing most of the sidewalk design, despite presenting a concept beforehand – making changes in real time to adapt to the environment. 

“Most of my murals get last minute adjustments once I am on site, but this one had more than most, and I think it turned out even better for it,” she says.

The artist noted that the project presented many new logistical challenges for her “like working in the heat wave, managing over 30 volunteers, instructing a dozen children from the Boys and Girls Club, and painting 4,000 square-feet of concrete in a week.”

The heatwave kept the average temperatures during installation week in the 90s. Ramirez would begin painting at dawn and end around 5 p.m. each day. Working with volunteers and community members, she dragged pop-up tents as “shade covers” around the sidewalk to keep her and her helpers out of direct sunlight.

Ramirez, who speaks English and Spanish, was also able to utilize her bilingual skills to ensure that all English and Spanish speaking community members who wanted to participate could do so with ease.

“This project was a hundred times more rewarding than I could have ever imagined,” Ramirez says. “Every volunteer that came to help had an incredible attitude despite the physically demanding nature of painting on the ground. They supported me not only with the painting task at hand but they filled my cup emotionally as well.”

She adds that the Hall Manor community made her feel at home.

“They brought me refreshments, food, shared their stories, their gratitude, their music, and their spirit  with me,” she says. “I left a piece of my heart at Hall Manor. The people there have the most beautiful hearts and the kids are vibrant, curious, and full of potential.”

She was assisted the entire week by Harrisburg artist and muralist Reina Wooden, also known as Reina76.

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