West County Arts & Culture, Inc.

View the Mosaic Murals

in Shelburne Falls

Riverwalk Mosaic Mural Project

Located on Conway St in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, the RiverWalk Mosaic Project showcases the community's spirit and artistic creativity. 
The project aims to decorate the scenic Conway St with vibrant mosaic artworks, reflecting local culture and natural beauty. Local artist Cindy Fisher and dedicated community members are driving this initiative. Each mosaic tells a unique story using ceramic tiles, glass, and other durable elements suitable for outdoor installations. These artworks are inspired by the region's wildlife, the quilt work of local artist Ann Brauer, and rich local history.
Cindy hosted a community mosaic event at the Shelburne Falls Senior Center, where volunteers of all ages and skill levels came together to create new mosaics for the village. The RiverWalk mosaic project enhances the beauty of Shelburne Falls. It promotes shared creativity and cultural appreciation, inviting residents, artists, and visitors to engage with and contribute to the cultural tapestry of this charming New England town.

#1: Quilt Mosaic
Ann Brauer Quilt Studio,
2 Conway St.

A mosaic interpretation of a quilt by Ann Brauer

#2: Brook Trout
Conway St. River Overlook

This 8’ long Brook Trout captures this fish in all its colorful glory.

#3: Lamson Goodnow, 1846
Lamson Factory Outlet,
45 Conway St.

This mosaic is a black and white and shades of grey version of a lithograph from 1846 of the original mill site. If one stands by the river and looks across, that is where the original factory was located!

#4: River Otter
side of Lamson Factory Outlet Building
45 Conway St.

A rare treat to encounter in the wild, River Otters can be found in rivers and lakes in the area. In the winter one can’t miss their paths in the snow formed by sliding along the surface.

He is positioned using his nose to point you in the direction to the other remaining mosaics.

#5: Black Bear Mom and 2 Cubs
behind Lamson Factory Outlet
45 Conway St.

Black bear are common in our area, lucky for us when they are encountered, cubs scramble up the nearest trees and moms run away.

#6: Eastern Coyote
behind Lamson Factory Outlet
45 Conway St.

Eastern Coyotes can be seen and heard if one lives in the area. They play a vital role in the ecosystem as one of our larger native omnivores and are active year round.

#7: Eastern Bobcat
behind Lamson Factory Outlet
45 Conway St.

The Eastern Bobcat is another relatively common wild mammal living in our area. Their footprints are distinguishable from foxes and coyotes by their more rounded shape and lack of toenail imprints.

#8: Red Fox
behind Lamson Factory Outlet
45 Conway St.

Red Fox in the winter, this mosaic is based on a photograph taken by my wildlife camera in Hawley, MA.

#9: White Tailed Deer, Doe and Fawn
behind Lamson Factory Outlet
45 Conway St.

White tailed Deer and fawn in the spring.

The animals have guided you over to The Mill at Shelburne Falls and Buckland-side Salmon Fall overlook point.

Hilltown Mosaic Mural Project

The village is adorned with mosaic murals displayed on buildings on both sides of the river. Initiated in 2009, Cynthia Fisher collaborated with the Towns of Buckland and Shelburne, school officials and teachers, community organizations, businesses, and property owners to create 12 mosaic murals. These artworks celebrate the Deerfield River, the lives of Indigenous peoples along the river, and the ten local hilltowns: Buckland, Shelburne, Conway, Colrain, Ashfield, Plainfield, Rowe, Heath, Hawley, and Charlemont. The project involved participants of all ages, from elementary school students to senior center clients.

Fisher conducted thorough research on the area’s history, habitat, and wildlife, which she presented to third graders as part of their local studies curriculum. The students chose the themes for their town’s mural, which Fisher then designed in her studio based on their ideas. The materials were brought to the schools, where third to sixth-grade students assembled the town murals by laying glass mosaic tiles using indirect methods. Franklin County Technical School students fabricated the steel frames for the mosaic panels. Middle and high school art students at Mohawk Trail Regional School completed the murals.

Additionally, community members of all ages volunteered to assemble the larger Deerfield River and Indian Portrait murals during work bees at The Senior Center. 

#1: Colrain
65 Bridge St.
side of Gypsy Apple Bistro

The mosaic depicts the Colrain town center, the pond at Catamount, a dairy farm on Rt 112, the first U.S. flag flown at a schoolhouse, the mountain lion sculpture on Colrain Mountain, and the American Flag created after 9/11.

#2: Shelburne
51 Bridge St.
front of Shelburne Town Hall

The world-famous Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls is featured against a Grandma Moses style rural background.

#3: American Indian Portrait
17 Bridge St.
side of Bon Salon

This mosaic depicts the lives of Mohawk, Mohican and Pocumtuck tribes who spent time along the Deerfield River in this area (formerly known as Salmon Falls).

#4: The Deerfield River
4 Deerfield Ave.
front of Baked 

The Deerfield River is an important local resource for wildlife, a popular fisherman’s destination, and source of water power from hydroelectric dams. It is honored every June at the Frog and Flower Riverfest Parade.

#5: Ashfield
1 Ashfield St
side of Salmon Falls Gallery

The spire of Ashfield town hall is surrounded by images of Ashfield Lake, Belted Galway cattle at Gray's farm, and the annual Fall Festival.

#6: Conway
3 State St.
side of McCusker’s Market

mosaic panel depicting Conway Massachusetts images
A stone gristmill wheel is the backdrop for the Marshall Field Library, Conway Pond, and Organic Roots farmer Dave Fisher plowing with his draft horses.

#7: Buckland 
17 State St.
front of Buckland Town Hall

A portrait of Mary Lyon, who founded Mt. Holyoke, the #10 trolley car that traversed the Bridge of Flowers, and the Buckland Public Library are portrayed against the image of a buck at night.

#8: Hawley 
40 State St.
front of Floodwater Brewery

This map of Hawley highlights local forests and wildlife, including black bear, moose, beaver, and fox, as well as the beehive kiln on the edge of Hawley State Forest.

#9: Rowe
20 State St.
front of Nancy Dole Books & Ephemera

This mosaic highlights the gazebo in the center of Rowe and a split view of Rowe Pond with wildlife above and below water.

#10: Heath
10 Bridge St.
side of Le Peacock Restaurant

A t-shirt from the Heath fair, a fork for harvesting local blueberries, and sunflowers, now grown in Heath for oil production.

#11: Plainfield
52 Bridge St.
side of Baker Pharmacy

Illustrating the theme of 'Plainfield - Now and Then'. This mosaic shows a girl churning butter, an old mill site, sheep farming, horseback riders and canoeing on Plainfield Pond.

#12: Charlemont
58 Bridge St.
side of Greenfield Savings Bank

Berkshire East Ski area, rafting the Deerfield River, the Bissell covered Bridge, and an old photo of Avery's Store.

About the Artist

Mosaic Artist Cynthia Fisher of Buckland, MA, is fulfilling her desire for public art to be displayed in her local community. Having created numerous public art mosaics for communities in states from Maine to Florida and beyond, the opportunity to make it in her own backyard was inevitable. The first project was completed in 2009 with Shelburne Falls Mosaic Murals Part II initiated in 2022 and ongoing in 2024.

"I love living in rural western Massachusetts, creating these mosaic murals is a tribute and appreciation of the area I call home."

Cynthia Fisher, Big Bang Mosaics

All photography is courtesy West County Arts and Culture, unless noted.