For years, Judy Bonamico has been running a brush through the hair of her customers at Expressions Hair Designs in downtown Bridgeport.

 

Now, she has tried her hand at a paintbrush to create an uplifting message on the exterior wall of her business establishment.

 

Complete with colorful balloons, the message reads, “We Rise By Lifting Others.”

 

“It’s always been a favorite quote of mine,” Bonamico said. “I chose balloons because they are colorful and symbolize our hopes and dreams and rising up to Heaven.”

 

Balloons are also associated with happy times and with all the social distancing taking place due to the COVID-15 pandemic, we could all certainly use a reminder of happy times, she said.

 

She started the mural about three weeks ago.

 

“First, I was on a chair, then my husband set up his scaffolding,” said Bonamico about her husband and local contractor Mark Bonamico.

 

Her inspiration, she said, were the murals located at About You Monograms, located next store, and The Starving Artist located just across Main Street. She noticed people who were passing by would stop and take photos in front of the designs: colorful flowers and butterfly wings, respectively.

 

“After researching outdoor murals, I realized that many big cities have murals for picture taking,” Bonamico said. “Hopefully people driving by will feel welcome.”

 

Her uplifting mural will continue to grow.

 

“I would like to add some balloons higher up on the building in the near future,” she said.

 

Unlike her hair profession, Bonamico said she is no pro at painting.

 

“But as long as people get the idea, that’s all that matters,” she said.

 

Expressions Hair Designs is located at 100 West Main Street, Bridgeport, West Virginia. Owned by the Bonamicos, the building also houses Almost Heaven Desserts & Coffee Shop.