Amherst Woman Wins 'Vivan's Dream' Mural

Kathleen Albee Phillips of Amherst ended up with the winning ticket in the City Arts Nashua raffle for Barbara Andrew’s “Mini-Mural” painting of Vivian’s Dream – the West Pearl Street Mural Project.

The painting is a miniature depiction the scene to be painted as a 35 x 40 foot mural by Andrews on the wall of 83 West Pearl St., which faces the parking lot behind TD Bank.

The massive public art project will show a view of West Pearl in 1909 with the former Tremont House Hotel in the foreground, which stood on the corner of Main and West Pearl until the 1930s at the present location of TD Bank.

The West Pearl Street Mural was first envisioned by Walker and her friend Meri Goyette some years ago when she operated Vivian’s dress shop in another building owned by her family just up the street.

Phillips says she and her mother shopped often at Vivian’s. 

 “I remember buying many of my dresses from her. She could always find a dress that looked good on me. She was very gracious and helpful and dressed wonderfully herself.”

Phillips still has a picture wearing her favorite dress from Vivian’s shop, [uploaded above].

But for Phillips, winning the mural went way beyond the memories of shopping at Vivian’s.

Phillips and her husband are co-owners of the newly opened KASP Builders, LLC, a kitchen and bathroom design and remodeling show room, located at 83 West Pearl Street. The exterior wall of their showroom is where the mural will be painted.

Phillips designs kitchens and baths, and manages the construction projects. She is accredited by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Her husband Scott is a fine woodworker and cabinet maker.

“When we saw the space for rent, we thought it was an ideal location for our new showroom,” Phillips said.

But Phillips also had a strong sentimental attachment to the building which played a role in their decision to locate at 83 West Pearl.

Her great-aunt Edith Keenan owned the building before selling it to the Walker family.

“She was the first female pharmacist in Nashua and worked at Lussier’s Pharmacy which used to be located in the building,” she explained.

Another great aunt, Ella Keenan, lived in the apartment above the store all her adult life.

“I think this mural project will be great for downtown Nashua and will be a focal point on our historic street,” Phillips added. She intends to display the painting in the window until the mural is completed and will keep a supply of donation forms available.

All proceeds from the raffle are going to help fund the mural. 

 “We are over half way to our goal of $35,000 and are hoping to paint the mural this year,” City Arts president Marjorie Bollinger Hogan said.

To learn more or participate in this community arts project, go to www.cityartsnashua.org and click on Mural Project. A donation form is available for both mail-in check and on-line credit card payment. All donations are tax deductible and all donors will be listed on a plaque installed under the mural.

Related story:

• Help Bring 'Vivian's Dream' to Life on West Pearl Street