“Freedom Colors” Mural #1
May 2024

“Freedom Colors,” by Turkish Muralist Sitki Dogan, was the winning design of a months-long Call for Artists in the fall of 2023 spearheaded by Haverstraw Riverwide Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cultural enrichment and community engagement through the arts. The first of four murals planned in this historical project was issued through a grant given to Haverstraw Riverwide Arts by the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) of the State of New York. Riverwide Arts are the first non-profit group to receive funding from DRI in Rockland County. The location selected for the first mural was the Haverstraw African American Memorial Park (HAAMP), located at 41 Clinton St., Haverstraw, NY. The park is a partnership between the Haverstraw African American Connection and the Village of Haverstraw. With a career spanning over two decades, Dogan’s murals have graced urban landscapes worldwide, capturing the essence of communities and their stories with remarkable depth and clarity. “I am honored to have been selected for this project, said Mr. Dogan. “My goal was to tell the story of the African American connection to the development and history of Haverstraw. I hope the art speaks to that.”
Follow Sitki: @st.doan and stworksdesign.us
Video by Jesse Strauch. Contact Jesse for video work: FB: @jesse.strauch, IG: @jessestrauch

“Haverstraw Taking Flight” Mural #2
November 2024

“Haverstraw Taking Flight,” by Muralist Sitki Dogan is located at 21 Broadway, Haverstraw, NY.

“Haverstraw: River to Ridge” Mural #3
December 2025

“Haverstraw: River to Ridge,” by Muralist J. Kenneth Leap is located at 61 Maple Ave., Haverstraw, NY.

//// Images coming soon ////

Haverstraw: River to Ridge is a vibrant four-panel mural series, now on view at 61 Maple Avenue in the heart of the Village of Haverstraw across from Cosgriff Hose Fire Company. The artwork celebrates the community’s rich history, beloved local landmarks, diverse neighborhoods, and the dramatic natural landscape that rises from the Hudson River to the crest of High Tor.

Leap, an award-winning public artist known for his large-scale murals and stained-glass installations, spent the summer exploring Haverstraw—walking its historic streets, dining in its restaurants, studying its architecture, and hiking High Tor to understand the village from river to ridge. These firsthand experiences shaped the visual language of the mural series, resulting in a vibrant portrait that feels unmistakably rooted in the place it represents.

Haverstraw: River to Ridge is composed of four interconnected panels, each highlighting a defining aspect of the village:

1. Historic Fire Station No. 3
   Honoring Haverstraw’s proud legacy of volunteer firefighting through the depiction of one of its iconic firehouses, located directly across from the mural’s installation site.

2. Hudson River & High Tor Landscape
   A sweeping river-to-ridge vista that captures the geography and natural drama of Haverstraw—where the working waterfront meets the high cliffs and forests above.

3. Local Restaurants & Community Life
   Celebrating the food culture and social fabric of the village, with nods to beloved eateries and the lively street life that defines downtown.

4. The Ferry & Nighttime River Landscape
   Highlighting the historic Haverstraw–Ossining Ferry and the shimmering nighttime shoreline of the Hudson River. This panel evokes the glimmering reflections of dock lights, passing boats, and the ferry’s distinctive silhouette cutting across the water. It captures the quiet beauty of Haverstraw after sunset while honoring the village’s long connection to river travel, commerce, and regional exchange.
   Follow J. Kenneth Leap @j.kennethleap