Plat 28

Location: 339 Water St, Warren

In this vibrant mural, Greg Was Here pays homage to the rich legacy of Blount Fine Foods and the seafood industry’s history in Warren, RI, of which Blount has a long and storied presence. Rich with hidden meaning, this collage-style mural commands attention with its jewel-toned palette and bold juxtaposition of imagery. His latest body of work includes collage-like elements, as well as a layering of shapes and designs along with elements of typography, as seen in this landmark work.

The white line layout corresponds to the 1949 Sanborn Plot Map of the property, at which point Greg learned that Blount Fine Foods assumed its current modern form. The 28 on the right hand side is a nod to the plot number on the map.

The oldest reference in the mural is the original oyster house on the right, included for its historical context to both the waterfront and Blount. Clams for Chowder in the XX portion of the mural and is from a print block for canned clam chowder labels. The sailboat is from the Whitecap Label. Greg chose to include the airplane for Nelson Blount, who led the company to its current iteration. In Greg's words, "He seemed to be a pretty remarkable guy able to pivot and make things work always... also a wild sense of adventure. How many other seafood businesses had their own plane in the 1940's?!" The Warren text, seen on the front water-facing side of the building, is Whitecap Label brand lettering, reworked.

Greg Was Here (Greg Pennisten) is a local Rhode Island artist whose childhood home bordered Warren, RI. He is a founding member of the Providence Painted Signs and an active part of the local arts community. He was instrumental in the murals which now adorn the Trinity Repertory and Marasco & Nesselbush law offices, as well as the restoration of the landmark “peeling” mural on the Hanley building, all iconic works of public art. In 2019 he led the painting of a 2500 square foot mural in memory of local artist GYER. The mural has since become a landmark within the Graffiti and Street Art communities.

Material: C2 paint and Montana Gold

Artist IG: _gregwashere_