Norwich ― Local artist Candice Flewharty is painting a large mural with an even larger meaning on the exterior of the Reliance Health building at 2 Cliff St.

The 125-foot-long painting, inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s “Irises” series, is part of the city’s beautification plans, but also intended to bring awareness to mental health.

On Monday, Flewharty and her daughter, Marguerite Brown, 18, started adding blue and white to the outline Flewharty began last week. The work will continue through the fall.

Flewharty, of Norwich, has painted murals around the country and works as an art teacher at St. Patrick Cathedral School in Norwich. She went to France a few years ago and visited the psychiatric hospital where van Gogh, who struggled with mental health, was a patient. She said the mural is inspired by the same scenery van Gogh found beauty in.

“Vincent van Gogh always said when he was painting he was saved,” said Flewharty. “It was the perfect inspiration for a nonprofit (Reliance Health) that works to help people do the same.”

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Flewharty and Reliance Agency Development Director Heather-Renaé Paul started planning the piece, which overlooks the nonprofit’s parking lot, more than three years ago.

This year, they received a $20,000 ARPA Grant for Arts & Culture and an additional $5,000 from the Norwich Historical Society and Chelsea Groton Bank that made their plans possible.

“We wanted to bring beautification to the city, but also awareness to mental health as a nonprofit community health center,” said Paul.

The bottom part of the wall will be left blank. Reliance Health plans on hosting an event this fall so community members can add their own touches to the piece. The piece will also be part of a self-guided tour of public art in the city.