Mosaic finds a home at farmers market
Charles “Pruner” West is among those memorialized in a mosaic mural created by eighth-graders at Washington Junior High School in this photo taken in December.
In this photo taken in December, Madeleine LeMoyne is among the Washington notables featured in a mosaic mural created by eighth-grade students at Washington Junior High School.
A mosaic depicting Washington’s famous figures and structures will soon have a permanent dwelling.
A 5-by-30 mural created by Washington Junior High eighth-graders and Pittsburgh artist Laura Jean McLaughlin will be installed near the Main Street Farmers Market on the building at 143 S. Main St., Washington, in time for the season’s first market May 12.
“This is a great thing. The students did an awesome job on that mural,” said Washington Mayor Scott Putnam. “It will be a great place where people can enjoy it.”
Through a community development grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the city, in a partnership with Washington School District and Washington Citywide Development Corp., will beautify public spaces.
The foundation originally granted $175,000 to the now-defunct nonprofit WashArts, which closed in September, to redevelop blighted public space. A plan to install several pieces of art in a small park at East Wheeling Street and Shaffer Avenue fell through after an easement agreement between the city and lot owners was terminated.
The new plan is to install the pieces in various locations throughout the city, starting with the mural.
According to Lynn Galluze, city technology coordinator, several locations for a parkette were considered, but ultimately, she and other city officials agreed disbursing the art throughout the area was a better option. Building owners Tripp Kline and Suzanne Ewing offered the site as a permanent space for the large mosaic.
A code placed near each depiction on the mural will allow viewers to link to a website providing more information on the subjects.
Every one of the 108 eighth-grade students participated in the project through research, sketching ideas or breaking up tiles and mirrors for the final product.
The city is responsible for transporting the mural from Washington High School to the new location. The CDC and the city will be caretakers of the piece, and the CDC will administer the remaining $19,600 of the grant.
“This is exactly the kind of project that we embrace,” said James V. Denova, vice president of the Benedum Foundation, in a press release. “It is a great example of public/private partnership and demonstrates how important arts education and public art is for both students, adults and communities.”
Other art pieces, including a metal duck made from upcycled street signs, birdbaths, benches and picnic tables, made by Western Area Career and Technology Center and Southwest Training students, will be placed throughout the city.
Galluze said the plan is to move the mural April 26, with McLaughlin securing the structure to the building.