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Moon Lorn must be sustainable

2 min read
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A generation or so ago, you could ask any McGuffey student about the artist Malcolm Parcell and they could probably tell you who he was. Most aspiring artists in high school in this area could have told you as well.

How about now? Probably not.

Because after a chain of ill-thought and selfish decisions, Parcell’s home Moon Lorn and his legacy are well on their way to becoming nothing more than a historical plaque on a remote, seldom-visited spot.

How in the world was Moon Lorn going to be self-sustaining with a couple of resident artists working there to pay the bills? It was a very admirable and romantic notion, but it did not work out very well. They are called “starving artists” for a reason.

The public outcry will probably result in some sort of rescue, but 20 or 30 years from now, Moon Lorn will be in the same situation if the right decisions are not made now, and that is to make the property self-sustaining.

As unpalatable as it may seem, there has to be a strong commercial plan put in place or it will be deja vu all over again. There are several ways for this to happen.

Moon Lorn has become ridiculously obscure. As a former arts educator, I have seen absolutely nothing done to promote it. No workshops, no tours, no retrospectives of Parcell. How about partnership with the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts or local universities or historical societies? All would be good, willing participants.

Or how about turning Moon Lorn into a bed and breakfast? Part of the estate could be remodeled, and I’m sure the charm, history and remoteness of the location would draw people in.

Another possibility: Building a rustic, tasteful special-event facility somewhere on the property. Tours could be offered and extra money could be made in a gift shop that would sell Parcell prints, as well as other locally inspired merchandise.

Moon Lorn has to be self-sustaining. It is a lovely, angelic place. Parcell was magic, but more people need to know about Moon Lorn if it is to survive.

Sally Brown-Pawlosky

Hickory

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