Public Art the Focus in Point Marion
Washington PA Observer Reporter
25 November 2011
By Emily Petsko
Debora Palmer has lived in Morgantown, W.Va., for more than 30
years. As arts coordinator for the Board of Park and Recreation
Commissioners, she has seen her town grow and flourish over time.
Just 2 miles down the road, the Fayette County town of Point
Marion seems stagnant, but Palmer hopes that will change with some
help from River Towns, an organization that helps revitalize
economically disadvantaged towns along the upper Monongahela
River. In River Towns' latest initiative, those with a creative
mind will have the chance to design a public art display for Point
Marion.
Palmer, 59, plans to submit a proposal for a glass and ceramic
mosaic mural. All interested individuals are required to submit
their credentials and a general project idea to a public arts
committee consisting of seven judges.
The goal of the art project, which ultimately will be displayed on
the exterior wall of the Sadler building on Penn Street by next
summer, is to help the community visualize a fresh face for its
town.
"I've always believed that ... Point Marion could undergo a
renewal, and I've always imagined it to have the possibility of an
Asheville, N.C.," atmosphere, Palmer said.
Glass mosaic is a practical medium for public art, Palmer said,
because it is durable and allows the entire community, regardless
of artistic skill, to participate. It also meets the one
requirement of the project: a theme surrounding the historic Houze
glass company in Point Marion.
"The community wanted to give a nod to the historical background
of the area, and Point Marion was a glass-producing town," Palmer
said.
Shelley Marini, who works with River Towns, said the project
should be "representative of Point Marion's past and future."
While River Towns acknowledges the importance of Point Marion's
glass industry, it also stresses the need to create a new identity
for the town.
"We've come from, say, this glass history or mining history or
pottery history, and we've moved more toward an outdoor recreation
economy where we're attracting visitors and dollars from a
different source," Marini said.
River Towns aims to popularize outdoor activities - like boating
and hiking trails - to promote tourism, as well as enhance the
aesthetic appeal of towns through new signs for businesses and
public art.
In addition to the art project in Point Marion, a similar one will
be held in Greensboro, but details have not been finalized. The
Sprout Fund, a nonprofit organization based in Pittsburgh, awarded
$2,500 to each community for the development of these art
projects.
In January, the public arts committee in Point Marion will select
a few finalists to present formal proposals for their projects,
which will then be exhibited for the public in February before the
winning idea is announced.
Anyone interested in submitting an art proposal can pick up a
request form at Point Marion's public library or borough office,
or by calling Beth Reseter at 304-379-2569.
Marini believes the art project is a positive first step toward
stimulating the economy and creating a sense of unity in Point
Marion.
"A business can't survive if you don't have any traffic and if
you're not attracting anyone to the area," Marini said. "The art
projects engage not only the visitors coming to town, but also the
community."