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."