Artists are scheduled to begin work this week on the installation of a new public mural in downtown Bellefonte.
Muralists Key Detail will install the mural from May 21-28 at 123 S. Allegheny St. The mural will be located at the rear of the building along Perry Lane, next to the Spring Street parking lot.
Downtown Bellefonte Inc. (DBI) has worked with community members over the past two years to facilitate the project and develop a creative brief to inform the design.
The design celebrates Bellefonte’s history as a key stop in the early years of U.S. transcontinental air mail. Bellefonte airfields were a major refueling stop for U.S. Air Mail flights between New York and Chicago, and mail was flown for the first time from Bellefonte on Dec. 18, 1918.
New York City-based Key Detail —the husband-and-wife team of Andrey and Julia Yu-Baba — were selected to design the 1,000-square-foot mural after an open call for artists and application process last summer. The duo have installed murals throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
DBI received last fall permission from Bellefonte’s Historic Architectural Review Board and the necessary permits from the borough to install the mural.
“We are excited to finally unveil this beautiful piece of public art in Bellefonte,” Kathleen Ammon, community and programming manager for DBI, said in a news release. “Public art plays a vital role in cultivating community involvement, encouraging economic development and boosting tourism. Our hope is that this mural will represent the distinctive essence of our town and inspire visitors to explore the many attractions that Bellefonte has to offer.”
The public is invited to watch the muralists work, but community members are asked to stay clear of equipment and to hold questions for a May 23 artist talk.
Local Historia’s Matt Maris will join Key Detail for the artist talk from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Bellefonte Art Museum, 133 N. Allegheny St.. The free event will share Bellefonte’s role in the rich history of U.S. Air Mail. The muralists also will discuss their careers and answer questions about their work.
Funding for the mural project was allocated during the “Wilds Are Working: Remote Lifestyle Experience” initiative in partnership with the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship. The initiative, funded by an Appalachian Regional Commission grant, provided resources and public improvements to attract a remote workforce.
The mural will be formally dedicated in a public ceremony on June 28 with a block party during Friday in the ‘Fonte.
“Public art is a wonderful mechanism for storytelling and capturing our history,” Alexandra Hall, public art consultant with A H Public Spaces Consulting, said in the news release. “Celebrating a community’s history and heritage can play an important role in continuing traditions and remembering legacies. It is exciting to see a mural project that highlights Bellefonte’s role in U.S. transcontinental mail.”
