Public Art Projects
In 2020 Randi Stewart was commissioned by the Fayette County Cultural Trust to do a mural on the side of the Christian Church in downtown located at 212 South Pittsburgh Street. The below mural was selected by church members and is entitled "Jesus and the Children." This mural was funded by the Allegheny Foundation and part of the estate from Michael Prestia. On Sunday, 16 August, a dedicated was held.
The below 4000 square foot public art project, located at 400 West Crawford Avenue in Connellsville, (Italian Social Club) was created by Pittsburgh artist Jeremy Raymer. The funding for this project was provided by part of an estate left by Michael Prestia, Allegheny Foundation and the Downtown Connellsville Initiative. It depicts the old Connellsville B&O Rail Road Station, an Italian Dinner Scene and a Historic Coke Oven. Summer 2019
The below mural was painted by local artist, Randi Stewart. It is located at 160 West Crawford Avenue in Connellsville. (Nicholson Chiropractic Building). The funding for this project was provided by part of an estate left by Michael Prestia, Allegheny Foundation and the Downtown Connellsville Initiative. It commemorates Edwin S. Porter, a Connellsville native, who conducted the first major motion picture "The Great Train Robbery." Summer 2019
The Fayette County Cultural Trust's Downtown Connellsville initiative partnered with the Connellsville Area Career and and Technical Center to create these colorful metal bird houses that were placed in planters along Crawford Avenue & Pittsburgh Street. These bird houses were made by three different classes at the technical center - design class, welding class and auto body class.
In partnership with the Trail Town Initiative of The Progress Fund and the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority, a steering committee was formed to facilitate two public art pieces being installed in Connellsville. Grants were received by both organizations from Pittsburgh 250 Community Connections and The Sprout Fund. Community Connections is a grassroots initiative of Pittsburgh 250 supporting projects that encourage civic engagement throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, commemorate the region's 250th anniversary, and provide lasting value to communities and the region as a whole. More than 500 applications for funding were submitted by individuals, community groups, and organizations to celebrate the "Pride and Progress" of Southwestern Pennsylvania--the theme of Community Connectons. A region-wide community decisionmaking process selected 100 projects to share $ 1 million in funding for events and activities occurring throughtout the anniversary year of 2008.
The Sprout Fund is a nonprofit organization supporting innovative ideas and grassroots community projects that are catalyzing change in Pittsburgh. Founded in 2001, Sprout is designed to facilitate community-led solutions to regional challenges and supports efforts to create a thriving, progressvie, and culturally diverse region. With strong working relationships to many community organizations and regional stakeholders, The Sprout Fund is one of Southwestern Pennsylvania's leading agencies on issues related to civic engagement, talent attraction and retention, public art, and catalytic small-scale funding.
The theme of Natural Cycle of Renewal was selected by the Regional Steering Committee. The art projects were unveiled on Saturday, September 27th, 2008 and was followed by a community celebration. The Fayette County Cultural Trust will continue in its mission to improve the quality of life in county by encouraging additional works of art to be incorporated into pocket parks throughout the region.
As part of Celebration Saturday, a community event was held on September 27th. 2010 to unveil the two pieces of public art. The following pictures are from the day's festivities.
