Artist to Host Community Meetings about Asphalt Art Projects
HUNTINGTON – An artist who has been selected to coordinate asphalt art projects in three Huntington neighborhoods will meet with residents during community meetings next week to gain input for the designs.
In August, Denver-based artist Chelsea Hart will paint murals on intersections at 14th Street West at The Wild Ramp; 10th Avenue and 17th Street where the Memphis Tennessee Garrison historic home is located; and Collis Avenue and 26th Street at the new Highlawn Elementary School.
Hart was selected for the projects through an application process earlier this year. She received a bachelor’s degree in visual studies from Western Kentucky University in 2013 and has completed several public art projects in Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, and California. More information about her and her work can be found at artbychelseahart.com.
Hart will conduct the following community meetings to gain input from residents for the asphalt art designs:
2 and 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, at Highlawn Elementary School, 2613 Collis Ave.
5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, West Huntington Public Library, 901 14th Street W.
6 p.m. Thursday, June 30, Marie Redd Senior Center, 1750 9th Ave.
Her goal is to understand what is important to the residents and what they value about their neighborhood. Using this input she gains from the community meetings, Hart will submit two different designs for each intersection. Residents then will vote for their favorite design in July.
The Foundation for the Tri-State Community was selected as a recipient of a $25,000 grant from the Bloomberg Foundation in 2021 to create asphalt art at three intersections in Huntington in neighborhoods that were targeted by the Huntington Innovation Project (HIP) Plan: Fairfield, Highlawn and the West End. The project in each neighborhood is being driven by the executive leadership of the nonprofit organizations created as part of the Huntington Innovation Project (HIP) plan - Fairfield Community Development Corporation, RenewAll, Inc. and the Highlawn Community Alliance, Inc.
The purpose of the grant project is to enhance safety, mobility, beauty and community engagement as well as activate public spaces. For more information about the project, contact Margaret Mary Layne, project director, at margaretmarylayne@gmail.com.