New outdoor mural unveiled at East End United Community Center in Uniontown
Attendees admire a new 10-panel outdoor mural on Coolspring Street in front of the East End United Community Center in Uniontown at its recent unveiling ceremony. The project, which is a partnership between EEUCC, Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. and Rural LISC, showcases the community's role in the Underground Railroad, the importance of faith, the legacy of EEUCC and vibrancy of its youth. The mural is titled, "Know Our Past, Create Our Future.''
Attendees admire a new 10-panel outdoor mural on Coolspring Street in front of the East End United Community Center in Uniontown at its recent unveiling ceremony. The project, which is a partnership between EEUCC, Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. and Rural LISC, showcases the community's role in the Underground Railroad, the importance of faith, the legacy of EEUCC and vibrancy of its youth. The mural is titled, "Know Our Past, Create Our Future.''
The community participated in painting the first and 10th panels of a new outdoor mural on Coolspring Street in front of the East End United Community Center in Uniontown. The project, which is a partnership between EEUCC, Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. and Rural LISC, showcases the community's role in the Underground Railroad, the importance of faith, the legacy of EEUCC and vibrancy of its youth.
Terry Burden, left, board chairwoman of the East End United Community Center, and Marlene Kolosky, Neighborhood Partnership Program project manager for Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc., position a plaque that will be placed in the final panel of a new 10-panel, outdoor mural on Coolspring Street in front of the EEUCC. The plaque explains the title of the mural: "Know Our Past, Create Our Future.'' EEUCC and FCCAA partnered with Rural LISC on the project that includes supplies for arts programs at the center.
The Rev. Gary Yarbrough, center, board member for the East End United Community Center and pastor of Interfaith Assembly for Christ, both in Uniontown, gives a blessing over the new, 10-panel outdoor mural in front of EEUCC on Coolspring Street. A plaque for the mural notes, "The past and present spirit of this community provides heritage and hope for a strong future.'' The project is a partnership between EEUCC, Fayette County Community Action and Rural LISC.
Artists Emily Dillinger, a Fairchance native, left, and Miranda Keyser, of Mount Pleasant, stand before the 10-panel, outdoor mural recently unveiled on Coolspring Street outside the East End United Community Center. The artists led the project with input from the community. The mural, which carries the title "Know Our Past, Create Our Future,'' is a partnership between EEUCC, Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. and Rural LISC.
Baker's Alley, which was part of the Underground Railroad in the 19th century, is represented in this panel of the new outdoor mural now standing on Coolspring Street in front of the East End United Community Center in Uniontown. The mural, which carries the title "Know Our Past, Create Our Future,'' is a partnership between EEUCC, Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. and Rural LISC.
This group of people representing different career aspirations of local youths is one of the panels of the new outdoor mural now standing on Coolspring Street in front of the East End United Community Center in Uniontown. The mural, which carries the title "Know Our Past, Create Our Future,'' is a partnership between EEUCC, Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. and Rural LISC.
This image of the former East End United Community Center on Main Street is one of the panels of the new outdoor mural now standing on Coolspring Street in front of the current East End United Community Center in Uniontown. The mural, which carries the title "Know Our Past, Create Our Future,'' is a partnership between EEUCC, Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. and Rural LISC.
This image of local youths at graduation is one of the panels of the new outdoor mural now standing on Coolspring Street in front of the East End United Community Center in Uniontown. The mural, which carries the title "Know Our Past, Create Our Future,'' is a partnership between EEUCC, Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. and Rural LISC.
East End United Community Center, Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. and Rural LISC partnered to create a new outdoor mural that was recently unveiled on Coolspring Street in front of EEUCC. The mural carries the title, "Know Our Past, Create Our Future'' and honors the legacy of the community with hopes for the future. Pictured are (from left) James Stark, chief executive officer, FCCAA; Terry Burden, board chairwoman, EEUCC; Marlene Kolosky, Neighborhood Partnership Program project manager, FCCAA; and artists Emily Dillinger, a Fairchance native; and Miranda Keyser, of Mount Pleasant.
Terry Burden, foreground, board chairwoman of the East End United Community Center, and Marlene Kolosky, left, Neighborhood Partnership Program project manager for Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc., position a plaque join the crowd at the unveiling of a new 10-panel, outdoor mural on Coolspring Street in front of the EEUCC. A plaque that was to be placed in the final panel explains the title of the mural: "Know Our Past, Create Our Future.'' EEUCC and FCCAA partnered with Rural LISC on the project that includes supplies for arts programs at the center.
Ten panels of paintings now line the sidewalk along Coolspring Street in front of the East End United Community Center in Uniontown, telling a story of local history and hopes for the future in a bright, beautiful way.
“It’s impressive and I’m so thankful for all the community people who came together to make it happen,” said Terry Burden, EEUCC board chairwoman. “I feel overwhelming joy in how the community came together to put this together and all the partnerships — past, current and future partnerships going to be formed because of this mural.”
Called “Know Our Past, Create Our Future,” the outdoor mural is a partnership between EEUCC, Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. and Rural LISC. LISC is a national non-profit to revitalize communities and bring about economic opportunity. Rural LISC is a national program created to expand LISC’s reach beyond urban areas to include rural communities.
James Stark, chief executive officer of FCCAA, explained, “Nationally, art is being used as a tool to stimulate community development. What Rural LISC is trying to do with this, and other projects, is target art to the community, helping to build the pride of the residents, retain history of the community and to encourage involvement of citizens in art activities.”
This project started last year with the hiring of artist Emily Dillinger, a Fairchance native and 2013 graduate of Albert Gallatin High School who graduated in 2017 with a degree in art therapy from Seton Hill University in Greensburg where she is now taking graduate studies. Dillinger had been interning at EEUCC as a teaching assistant.
Miranda Keyser, of Mount Pleasant, nutrition major at Seton Hill who is also an artist, came on board the project as Dillinger’s assistant.
For research, the two artists participated in one of the popular Steps to a Healthier Fayette Wednesday Walks that was held in the East End in 2017 and interviewed senior members of the EEUCC to learn local history.
“I talked to the kids and the older generation. I asked what the East End meant to them — what they like about it and what they would like to see in the mural,” said Dillinger, who noted “Each part of the mural is about the local area from over 100 years ago to present day.”
Work progressed on the mural, which was painted with acrylics and outdoor spray paint on plywood that’s been primed and sanded. Local residents participated with a Paint and Sip that featured soft drinks and a chance to do actual work on the mural.
Burden read a description of the panels, which are spread out about 50 feet from one end to the other, during a ceremony that preceded the unveiling of the mural on the first day of summer.
The panels include: the name “East End United Community Center” on a background of images painted by community members, a 19th century scene of Baker’s Alley when the East End was part of the Underground Railroad, a church that represents the importance of faith in the community, former East End School on Main Street that held the first EEUCC, the blue EEUCC building on Main Street that preceded the new facility, youths on a bus riding to EEUCC, the current EEUCC on Coolspring, graduates throwing their caps in the air, and a group representing different careers to which local youths aspire. The colorful scenes include a variety of silhouettes of people in the community, mostly youths.
The final panel contains a background of images, also painted by the community, which holds a plaque in the center explaining, “The community’s active role in the Underground Railroad, the legacy of the East End United Community center, and the vibrancy of the youth are the inspiration for this piece. The past and present spirit of this community provides heritage and hope for a strong future.”
“I hope it will be inspiring and a way for the community to come together,” said Dillinger of the mural, “and to showcase the influence the center has had.”
Keyser said, “I wanted people to find their memories attached, remember the East End but also to look towards the future.”
Marlene Kolosky, Neighborhood Partnership Program, project manager, FCCAA, noted at the dedication ceremony this arts project is “really about ongoing teaching arts in the community so a lot of funding was used to purchase art supplies that will be used to teach art throughout the coming year.”
Burden, Kolosky and Stark all thanked the community for its participation.
And the Rev. Gary Yarbrough, EEUCC board member and pastor of Interfaith Assembly for Christ church, offered a prayer.
“Thank you for our past, our present and our future, O God. This mural represents that which we have spoken,” Yarbrough prayed. “We ask God that you continue to bless the center, bless the mural and bless everyone who will come in and out of the doors of this institution.”
Meanwhile, FCCAA announced it is also working with Rural LISC to create a mosaic that will be permanently displayed at Storey Square, located on Uniontown’s Main Street by the State Threatre Center for the Arts.
FCAAA announced local residents of all ages can participate in creating the mosaic from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays through the beginning of August when artists employed by Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington are setting up mobile arts and craft stations during the yearly summer concert series.
“In collaboration with the Uniontown Redevelopment Authority, the Phoenix Arts Center, Uniontown Art Club, and Fayette County Community Action Agency, Touchstone will offer youth and adults the opportunity to learn, create and contribute to a final mosaic that will be exhibited on large columns located at the entrances to the square. Residents are invited to join in on the fun. All materials will be provided and professional artists will provide guidance to all participants,” officials explained in a press release.
Lindsay Ketterer Gates, executive director, said in the release, “Touchstone is excited about partnering with various community groups to further the arts in the area. This mural project is a wonderful illustration of what can be accomplished when we all come together as a team, each bringing our own strengths and resources to the project.”