19 murals in downtown State College celebrate America’s 250th year. Here’s a look
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- Downtown State College installed 19 large-scale reproductions of historic portraits.
- The murals were produced from high-quality scans printed on five-foot-wide polytab fabric.
- The semi-permanent installation will remain for several years if owners maintain it.
Downtown State College has transformed into an open-air art gallery this summer as large-scale reproductions of historic artworks line the streets, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
The larger-than-life murals are compelling reproductions of original artworks from the Palmer Museum of Art’s American collection of portraits that portray everyday Americans throughout history, some dating back as early as the 19th century, that feature diverse identities.
A total of 19 large-scale reproductions have been spread across downtown on busy sidewalks and inside shops. With the last one installed Wednesday morning at 113 Hiester St. and Calder Way, an official ribbon cutting ceremony was held in the evening for the “Looking at US: Celebrating America’s 250th” initiative.
Hosted by the Downtown State College Improvement District, more than 30 community members and leaders gathered at the East End Social hub to unveil the project and celebrate the collaboration behind it.
The project is a partnership between the DSCID, the Palmer Museum of Art, Centre Foundation, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, the Borough of State College and the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Funding was provided by the Knight Foundation Fund and the Centre Foundation.
“At Centre Foundation, we focus on supporting projects that strengthen connection and belonging,” Dave Lieb, president and CEO of Centre Foundation said during his remarks. “The ‘Looking at Us’ project reflects that in a very tangible manner. ... It reflects a shared commitment to community vitality and to creating spaces where people want to spend time.”
State College Mayor Ezra Nanes remarked on the importance of diversity in the artworks in celebrating American culture.
“America has not been perfect, and that’s part of celebrating the country is recognizing where we have fallen short, and that is in excluding certain people and identities,” he said. “With a work of art like this, we can honor dignity, we can heal those wounds, and celebrate this country, because the diversity that we see on display in this project really is what America is all about.”
Centre County Commissioner Amber Concepcion recalled a special moment she shared with her daughter while viewing the original painting, “Venus Rising from the Sea,” at the museum. The artwork, which was reproduced on Beaver Avenue, sparked conversation and admiration between them.
“We’re just so fortunate to have this kind of art in our community that all of us, our kids, can learn from, all of us as adults can be enriched by and enjoy, and to have spaces like this to enjoy it,” she said.
The murals were created from high-quality scans of selected artworks printed on five-foot-wide polytab, a nonwoven fabric that resembles paper, using a large-format printer, according to Pamela Etters, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and founder of Murals Talk, a nonprofit that designs murals around the world to build bridges for cultural, social and economic development for kids.
Etters installed each of the block‑wall murals by hand, adhering the printed material directly to building walls.
“I really hope that everyone gets a chance to take a look and a deeper reflection in front of these pieces to really think about how they really do represent like where we’ve been in the past, the struggles that we’ve all faced,” Etters said during the ceremony.
To protect the murals from weather elements, they would need to be coated with a clear protective sealant every year, Etters said. Murals installed on windows are printed on adhesive vinyl by a sign company and applied directly to the glass.
The project is considered semi-permanent and is expected to be long-lasting if maintained properly by business owners and the downtown staff, DSCID Executive Director Lee Anne Jeffries said.
“We’re hoping that if property owners can continue to enjoy the piece and not want to replace it with anything, that they will stay up several years,” she said, and added how the district has “set aside some funds for the maintenance of the pieces.”
The Palmer Museum of Art will host an invitational exhibition celebrating America’s 250th anniversary on Thursday. Visitors can view the original artworks featured in the downtown mural project, which will be displayed until Nov. 29, listen to public readings of the Declaration of Independence and other founding documents, and enjoy complimentary food and drinks. The event will be held from 1 to 6 p.m., and free parking will be available.
Here’s where to find each of the 19 pieces:
- “Venus Rising from the Sea” — 200 W. Beaver Ave.
- “Melting Pot I” — inside 123 W. Beaver Ave.
- “Sunlight and Shadows” — 211 S. Allen St.
- “Approximately Dorn” — inside 364 E. College Ave.
- “Two Sisters” — 101 Hiester St.
- “The Roman Standing Race” — 113 Hiester St.
- “The Vaudeville Act” — the side of 320 E Calder Way
- “Portrait of Catharine Mayer Eichholtz” and seven more portraits — the side of 252 E. Calder Way
- “The Weary Newsboy” — the side of 222 E. Calder Way
- “Gathering the Mail” — the side of 119 Pugh St.
- “How Happy Could I Be With Either?” — 135 E. Calder Way
- “The Little Coat and Fur Shop” — the side of 115 S. Allen St.
- “Island Beach Ferry” — the side of 115 S. Allen St.
