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Artists collaborate with students to inspire the love of reading and learning.
Dedication to take place Thursday, November 5th at 3pm.
ALLENTOWN, PA | November 3 , 2020
The Allentown Arts Commission announces its collaboration with building owner Mathew Pezon, Hays Elementary Principal Naaman Schlegel and Art Teacher Darlene Crouthamel, in bringing inspiration to 12th & Gordon streets.
Managed by Materials Conservation, the new 53’ x 32’ mural, “Reading is a Portal,” is being painted by California-based muralists Aaron Glasson and Celeste Byers at 1232 ½ West Gordon Street, across from the entrance to the new Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays Elementary School. The mural explores the ideas of books as being a portal to imagination and learning by featuring imagery of children and the magical worlds they inhabit thanks to reading. The mural’s narrative is inspired by the school’s mission to have all students develop a love of reading and learning.
Along with the school’s community liaison, Amanda Madae, the artists worked directly with the school’s students via a bilingual online platform in which students shared their favorite books, characters, and stories with the artists. The ideas provided by the students were interpreted by the artists and are included in the mural. The artists hope that when the students return to school, they will see themselves in the mural as well as new stories to explore.
“Not only will the children have a sense of pride and ownership of this work,” Jane Heft, Allentown Arts Commission Chair said, “A mural can help define and bring a neighborhood together.”
The artists are working with the school to prepare a virtual assembly for older students about careers in the arts. It will be an opportunity for the students to talk to them about their work, ask questions, and learn about what it means to be a professional working artist.
A dedication will take place Thursday, November 5 at 3:00 p.m.
For more on the artists:
About the Allentown Arts Commission
We support the Arts + Artists in Allentown. As the agency that champions the arts, we believe that a creative cultural environment is essential to the city’s well-being and we strive to integrate the arts into all aspects of city life. The Allentown Arts Commission supports the City by advocating for innovative arts policy, creating access for equitable participation in the arts, enlivening the urban environment, and fostering & enriching arts engagement for all residents.
About Materials Conservation
Materials Conservation Co. (MC) provides professional public art and conservation services for clients in the Philadelphia region and throughout North America. Founded in 2006, the firm has contracted with numerous government agencies, university campuses and private collections to address the unique needs of works of art in public space, historic architecture and heritage objects. And as trusted stewards of our material culture, our conservators have treated both monumental public sculptures and installations in private gardens. In 2019, the scope of Materials Conservation’s work expanded so that it now includes all aspects of the world of public art, including public art planning, the public art commissioning process, and fabrication services. MC now offers the complete range of public art services for artists, universities, institutions, developers and municipalities looking to expand their public art offerings. MC’s conservation clients include Yale University, the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, and Lehigh University.
Information provided on the behalf of the Allentown Arts Commission to TVL by:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov
