NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
18 October 2002

SECOND MURAL UNVEILED FOR MAYOR’S PUBLIC ART INITIATIVE

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today unveiled the second major new public mural completed as part of the mayor’s citywide Historic Mural Project first launched in July. The newest addition to the public art program is located underneath the Walnut Street Bridge on City Island and depicts a 1,200 sq. ft. baseball scene created by artist Max Mason of Wynnewood, PA.

Reed said: “The Historic Mural Project is a dramatic enhancement of the city’s extensive public art inventory,” said Mayor Reed, “and captures Harrisburg’s rich and illustrious history with significant visual impact. Future murals will also depict people, places and events in Harrisburg’s and Pennsylvania’s history, and will be located at sites throughout the city.”

The Mayor said the baseball mural took two months to complete at a total cost of $11,755.

Reed commissioned the mural project last Fall and designated the Harrisburg Public Arts Advisory Board to oversee the solicitation, selection and undertaking of the work. The Board is an all-volunteer body of civic and art leaders who set standards and review proposed projects involving the placement of art in public areas.

“We are delighted with this impressive and eye-catching mural, and salute the good work of Max Mason and the Public Arts Advisory Board in helping create this stunning new attraction to City Island,” Reed said.

Reed noted the Mason Mural now joins the previously unveiled Wayne Fettro Mural, which depicts various scenes from City Island history and is located on the exterior berm of the Skyline Sports Complex. Future murals will be placed on various buildings and streetscapes in the months and years to come. The effort is being conducted in conjunction with an array of other historically-themed work begun by the Mayor last year. Other aspects of the overall project include the placement of historic pedestal signage throughout the city, depicting various attractions and points of interest, and the creation or reprint of various city promotional brochures and publications.

“These projects are designed to bolster the city’s status as a growing point of destination for history, tourism, recreation, arts and culture,” said Mayor Reed. “The mural project also serves as an educational tool for area artists and art lovers, allowing interested persons to observe the entire creative process from initial sketching and drawings to finished project. Observers are encouraged to speak with the artists as they work, learning first-hand how to create such large-scale public artworks.”

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