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A couple of months ago, I wrote about the encouragement to install murals throughout West Virginia as part of the state's America 250 observances, with the Department of Tourism providing each county with $5,000 toward such projects.
Hancock and Brooke counties jumped right on the program, with one piece of artwork created and installed on the wall at Blue Cat Coffee along Main Street in Weirton, to represent Hancock County, and another along Charles Street in Wellsburg to represent Brooke County.
To see these pieces of art be developed and go up was an exciting experience, but public art isn't stopping with those two projects.
In recent weeks, new efforts have been launched in our area, appearing to show a rebirth of - or at least another effort to grow - public art in our area.
Steubenville, for decades, has been known as "The City of Murals," while Weirton has had a few here and there. The Mail Pouch mural by Mario's Restaurant has been among the most noticeable in recent memory, but there have been others - mostly lost to time.
That appears to be changing now.
A little over a month ago, an organization known as the Montani Outreach Movement (M.O.M.), a local non-profit, announced its mural project in Chester. Working with Pittsburgh artist Kyle Holbrook, already known locally for a couple of mural projects in Steubenville as well as others around the world, they have designed some art to memorialize Rock Springs Park, an amusement park which operated in West Virginia's northernmost city from 1897 until 1970. The mural is located on one of the support piers of the Jennings Randolph Bridge, where it crosses over state Route 2, on land where the park was located.
To me, the coolest aspect of this project is that it not only helps to preserve local history, but it involves the community. Chester-area residents with memories of Rock Springs Park were interviewed to assist with the design, and others - young and old - were invited to contribute a handprint, message, or design to the underpainting portion of the mural. Once complete, those elements will still have some visibility through the design.
That's not the only one, though, those driving through Weirton in the last couple of weeks have possibly noticed a new mural going up on the side of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post building along Main Street. Painted by Oak Glen graduate Sarah Robinson, with assistance from a few other contributors, this project was a little more secretive.
I had heard rumblings of the idea a couple of months back, and Weirton City Manager Mike Adams started to mention it at the last city council meeting before stopping himself (as if it was a top secret project).
This mural will help to pay tribute to our veterans, with the design to include an image of an American flag and the outline of a kneeling soldier.
It's starting to get some attention, with pictures popping up on social media Wednesday and Thursday.
While it's the latest mural project to be visible, it won't be the last.
Those with a keen eye may have noticed some chalk outlines on the side of the Strip Steel Credit Union building in Weirton. I, myself, hadn't noticed it until last Saturday when it was pointed out to me by Mayor Dean Harris.
From what I can tell, it appears to be dedicated to the nation's military as well as first responders, with elements for each of the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as what appeared to be designs for police officers, firefighters and more. That could all change, of course, as the project moves forward, but I'm sure we'll all be keeping an eye out for that, as well.
This is the newest wave of public art in our area. There have been discussions of other projects over the years, some of which have happened with varying degrees of success, whether it be murals, metal sculptures, or mosaics.
Art is a celebration of our culture and heritage, and, as such, needs to be showcased as much as possible. Let's hope these new efforts inspire more in the years ahead.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is part of the news staff of The Weirton Daily Times. He can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)