Artist and Export native Christina Donahoe recognizes the artistic value of well-done graffiti, even if it’s not legal to create.
So when Donahue, 35, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was back home a few years ago and saw graffiti tags all over a Route 22 underpass near the Cozy Inn Cut-Off and Westmoreland Heritage Trail in Murrysville, her first thought wasn’t, “I need to cover this with a mural.”
“With creative intent, graffiti — although illegal — is an art form,” she said. “I know there are people out there who feel strongly about that space as a creative platform.”
But among the graffiti was a name and an explicit message written about a girl.
“Looking closer, I only found more of the same,” she said.
Donahoe had already done a large mural in 2022, on the Export Floral building that faces the Westmoreland Heritage Trail. She proposed a second, larger mural that could cover up the underpass graffiti.
That was nearly three years ago.
This month, Donahoe finally got word that the project was back on track, after state transportation officials reviewed and updated the process used to approve these types of art installations.
PennDOT spokesperson Emily Stambaugh said the key driver behind PennDOT’s review of the mural approval process was safety.
“While we’re not aware of any traffic accidents related to mural installations, we wanted to make sure that both artists and motorists remain protected,” Stambaugh said.
The agency established standardized guidelines and review steps for what, up until then, had been a fairly informal process.
“The updated approach also helps ensure consistency across all our districts,” Stambaugh said.
The mural agreement was executed in mid-March, and Donahoe was given notice to proceed on April 15.
Donahoe didn’t reveal the exact details of the mural to TribLive, but she did have to submit a final rendering for PennDOT’s approval.
“Like all of my designs, I try to cater to the mural viewers, which in this case is trail users,” she said. “They’re choosing to be out in nature, so I tried to make the mural a continuation of their experience there.”
Back in 2023, Donahoe was also working to line up donors to help offset the mural’s cost, and whose names would be woven into the final design. With the new approval process, Donahoe didn’t feel that was a workable concept anymore.
“The price of the project to me will be about $9,070, but those are funds I’ve already saved up to bring this to life,” she said.
Donahoe created a GoFundMe for donations to help with her costs, “but that was only for those who want to support the cause and feel like they’re a part of making this change,” she said.
Once the mural is completed, an anti-graffiti clear coat will be applied, which makes it difficult for any new graffiti to adhere to the wall.
Donahoe also said she understands the criticism she’s received on social media about the project, particularly from graffiti artists or those who appreciate their work.
“Legal issues aside, the real problems in that space are not with street writers or anything created with artistic intent,” she said. “None of that is malicious. It’s using the space as a platform to say the most hateful, violent or explicit things you can come up with to target another person. … People, especially kids, are constantly dealing with some form of bullying, whether it’s in-person or online. I see no value in allowing it to continue here.”