Students and community members in Ligonier recently came together to create a series of one-of-a-kind murals commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The murals, created in collaboration with individuals from Ligonier Valley High School, Ligonier Valley Library, Fort Ligonier and the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Ligonier, went through several planning phases spanning the past year before paint ever touched canvas.
Students and community members worked with the museum’s artist-in-residence, painter Deb Bunnell, to produce the five original mural designs.
“It takes some bravery on their part to paint on a realistic, detailed mural like the Ligonier murals,” Bunnell said.
Though she said some of the painters “were a bit intimidated by the details,” others were eager to wield their brushes.
“You just turn them loose on a section, and they did pretty well,” Bunnell said.
Heather Konhaus, site director at the Ligonier Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, said it “doesn’t do it justice to see the pictures; you kind of have to see them in person.”
Konhaus said Ligonier community members were excited to “put their mark on history” by contributing to the murals, and they now feel a sense of ownership for the work they completed. She estimated 50 people contributed to the creation of the five murals.
Bunnell said the mural painting encouraged many locals to share their Ligonier memories with others.
The murals hang outside of Ligonier town hall, Fort Ligonier, the Ligonier Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, the Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum and the Compass Inn Museum for visitors to view.
Theresa Rohall, executive director of the Ligonier Valley Historical Society, said the 250th celebration is planned for July 18 at the Diamond and will feature a family picnic, local musicians, street dances and fireworks.