The Community Makes their Mark on 14STW in Huntington W. Va.!

Last Updated 8/15/2022

Volunteers help install, "Threads of the Past," with professional artist Chelsae Hart

A Community Project

The 14STW painting project took place last Sunday and was led by Chelsae Hart, a professional artist born in Ohio and now resides in Denver. Hart was hired onto the project by community leaders in the City of Huntington to paint murals in the three main districts: Highlawn, Fairfield, and 14STW. Hart specializes in abstract art and has done mural projects before. She hosted community meetings leading up to the decision of the project, then launched design mock-ups for the community to vote on. When voting ended, and the weather cleared, Hart was able to sketch out the winning design on the sidewalk corners and guide volunteers on what spaces to paint and what colors to use. The process was easy and fun for everyone

Volunteers Enjoyed The Morning

Claire Barrios, a student in Huntington, said she got involved with the project because she really enjoyed painting murals.

"I got involved with a mural painting project when I was at GHA, and it was really fun," Barrios said. "I would definitely do more projects like this again and I'm excited to see what it looks like."

The Benefits of Public Art

Beyond making the neighborhood beautiful, murals are proven to attract new businesses, help bring customers to pre-existing locations, and boost the economy of the area. Also, public art will naturally slow traffic and make the area inviting for leisure activities.

"Threads of the Past," is part of a large project that is meant to benefit Huntington as a whole. On 14STW, the project tells our story, using the nostalgia of the past to help form a vibrant, revitalized future. When you walk on 14STW, you now will have a connection with the project every time you walk over it. When asked if the idea of walking on our art project would be a bad thing, volunteers and Hart chuckled and agreed that it "...makes it even better and more interactive."

"I did that!"

Now when volunteers return to 14STW, they get to look at the sidewalk and say, "I did that!" Come down to 14STW TODAY and see the final result of "Threads of the Past." To learn more about Chelsae Art, click here.

It was amazing to see the support from the community on this project and it inspired us to want to do more projects like this. If you'd like to become a volunteer and be informed about upcoming events and projects, fill out the Volunteer Form below! To see the Herald Dispatch feature in this Monday's E-Edition of our volunteers on 14STW, click here.