Are you good at coming up with names? A mural in New Kensington needs one.
Westmoreland Community Action is taking suggestions for a name for the community mural at Ninth Street and Fourth Avenue. It’s on the side of the building housing Ashley’s Kitchen, across from Central City Plaza.
The three-story mural was dedicated in April. It’s the second put up through the Community Arts & Reintegration Project, a restorative justice-based program headed by Tim Holler, an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. The first mural was dedicated in Mt. Pleasant in 2018.
About half of the New Kensington mural’s nearly 100 panels were painted by residents at a series of “paint days” held in 2020. Artist Bernie Wilke and other artists did the rest.
It was Wilke and Holler’s idea to take suggestions for a name, said Toni Antonucci, development director at Westmoreland Community Action, a project sponsor.
Wilke and Holler named the Mt. Pleasant Mural “History Leaves an Impression.”
The New Kensington mural contains images from the city’s history with Alcoa; the well-known graffiti tag “I (Heart) Biff”; and notable citizens and members of the community, including photographer Eddie Adams, basketball player RicQuan Johnson, Penn State New Kensington Chancellor Kevin Snider and police Officer Brian Shaw.
“We’re really leaving this open to the community,” Antonucci said. “We want to see what people have to say. What do community members think it should be named? What does this mural represent to New Kensington? What does New Kensington represent to them?”
Suggestions for a name are being taken through an online survey. They also can be sent to Antonucci by email at tantonucci@westmorelandca.org or by phone at 724-834-1260, ext. 1112.
There is no deadline for submissions, Antonucci said. Suggestions will be taken from groups as well as individuals.
“Ideally, we’d love to have something by the holidays,” she said.
The person whose name is chosen will get credit on the mural, provided they give their name, Antonucci said.
