New Kensington's ongoing alley art project comes from the heart, organizers say

At a spot in New Kensington’s Ivy Alley, there are three little birds standing on a shelf, holding umbrellas and wearing brightly colored galoshes.

While Karenda Wilson has her own artwork on display, she said the birds are one of the “quirky things” she likes about the city’s Art in the Alley project that’s been completed so far.

“It gets people out of the house and focusing on something that’s fun,” she said. “It brightens up the alley.”

Since New Kensington approved the project two years ago for the section of the alley from a parking lot to 10th Street, between Fourth and Fifth avenues, 22 art pieces have been placed on display, with one more expected to be installed in early October before work wraps up for the year, said Jamie Smittle, vice president of the New Kensington Arts Center.

Several of the artists gathered to work on or touch up their pieces Thursday evening.

The works by local artists include murals, sculptures and various “hidden objects,” Smittle said.

“I’m very proud of the work that everyone’s done. It’s come from their hearts,” she said. “For the most part, I believe we achieved what we set out to do.”

Smittle said they’ve seen people attending the city’s monthly Fridays on Fifth find their way to the alley to view the art. Going forward, she said, they’d like to get signage pointing people to it and making it easier to find.

“I have had lots of people mention that a lot of people are coming there for senior pictures,” she said.

Dave Howard, owner of Uncle Dave’s Art Studio in Allegheny Township, turned an electrical conduit on the back wall of the building housing Head Start into a tree with a fairy garden at its base. Beside it is a gas meter he says is painted as a robotic frog but could be seen as a monster from “The Real Ghostbusters” cartoon.

“The kids love it,” he said of the gas meter. “They think it’s hilarious.”

The kids also like Kylee Danko’s “Toadsquatch,” which is painted on the wall near Howard’s frog. Danko, 30, said she created the creature three years ago.

“He reminds me of my childhood growing up, catching toads and looking for Bigfoot,” she said. “Usually, when I come down here, I add a little to him.”

Flashing a peace sign, Danko said this is a “hippie version” of the mythic creature, which she has on shirts, hats, prints and stickers.

“It’s awesome that so many different people contributed to this,” she said. “All the different styles is just great.”

Wilson said it took 40 hours to paint her piece, which went up on an orange wall above a yellow garage door a month ago. It features people of different ethnicities doing different things.

“This is for you to see your vision, how you see it, your way,” she said.

An office administrator by day, Wilson said she learned to paint at Valley High School, which she graduated from in 2002.

“This is my escape,” she said.

A member of the New Kensington Arts Center, Howard said Smittle’s invitation to be part of the project helped him realize a bucket list item. Able to choose where he wanted to paint, Howard said the gas meter caught his eye.

“I wanted to camouflage what was there and make it cooler and more interesting,” he said. “The mural grew out of the electrical pole.”

The art in this first section of the alley was based around a nature theme.

“I think it looks great,” said Debra Pendergast of New Kensington. “It’s very colorful.”

Pendergast, 65, a retired graphic designer, spent more than a year painting what she calls “Nature Cat,” a cat with wings and flowers throughout its body. It’s been on a canvas adhered to a wall in the alley since June 2023.

“It just kind of developed in my head,” she said. “This is the largest work I’ve ever done to date.”

Pendergast said she is open to doing more should the city approve art for the next section of the alley, from 10th Street to Ninth Street. Smittle is hopeful they can get approval and start next year.

A theme for the next block has not been decided, she said.

Extending the project also may depend on funding, Smittle said. Westmoreland Community Action, the New Kensington Downtown Partnership and Olde Towne Overhaul have helped to support it so far.

Money is needed for paint and supplies, she said. They also would like to be able to reimburse the artists for supplying their own materials, something they haven’t been able to do.

Mayor Tom Guzzo says Art in the Alley has been a positive project.

“The Downtown Business Partnership and the New Ken Art Center has done an absolutely tremendous job of using art to beautify the alleys and make them attractive. It has also been great for talented artists to use as an outlet for their amazing creativity,” he said. “As we continue to experience success with our downtown, projects like this enhance the attraction for people to open businesses and for people to come downtown and support our businesses.”

Smittle said they hope to get the project down as far as Eighth Street, where a parklet with a gazebo and the city’s “Wings Across Westmoreland” are located.

“Thanks to those in the community that support the project and like to visit,” Smittle said. “We hope it brings them joy.”