Irwin plans for 'Wings' installation

An art exhibit that encourages a person to be photographed with metal angel’s wings adorned with renderings depicting prominent aspects of a community’s heritage is coming to Irwin this summer.

The popular Wings Across Westmoreland is tentatively set to land at The Lamp Theatre courtyard at 222 Main St. on Aug. 6, said Terri Yurcisin, vice present of The Lamp Theatre Corp. board of directors, which oversees the renovated theatre that is the site of concerts and plays. The project has been under discussion since last summer, she said.

The Wings will be placed along the railing at the Lamp Theatre Courtyard, which holds the diner and tables for seating, Yurcisin said.

“It’s a fun thing,” Yurcisin said.

“We cannot think of a more fitting location than The Lamp Theatre for our next pair of Wings. Aside from the final installation piece, the process of working with another arts organization to place art in communities is just as rewarding,” said April Kopas, CEO of the Westmoreland Cultural Trust.

The design will feature community landmarks inside each of the wings, which are about 4½-feet long, with a space in the middle for an “angel” to stand for a photo. The scenes of what community stakeholders want on the wings, are painted on a piece of canvas. The Lamp Theatre board of directors provided funding for the project, which cost about $600.

The wings will hold icons of The Lamp, the old Post Office building, the Clock Tower Building, John Irwin House, the Fourth Street Arch and Irwin Park. Yurcisin said they consulted a book of town’s history and work with Carl Huszar, president of the Norwin Historical Society.

Representatives of The Lamp, Irwin Borough, Norwin Public Library, and Norwin Historical Society helped choose landmarks to include in the design.

“This process has been a true collaboration of efforts that has led us to this unique draft design of the wings,” Yurcisin said.

The design selected for inside the wings gives those involved in the project the opportunity to incorporate the heritage of the area to “educate individuals on the history of the community,” Kopas said. Residents and visitors can appreciate the town’s history while enjoying the art, she added.

The collaborative process for deciding on the design of the wings also included a discussion with Patrick Mahoney, the Trust’s Incubator for the Arts artist, on what best represents the community. Mahoney started the project four years ago in Greensburg. The Wings in Greensburg have been a backdrop for countless selfies, senior portraits and wedding photos, Kopas said, which inspired the Trust in 2019 to expand the initiative into other towns in the county.

The “Wings” also have been installed at Sobel’s Obscure Brewery in Jeannette; Ligonier Town Hall; the Five Star Trail at Youngwood; the Smithton Borough Building; the Mt. Pleasant Library; the Casino Theatre in Vandergrift; and seasonally at Overly’s Country Christmas. Kopas said they would like to expand the initiative to places like New Kensington, Latrobe and Monessen.

“Art connects us, and the Wings project is a reminder of how art inspires communities. Similar to our very own Palace Theatre (in Greensburg), it was the community that rallied together to reopen The Lamp’s shuttered doors in 2015 and create a cultural beacon for the city of Irwin, making it a great home for the Wings,” Kopas said.