Jeannette grows its art scene, with more to come

Jill Urbani Sorrels has a vivid recollection of something her father said years ago about Jeannette’s future.

It would take an entire generation for the city to bounce back from a decline, Urbani Sorrels remembers him saying.

“ ‘It will come back through the eyes of the artists,’ ” she said of his words. “That really stuck with me.”

And now, those prescient words are holding true as art-related projects and studios have sprung up around town during the last few years. Those spots sprinkled around the downtown area have been attracting customers from outside the city as murals have been painted on buildings.

Tom Slack and Eric Harter, co-owners of AB Ceramics and More on South Fourth Street, have pumped new life into their storefront, recently opening a pottery studio. The pair bought the business about a year and a half ago and, while continuing with ceramics, have created a space for new mediums, including canvas painting, fused glass and needle felting.

“People who come here, this place is like therapy,” Slack said. “We doubled our business from our first year projections to our second year.”

They’ve noticed an increase in artistic offerings in town, as well as a higher interest in classes.

“Just within a two-block radius, you can hit three different art centers,” Slack said.

The You Are Here gallery and artist thrift store opened on Clay Avenue in 2018, which features juried exhibits in mixed media from regional artists. You Are Here hosts classes, speakers and other events.

At The Glass City on Clay Avenue, bright colors of stained glass adorn the street-facing windows, and anyone can learn the artform inside.

“Our classes are always full,” said Amy Jo Davis, who co-owns the shop and restoration business with her husband, Doug.

They regularly see customers from outside the area.

“By just having them come in, they get a new perception of what Jeannette is,” Doug Davis said. “I like Jeannette, and I hope it gets more artsy.”

Murals started popping up in town in 2015 through funding from Westmoreland Community Action and the Neighborhood Partnership Program. That same year, the Jeannette Arts Council formed. Urbani Sorrels, the group’s president, said the council holds several fundraisers annually to provide free monthly art classes for children.

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg is planning a large public art project for the city with graphic design artist John van Hamersveld — who created the poster for the 1966 classic surfing movie “The Endless Summer” — through a Community Foundation of Westmoreland County grant.

The increase of arts in town is coupled with a few new or incoming businesses in Jeannette’s downtown area, creating a burgeoning energy, said Urbani Sorrels, who is semi-retired after previously operating the Keynote Cafe.

“(Arts) provide hope for the future,” she said. “There’s so many talented people in town.”

Now, it’s about keeping the momentum going at places such as AB Ceramics and More. Slack and Harter hope to add glass blowing and a small gallery at their space for local artists to display their work.

They want to create a community and help others enjoy being creative for a couple hours.

“I think we’re just bringing life back at least to where we’re at,” Harter said.