Our Town Foundation aims to beautify State Street Square in Hamburg by adding landscaped areas and public art.
“We plan on putting Hamburg’s first mural on this wall,” said Deena Kershner, Executive Director of the Our Town Foundation.
The mural will be painted on the long, white exterior wall of the building behind Ala Mode Ice Cream & Dessert Parlor on State Street.
The lot on State Street was purchased on July 1, 2015 by OTF. The property was previously owned by the late Sally Balthaser. A few years ago after Sally’s passing, OTF looked into buying both properties finding it not feasible to purchase the corner property and about one year ago OTF purchased the lot.
“Not only for Hamburg-er Fest expansion but for other community events,” said Kershner.
Hamburg Farmer’s Market is now held on the Square on Sundays. OTF would like to expand the Arts Fest to the Square. Other ideas include a monthly flea market. Kershner has applied for grants to erect a pavilion with a concrete floor, add a parking lot in the rear, add lighting and to connect water and sewer lines.
OTF would like to beautify the lot through adding landscaped areas and public art.
A large kinetic sculpture called Transcending Tides was erected at the State Street Square dedication on July 23.
Nationally renowned artist Jeff Kahn, Lenhartsville, who is a founding member of the Hamburg Area Arts Alliance, created the sculpture and donated it to OTF for the Square.
“Hopefully it will generate some pleasure, maybe a little inspiration,” said Kahn. “I’m proud and happy to have my piece as the first kinetic sculpture in Hamburg.”
The mural design was also unveiled during the dedication, which will be painted on the adjacent wall of the property in back of Ala Mode.
Birdsboro artist Carrie Kingsbury, a member of the Hamburg Area Arts Alliance, will be painting the mural in September.
“The Art Alliance came up with the design. It’s a collaborative design,” said Kingsbury.
Art Alliance member Lindsay Adam explained that the design depicts the Lenni Lanape in a canoe, the canal, agriculture with a horse and plow, Reading Railroad, Hamburg Broom Works, Hahn Motors, King Frost Parade using horses, a bridge to represent the local bridges, Blue Mountain and modern kayakers on the Schuylkill River.
Adam noted that Hamburg had an ordinance that prohibited murals in Hamburg Borough. The ordinance was amended by Borough Council so that the mural could be painted. On July 25, Council approved the mural application.
The mural itself is funded by a Pennsylvania Rural Arts Council grant. An additional $1,250 is needed to prep the wall and paint a base coat. A fundraiser will cover the costs to prep the wall. The faces of the kayakers can be painted in the likeness of a loved one in the mural for a $250 donation.
For more information, contact Our Town Foundation at 610-562-3106 or emailotfmanager@aol.com.
