Blawnox group seeks artist proposals for new borough mural

A Blawnox-based nonprofit wants to bring more art to the borough.

Best of Blawnox is accepting artist proposals for a new mural at Blawnox Community Park.

The canvas in question is a building at the main entrance.

The project is to create an 8-foot by 15-foot image related to the history of Blawnox and/or sustainability of the current town setup, according to Best of Blawnox president Diane Casile.

“We’re having a competitive award and hoping to get a young artist that might want to try their hand at doing a mural,” Casile said on Jan. 29. “We’re asking they submit a design and proposed budget.”

Applications and designs are being accepted through Feb. 28. Best of Blawnox plans to announce its selection on March 15.

The selected artist will be paid $1,000 plus supply costs for the work.

Artists do not have to live in the state to apply.

“We certainly want to get the best possible design,” Casile said. “There is no limit to who might be interested.”

The hope is to have the mural ready for unveiling by early summer.

This would be the second mural the charity has funded in as many years.

Renowned artist Lee Steadman of McKean finished a mural on the side of Rick’s Barber Shop along Freeport Road last summer.

The 12-foot by 25-foot painting is a “framed” portrait of the local bend in the Allegheny River. There are various trees with multicolored leaves indicating a fall setting.

It took a couple of months to complete with planning and preliminary work stretching everything to about half the year.

Murals are just one of many artistic avenues supported by Best of Blawnox.

It hosts an annual Spring Art Fling and supports many exhibits throughout the year. About 200 people participated in last year’s fling.

There were multiple booths and tents lined up along several blocks of Freeport Road in the town’s business district.

Blue Rose Custom Frame Parlor and the Black Canary coffee shop exhibited art from Fox Chapel Area High School students. Vendors and artisans were stationed at the parking lot of Hoboken Presbyterian Church on North Avenue. Squonk Opera brought its giant purple hands for people to maneuver and play with.

Best of Blawnox is in the process of organizing its fourth annual fling. It may be moved to September to coincide with the borough’s centennial celebration.

“What we have been interested in for the past couple of years is bringing more art to our town,” Casile said. “We’re trying to bring more art and the accessibility of art to our town, and anybody interested coming to look at it. This is something that’s benefiting our town.”

Artists interested in the community park mural project can email their information and designs to blxoffice@blawnox.net.

More information about the project is available at bestofblawnox.com.