High school students paint the town red (green, blue, and orange too)!
For the past two summers, my son, Hunter, spent his days in paint-splattered shorts with the sun on his back and Crystal Street traffic passing by. Unlike other high school students, he did not work at a summer job, but volunteered his time and talent to help beautify the downtown area. Hunter is one of the artists and the newest Art Coordinator for the Crystal Street Mural Project, supported by Eastburg Community Alliance (ECA).
The mural, stretching from the corner of Washington Street to the rear of CVS Pharmacy, boasts paintings of several Pocono landmarks. From the pitched roof of the Old Mill and smooth arches of the Slateford bridge, to trees ablaze with crimson and orange, this masterpiece illustrates what journalist Lincoln Steffens once called art: “a border of flowers along the course of civilization.” Other images depicted include the old Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railway station and a colorful rendition of Crystal Street itself. Thanks to the vision of Long Pond resident Tracy Rowe, Mike Jones of Stroudsburg, and Stroudsburg Art Teacher Leah McKain, the mural has transformed a plain wall into East Stroudsburg’s gallery en plein air.
An average painting day begins with volunteers retrieving their supplies from the basement of East Stroudsburg Hardware and then filling ten-gallon buckets with water from the kitchen of Dansbury Depot. After setting up the necessary paints, brushes, water and rags, it is time to prime the wall to prevent absorption of paint into the concrete. The artists then use acrylic latex-based paint to spread a vibrant, historic dimension along Crystal Street.
Some days, the volunteers focus on sketching the charcoal outline, which involves measuring, making calculations to accurately enlarge the image, and some good old-fashioned “eyeballing.” Other days the goal is to layer detail and color on the wall, and inevitably, on the artists’ clothes and hands. After a scene is complete, the students apply a special coating that makes graffiti damage a cinch to clean up. According to Mike Jones, who was one of the original student artists on the project, the investment in anti-graffiti coating was necessary after one unfortunate incident destroyed countless hours of hard work.
The Mural Project began in 2003 when Tracy Rowe, then general manager of Dansbury Depot, was inspired by local high school students who painted the windows of the restaurant each year. Collaboration with local artists and teacher Leah McKain sparked the idea of memorializing historical landmarks on the retaining wall along the railroad tracks. Tracy recounts that the East Stroudsburg Borough Council was initially concerned about whether the wall would represent artistic expression or merely graffiti.
“After the first season of work was completed,” Tracy said, “I had no resistance from the Borough.” While her initial goal was to provide a stepping stone for the student artists, in the process, Tracy discovered something more.
“Each artist creates a part of history,” said Tracy, discussing the legacy these students leave future generations. Tracy believes her spirit has broadened as a result of working with the artists, teachers, and business owners involved with this project. Although she never picked up a brush, she certainly benefited from the experience.
Since the mural's inception, students have had complete control over the project. Placing not only paintbrushes, but full responsibility in the hands of the students empowers them to make decisions and work as a team on something bigger than themselves.
Mike Jones, who advanced from student volunteer to art coordinator, said, "Supervising the painters and conducting myself as a professional deepened my appreciation of those dedicated to the project." For Mike, companionship and teamwork were a critical aspect of the experience.
In addition to the camaraderie and cooperation of working together, the student artists have an opportunity to hone their skills, exhibit their work, and make their creative mark on the community. Local residents and businesses have responded positively to this addition to the neighborhood, and not just with verbal praise. Passersby have been known to deliver bottles of water to the artists, give them money for lunch, and make donations to the Mural Project fund.
Fundraising efforts and donations from local businesses supported the project for the first year, and in subsequent years, Tracy and Mike sought endorsements and grants. Eventually, Eastburg Community Alliance lent their name to the worthwhile project. ECA is a non-profit organization whose charge, in part, is the beautification of the borough, so the Mural Project was a natural fit.
Henry Pyatt served as downtown manager for the ECA until this spring, when he relocated to Philadelphia to take on a new revitalization project. I had the opportunity to speak with Henry before he left his post, and he emphasized that the primary goal of the Mural Project is to give students real-world experience where they learn skills such as fundraising, budgeting, inventory and planning. Last year, with the backing of ECA, Mike and Hunter visited area businesses including Dansbury Depot, Target, and Olive Garden, seeking raffle prize donations. Raffle sales yielded $1,500 to purchase supplies for the upcoming season.
Hunter is currently a junior at East Stroudsburg High School South and enjoys art, theatre, and creative writing.
“I’m looking forward to the leadership responsibilities that come with the role of Art Coordinator,” Hunter said. Since the devastating fire at Dansbury Depot, Hunter’s first task will be to find a new water supply. Despite the tragic loss of this business and detriment to Crystal Street’s patronage, the quest to beautify the downtown continues. East Stroudsburg University art students recently painted the boarded up windows of the Depot, and Henry indicated there are plans for another mural on one of the Crystal Street buildings.
For more information about the Crystal Street Mural Project, contact Hunter at hunterfogel@yahoo.com. To learn about other projects and events sponsored by Eastburg Community Alliance, visit http://www.eastburgalliance.com.
Caryn Fogel of East Stroudsburg is currently a senior English major in the writing track at ESU. Her poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction have been seen in Calliope — ESU’s literary journal — and Local Flair. She draws her energy from yoga, writing, and the ocean. Her biggest writing influences have been Anne Lamott and Elizabeth Berg. Someday, she plans to write a memoir — or six. Caryn lives with her husband, Mike, and their son, Hunter.
