FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City Receives Approval for Additional Murals in Downtown Morgantown

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -– The City of Morgantown has received approval from the West Virginia Division of Highways to install six new utility box murals in Downtown Morgantown.

“The utility box murals are an exciting opportunity to showcase local artists and help create a vibrant downtown”, said Director of Arts and Creative Cultural Development Vincent Kitch. “We hope to develop more of these opportunities throughout the community”.

In collaboration with Main Street Morgantown, six local artists were chosen to develop original artwork concepts for the utility box murals. Selected artists include Eli Pollard, Maggie McDonald, Connie Mae Moeller, Caroline Murphy, Taylor Pate and Patricia Colebank. The artist’s designs will be converted to vinyl wraps and will be placed on utility boxes throughout the downtown area in April.

“Downtown Morgantown is the Heart of the City, so Main Street Morgantown was looking for ways to make the downtown an Arts, Entertainment, Dining, and Shopping District,” said Main Street Morgantown Director Barb Watkins. “We were also looking at how to bring the community together and find ways to attract locals and visitors. There is a lot of talent in Morgantown Area. The mural project is a way to support our local artists and beautify the downtown.”

For more information on the utility box murals, please contact the Director of Arts and Cultural Development Vincent Kitch at vkitch@morgantownwv.gov.

This project was funded in part by an Organizational Arts Grant from Your Community Foundation. The Organizational Arts Grant is made possible through a collaborative effort between YCF and the Arts Council of Greater Morgantown, with funding from the City of Morgantown, the Monongalia County Commission, and the Douglas H. Tanner Memorial Fund for the Arts.

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Image of the mural that will be placed at the corner of Pleasant and High Street by Eli Pollard.

Pleasant and High Street – Eli Pollard

Image of the mural that will be placed at the corner of Spruce and Walnut Street by Maggie McDonald.

Spruce and Walnut Street – Maggie McDonald

Image of the mural that will be placed at the corner of Pleasant and Spruce Street by Connie Mae Moeller.

Pleasant and Spruce Street - Connie Mae Moeller

Image of the mural that will be placed on Spruce Street by the Farmers Market by Caroline Murphy.

Spruce Street (Farmers Market) - Caroline Murphy

Image of the mural that will be placed on High Street near CVS by Taylor Pate.

High Street by CVS – Taylor Pate

Image of the mural that will be placed at the corner of High and Fayette Street by Patricia Colebank.

High and Fayette Street – Patricia Colebank