Legacy Art Project to be Unveiled As Part of Wheeling 250 Celebration
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WHEELING -- A colorful art project is scheduled to be displayed on a concrete wall along Chapline Street across from West Virginia Northern Community College's B&O Building over the next week as part of the year-long Wheeling 250 observance, according to Travis Henline, Wheeling Heritage's museum project manager.
The commissioned piece, created by artist Patricia Croft, formerly of Wheeling, will consist of three 8-by-12 Alumilite panels, according to Henline. He said the title, "River, Road and Rails," refers to the "three R's" that made Wheeling a transportation hub and led to the growth of the city in the 19th century.
The title refers to: the Ohio River, National Road (which is the first highway built by the federal government and completed to Wheeling in 1818), and of course the B&O Railroad, which connected the city to the country's eastern markets. He said all three have been extremely instrumental in transforming the city into a transportation hub.
"This is a joint project of the Wheeling Arts & Cultural Commission and the Wheeling 250 Committee. So both of those (entities) have come together to produce this public art as part of the 250 commemoration," Henline explained.
Henline said the committee felt it was important, as part of the 250 (celebration), that this be a lasting project years beyond this year's celebration. He said they selected Croft's three-panel piece among several artists who submitted pieces for the project.
City of Wheeling workers are scheduled to powerwash the wall prior to artwork being bolted to the wall this weekend, according to Henline. He said they hope to schedule a formal dedication for the display by the end of next week.
The artwork will be finished and in place by the Wheeling 250 Parade in downtown Wheeling on Sept. 7.
"When people come into town for the parade they'll be able to view this new piece of public art," he explained. "It's a legacy project of the Wheeling 250 and we chose the theme 'River, Road and Rails' to commemorate the historical importance of Wheeling as a transportation hub. … The Arts & Cultural Commission is a strong advocate for public art in downtown Wheeling," he added.