A BANNER DAY
WEST CHESTER >> Go ahead. Look up - it’s another banner day in the borough. Literally.
It’s becoming more of a pleasure to walk and drive along borough streets, enhanced by the ability to view newly displayed art in the form of a group of banners now adorning lampposts.
Ten new lamppost art banners were recently added to East Gay Street, between Chestnut and Walnut streets.
Somewhat similar banners hang above High, on Market and at Church streets.
The Chester County Community Foundation supplied other uptown banners.
Many of the banners were a gift from West Chester-based Elmark Sign Company.
One side of the newest banners is devoted to text concerning notable West Chester figures and the other side shows “original local art.”
“The commission felt West Chester’s history and character of its architecture are both very important characteristics of the borough,” said Jimmer Breen, chair of the Public Arts Commission.
The work of the artists were chosen through a blind contest.
Artists include, Philip Hill, Karen McCool, Teresa Haag, Kerry Saco and Kathy Miller. Other artists include Kathryn Deaville, David Jay Freed, Fred Weyman, Brent Unruh and West Chester Mayor Dianne Herrin.
“I was thrilled when the judges picked my courthouse photo to be on one of the new lamppost banners on Gay Street!” Herrin said. “The judging was blind, so I felt good that my photo won on its merits. The Public Arts Commission, led by Jimmer Breen, is doing a great job with its other public arts projects. The banners add yet another dimension to our downtown aesthetic experience.”
Depictions of the following notable figures hang above High Street:
Samuel Barber [Celebrated 20th century composer]
1910-1981
A child prodigy who grew up to be one of the most celebrated music composers of the 20th century.
Mary Ann Shadd Cary [First female AfricanAmerican Publisher]
1823-1893 Activist, teacher, lawyer, and Black publisher who wrote “We should do more and talk less.”
William Everhart [Early West Chester entrepreneur]
1785-1868 Abolitionist, entrepreneur, and politician responsible for developing much of early West Chester.
Emma Hunter [First female telegrapher]
1831-1904
In 1851, became one of the first female telegraphers in the world and was active through the Civil War.
Joseph J. Lewis [Author of Lincoln’s first biography]
1801-1883 Lawyer and author of the first biography of Abraham Lincoln published Feb. 11, 1860. Horace Pippin [AfricanAmerican painter]
1888-1946 Self-taught AfricanAmerican painter noted for depictions of slavery and segregation.
G. Raymond Rettew [Developed mass produced penicillin]
1903-1973
In 1943, developed mass produced penicillin in West Chester saving many lives during World War II.
Barclay Rubincam [Brandywine Valley Artist]
1920-1978
Artist known for his portraits, charming Brandywine Valley landscapes, and historical depictions.
Bayard Rustin [Civil rights leader]
1912-1987
Civil rights leader and gay rights advocate who worked with Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thomas U. Walter [Architect in West Chester]
1804-1887 Architect of historic Courthouse (1848), Bank of Chester County (1837) and Horticultural Hall
(1848).