A new large-scale art installation in a tucked-away municipal lot in Bellefonte has quickly become a destination for Happy Valley residents and visitors alike.

The mural celebrates the collision of new and old and will educate visitors on the rich history of Bellefonte.

The Bellefonte mural project started in 2019 with a small group of interested locals with the assistance of a professional mural consultant. Alexandra Hall of AH Public Spaces Consulting, who guided the mural committee through all aspects of the process explained, “The purpose of mural installation is to highlight community assets, tell your village’s story, educate visitors about your community, unify the county, encourage economic growth, and improve overall quality of place.” Hall served as a driving force behind all decisions and the liaison between the project and the necessary steps of action.

Hall is a studio artist, muralist, and illustrator based in Indiana. As an artist, Hall hopes that her work forces the audience to exercise their imagination. Hall sells and exhibits her artwork nationally and assists communities similar to Bellefonte to make their public art visions a reality.

“Bellefonte is a community full of character with something for everyone,” Hall said. “From the historical preservationist to the outdoor enthusiast, cultural devotee, shopping fanatic or culinary connoisseur. Its rich heritage as an art, historical, and recreational destination helps current and new businesses thrive. A vibrant downtown is one that embraces community assets and is symbolic of good economic health and a high quality of life.

“Public art is a wonderful mechanism for storytelling and capturing our history. Celebrating a community’s history and heritage can play an important role in continuing traditions and remembering legacies.”

After a long and structured process, internationally acclaimed artist group KEY DETAIL’s design proposal was selected for the project. The mural depicts a proud airmail pilot standing in front of his World War II plane, with the Match Factory pictured in the top corner inside a stamp.

The vintage and muted color scheme doesn’t overwhelm the space but instead boasts relevance to the community’s heritage while remaining current and expressive. The elements incorporated in the town’s first mural will draw heritage seekers and selfie-takers alike. The patterned, imaginative, and colorful large-scale mural creations of KEY DETAIL, a husband-wife mural team with more than 19 thousand followers on Instagram, are design traits that intrigued the Downtown Bellefonte Inc. mural committee to their style.

“Public art plays a vital role in cultivating community involvement, encouraging economic development, and boosting tourism. Our hope is that this mural will represent the distinctive essence of our town and inspire visitors to explore the many attractions that Bellefonte has to offer,” explained Kathleen Ammon, Community and Programming Manager of Downtown Bellefonte Inc.

The mural was formally dedicated with a permanent sign during a public block party ceremony held during the town’s popular Friday in the ‘Fonte monthly event.