I SPY
You’ve been to Arts Fest every summer since your freshman year, but how much State College art have you actually seen? Haley Blum takes you on a tour of downtown treasures that are hidden in plain view.
“Soft Sounds” “The Warwick Stone” This sculpture, created by artist William Mark Pilato, brother of fellow local Lasansky and dedicated to State College artists Natalia and Michael, crafted this sculpture that is on display on the in 1988, sits near the corner of Pugh corner of West Beaver Avenue and South Street and Beaver Avenue—it’s tucked Atherton Street in front of the BioLife in next to the State Platters falafel cart. Plasma Services Center. The artwork is Lasansky usually creates his sculptures the main attraction in an award-winning from rocks that he finds in abandoned quarries. This particular piece was a gift environmental landscape design. from the Central Pennsylvania Festival “Inspirations” of the Arts and the Knight Foundation. Michael, another Pilato sibling, painted the mural that graces the side of the “Mosaic” Student Bookstore on Heister Street. Mosaic master Ali Mirsky created an After investigating the State College arching piece to accent the outside of community, Michael was inspired to East Calder Way’s Looks Hair Salon include over 100 different people in using stained glass, mirror and glass beads. Local boutique Access also sports the piece, each with their own unique story, says his sister, Natalia. The mural, mosaic letters made by Mirsky on its reaching two stories high and almost 100 storefront. feet wide, was painted in 1999 and 2000.
“Centennial Pigs” Eric Berg’s iconic bronze sculpture on the 200 block of East College Avenue was inspired by a late 19th-century photograph of the same street that featured roaming pigs. The piglets are named Ed—for “education”—and Hope.
Photos by Ronald Lopez
Additional artwork information compiled by students of the Local Arts Inspiration Class from the Delta Program High School: Arthur Armington, Maggie McHugh, Cassie Schaad, Katilina Struble and Angie Zayas
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