Bethel Park kicks off America’s 250th celebration
Art unveiled to commemorate the event
The Bethel Park Schoolhouse Arts & History Center proved the perfect setting for the municipality to kick off America’s celebration of 250 years of freedom.
Built in 1905 as Bethel Township High School, the restored historic building was abuzz on Feb. 7 as the community unveiled four commissioned paintings to commemorate the country’s semiquincentennial on July 4.
Prints and ornaments of the pieces are being sold and proceeds will benefit Bethel Park’s Fantastic Four Charities – the public library, historical society, community and education foundations.
“History does not only live in textbooks or museums; it lives in our public spaces, in our art. It lives in the stories we tell about ourselves to each other, and really what we value,” said Sara Innamorato.
The Allegheny County Executive was one of many special guests and dignitaries invited to the celebration. Among the other politicians to attend included county council member Dan Grzybek from Bethel Park and Pennsylvania state Sen. Devlin Robinson.
“As we look toward America’s 250th anniversary, I hope people across Allegheny County use this moment to learn about our shared history and really what unites us in this moment as we work each and every day to build that more perfect union.”
Robinson noted the region’s importance in the revolution.
“What we’re celebrating this year is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the nation. We always hear about Philadelphia, but Pittsburgh was really at the forefront of the revolution. It was one of the reasons that the colonists were rebelling against England.
“We don’t teach enough what importance places like Bethel Park actually played back then and how important this area was, what the struggles that they were going through. So having something like this to commemorate the 250th anniversary is really special, and I appreciate all the hard work that went into creating these works.”
The artists – Linda Barnicott, J.P. Diroll, John Prascak and Maria DeSimone Prascak – were tasked with interpreting the ideals of democracy in their works.
“There were no restrictions,” stressed Andy Amrhein, who co-chaired the event with librarian Christine McIntosh. “What they created is what they think America 250 means to them.”
According to Innamorato, who helped the artists unveil their pieces, the idea was “beautifully” portrayed. “These works invite reflection, curiosity and hopefully sparks conversation,” she said.
Titled “Patriotic Schoolhouse”, Prascak used the century-old, restored building as his centerpiece.
“I chose the building in which we are standing because I could feel all the spirits of the children, the people here over the decades and all the learning that took place. And how the building was teetering and might not have been here were it not for the community. I love old buildings that are saved and I wanted to make the building sing,” he added.
Prascak used enamel paints, including Monongahela River sand. The background features an unfurled flag. He incorporated sunflowers in the foreground, a nod to South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM). The organization, located across the street, mobilizes community resources and implements sustainable programs that help neighbors meet basic needs..
“SHIM does so much for the community,” Prascak said, noting the sunflowers and other crops the group grows to feed the food insecure.
“Our Lady of Liberty” is Barnicott’s work. However, she localized the painting by using images of Pittsburgh notables as well as Bethel Park citizens. Alongside Pittsburgh icons such as Andrew Carnegie, August Wilson and Fred Rogers are Bethel Park citizens such as library director Christine McIntosh, historical society president Tim Moury, community foundation Vice President Andy Amrhein, Rotary Club member Russ Spicuzza, Reginald Coffee owners Matt and Julie Koczko as well as Laura Codori and her dog, Ginger.
According to Codori, the group of citizens stood in front of the historic schoolhouse and “pretended” they were looking at the Statue of Liberty while a photographer took pictures of the group for Barnicott.
“It was a little forced at first but we did wind up having a lot of great conversations,” Codori said of the photo shoot.
Of the finished product Codori added, “It’s gorgeous and Ginger looks phenomenal. I can’t wait to own a print and have a little piece of history and her forever.”
Incorporating the national and the local was the goal of Barnicott, who is known for her artworks featuring Pittsburgh. When she conceptualized her assignment she said the first thing that came to her mind was the Statue of Liberty.
“For generations as far back as the late 1800s, it’s been a welcoming sight to people for hope and for the future. It stands for justice and liberty. It’s a sign of hope and resilience and strength.
“As a backdrop, I used a lot of people, Western Pennsylvanians miners, steel workers and construction workers, where they just grabbed their hard hat, lantern and lunch box because the country was built on them and on immigration.
“Different groups came into our country, and they worked. They had that American dream. I think that (dream) still exists today.”
DeSimone Prascak created two original paintings. “Liberty Bell” represents freedom and independence while “Eagle” is a salute to veterans, of which there are many in her family, and includes a sunburst. The images appear on two-sided ornaments crafted by J.P. Diroll.
“The eagle flying to me represents the people that came here and helped build this country from other places. An eagle is always moving forward and they represent the majesty, strength and resilience of this country.
“The sun represents a new day,” DeSimone Prascak continued. “Every day is a new day; maybe we didn’t get it right the day before, but we still have another day to just keep moving forward. Together with the eagle, he’s always going up, always moving forward.”
Although citizens such as Amrhein and McIntosh reverted back in time, attending the unveiling of ceremony dressed as Alexander Hamilton and the Statue of Liberty respectively, they are the people that are continuing to move the nation as well as Bethel Park forward.
“They are the folks that have made Bethel Park such a wonderful place to live and they have put so much of their time into the community and it often goes unnoticed,” said Grzybek, who is a firefighter in the community in addition to serving on county council.
“There have always been people who put countless hours of unpaid labour into their communities to make them wonderful places to live as well as making us stronger together,” he continued. “It’s really important to keep that at the forefront of our minds and instill that lesson in the next generation, that we always need these people that are making our communities a better place. I hope that continues for the next 250 years as well.”
America 250 commemorative merchandise is available at the public library and Evey True Value Hardware, located at 5779 Library Road.
On sale are 8-by-10 and 18-by-24 prints of the original paintings, the two-sided ornament as well as the school memories decoration along with small and large American flags with the 250 logo.
Orders also can be placed online at pci.jotform.com/form/253423385024149/.