Art about Town

By Sue Poremba

In front of Schlow Library in downtown State College, there is a new sculpture by Centre County native Mark Pilato. Walk around town a bit and you’ll find Pilato’s artwork brightening otherwise dull brick buildings.

The murals in State College and Millheim were nominated as Centre County Hidden Treasures and it’s a darn shame they didn’t make the final cut. But then, hidden would be a misnomer. The art in town is anything but hidden (but it is truly a treasure).

In the alley near the Tavern Restaurant is a statue of a mother pig and her babies. It was dedicated in honor of State College’s centennial a decade ago, a reminder of how far town has come in the past 100 years.

Over a Calder Way shop is a mosaic of mirrored glass, a student’s project and gift to revive the street.

But perhaps the most stunning art in town is the mural on the Hiester Road side of The Student Book store, across the street from the Deli Restaurant. The mural includes portraits of some of the area’s most influential residents, as well as representation of the arts, sciences and agriculture that form the community. It isn’t uncommon to see visitors — and residents because I like to do this as well – stand in front of the Deli, trying to put names to all of the faces. Some of the faces are easy to recognize — I think everybody finds Joe and Sue Paterno first — but others require real familiarity with the area. In any case, it’s a fascinating tribute to Central PA — just as all the art is.