Vandergrift's Casino Theatre receives Westmoreland Cultural Trust art installation

Volunteers installed a wing-themed art installation on the grounds of Vandergrift’s Casino Theatre on Saturday as part of the Wings Across Westmoreland initiative.

Vandergrift was the eighth location included in Westmore­land Cultural Trust’s countywide art initiative featuring metal wings inspired by places in various locations in Westmore­land County.

“The Casino finally has its wings,” said Janice Oberdorf, treasurer of the nonprofit Casino Theatre Restoration Management.

Community members were asked to submit their suggestions of landmark areas in Vandergrift via social media for consideration by Greensburg-based father and daughter artists Patrick and Riley Mahoney.

“The wings feature recognizable landmarks in (the) Vandergrift (area) such as the gazebo at Kennedy Park, The Annual Art Festival, Wooden Door Winery, Festa Italiana di Vandergrift, Riverside Drive-In, churches and more,” Oberdorf said.

Vandergrift’s wings were revealed Saturday evening during an unveiling ceremony at its new location outside on the patio at the historic Casino Theatre.

The project was paid for through grants from the Allegheny Foundation and the National Road Heritage corridor of the Pennsylvania Heritage Program, under the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Oberdorf said the entire project cost about $20,000.

Vandergrift resident and council candidate Marilee Kessler attended Saturday’s unveiling.

“These wings are the only ones located in the northern part of Westmoreland County. It’s great to see these good things happening: beautiful artwork celebrating our community,” Kessler said.

The wings share the patio with oversized glass tile mosaics created in 2017 by regional artist Daviea Davis.

Theater volunteers have updated the patio to offer an area for guests to mingle during intermission and before and after shows. Exterior electric work that was part of the upgrades was paid for through a $10,000 grant from the Rangos Foundation.

The wings are first painted on canvas, photographed, enlarged and finally printed on vinyl, which can withstand the elements.

The other wing sites are located in Ligonier, Greensburg, Smithton, Overly’s Country Christmas, Youngwood, Jeanette and Mt. Pleasant.

“It’s the hope of the Westmoreland Cultural Trust that these sites become destination sites and we encourage everyone to stop and visit them all,” Oberdorf said.