Floral mural created by Export native, touts borough’s history
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There is little doubt that the Westmoreland Heritage Trail has helped reinvigorate downtown Export.
Shops along Washington Avenue that once were shuttered have sprung back to life, and projects large and small signal changes to come.
Where the trail ends, walkers and cyclists will be treated to the work of Florida artist and Export native Christina Donahoe, who has painted a mural that will face the trail and feature the borough’s history as a coal-mining and railroad town.
Donahoe, owner of Christina Custom Art in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., began working on the mural in early August. It was commissioned by Export Floral owner Liz Jones.
It wasn’t necessarily what Donahoe was anticipating when she came back to Westmoreland County.
“A lot of what I do is community and grant funded,” Donahoe said. “And a lot of jobs I have lined up in Florida don’t start until the fall, so I had a chance this summer to come home for an extended period of time and lend a hand to my family.”
Donahoe’s grandmother suffers from dementia, and her mother is the primary caregiver.
“It’s a lot of stress on her, and I had a chance to relieve some of that,” Donahoe said. “But she mentioned the trail, and how much Export has grown because of it. She suggested that someone downtown might be interested in a mural.”
When Donahoe’s mother was visiting with Jones at the flower shop, she found the right client.
“I’ve been here 39 years, and I love this town,” Jones said. “I’m thrilled to be able to participate in something like this.”
The mural covers three sides of a galvanized metal cooler Jones uses to store flowers, and largely is monochromatic in black and white, with deep brown as the only other color. It features the coal miner that is part of Export’s borough logo, along with a train and the Pennsylvania Railroad emblem, on the side directly facing the trail. A floral theme consistent with the mural’s patron decorates the other two sides.
Jones said she doesn’t mind the free advertising, but was more focused on touting the history of the borough.
“Export’s been really good to me and my business,” Jones said. “Som this is a win-win situation. I hope this gets Christina more work in the towns around here. Her art is fantastic.”
Donahoe said she plans to have the mural finished well in advance of the borough’s annual Food & Music Festival on Aug. 20.
“It’s an awesome chance to bring some art downtown, and cover up a big metal box in the process,” Donahoe said.
For more of Donahoe’s work, see ChristinaCustomArt.com.