Jeannette gallery invites public to help with MAD*LAB art project
Following the popularity of last year’s MAD*LAB, the public art-making project has returned to You Are Here gallery in downtown Jeannette.
The first session resulted in three artist-designed benches made of upcycled materials and two murals painted by project participants. Those pieces all have been placed in publicly accessible spaces in Jeannette.
Three more benches are underway for the current session, continuing through July 24, and organizers also are making 15 mosaic-covered planters to be placed around the community.
Anyone interested in participating in the project can sign up for work sessions planned for noon to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Preregistration is required to maintain social distancing, said project coordinator Jess Brown.
Work will take place both inside and outside of the gallery at 406 Clay Ave. Those working inside will be required to wear masks.
Having an outside work option is partially designed to pique the interest of passersby, said gallery co-founder Mary Briggs.
“When we’re outside, people stop by and ask, ‘What are you doing?’” she said. “And maybe they’ll want to get involved.”
“I’m excited to get some work going in the community,” Brown said.
MAD*LAB participants will help to design and paint the benches, or to assemble the mosaic patterns on the outdoor planters. Artists may come for as little as two hours, or longer and more often if they desire.
No art-making experience is needed. Staff members will be on hand to guide the process.
All participants get a T-shirt. Briggs and co-founder Jen Costello said they debated using “MAD*LAB 2.0” or “Son of MAD*LAB” as a logo for the shirt, before settling on “MAD*LAB Returns.”
The project is funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County. American Architectural Salvage in Mt. Pleasant supplied tiles for the mosaics.
Participants must be at least 12. Those ages 12-18 must be accompanied by an adult.
A mosaic workshop planned for June 26 in conjunction with the project already is at capacity, Briggs said, but if there is enough interest, another one might be scheduled.
For more information or to register for a work session, email yah406arts@gmail.com.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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