Chester Creek Trail
Rail Trail in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Mural Project
5/30/20: Painting of the base coat by Nolan Painting
6/1/20: Mural painting begins
This project made possible in part by our sponsors:
In a world that has been turned upside down in many ways, some community efforts are continuing, including a large mural project on the Chester Creek Rail Trail. As we look towards post-quarantine recovery efforts, we’ll need things to celebrate – including the arts. Join us in supporting this initiative!
We’ve had wonderful community support thus far, but still have costs to cover. You can donate by mailing a check to: “Friends of the Chester Creek Branch” at PO Box 2313, Aston, PA 19014 or by clicking on the Mural Campaign button below. Make sure to include the wording you’d like us to use for recognition.
DEADLINE FOR DONOR INCLUSION ON THE MURAL: JUNE 15, 2020
Each contribution of at least $100 towards this initiative will be mentioned on our website and contributions of $500 or more will be recognized as part of the mural itself.* (See below for details.) Celebrate your support of art, the trail, or a special loved one with your donation.
The Friends of the Chester Creek Branch and the Rockdale Arts District are pleased to announce a new collaboration to bring outdoor art to the Chester Creek Rail Trail. We’ve been able to engage Jay Walker, a nationally recognized artist, to create a mural on the 450-foot long retaining wall between Lenni and Lundgren Road. You may have seen Jay’s work at the Philadelphia airport or elsewhere, but we’re fortunate to have him as a member of the Rockdale Arts District, a community of artists located right near the trail.
Our project will be starting during the spring of 2020, once the weather is warm enough for painting. We’ve been fortunate enough to engage the support of several important partners. The Delaware County Parks Department and Nolan Painting will be cleaning and priming the wall prior to the mural painting. These are critical steps and we are grateful for their professional expertise so that the mural itself will last as long as possible. The McKee Group has provided financial support, and we will provide additional updates as the project progresses. Prepping a 450-foot retaining wall is a major undertaking, and would be impossible without the support of our partners.
Jay Walker is an Aston-based based multi-disciplinary artist, creating tape installations, mixed media painting/drawings, and carved sculptures. Jay’s work involves observing and developing the dynamics of pattern and morphing them into his own designs. His work is regularly site-specific, allowing room for inspiration from the space itself, as it interacts with and stirs his artistic vision. Jay finds freedom in starting with one idea, initially drawing from color, form, and varied aesthetic choices, allowing the subject matter to emerge. He taps into the identity of culture, incorporating his fascination with archetypes and exploring who they are, why they exist, and what they embody.
Rockdale Arts District is a coalition of arts related entities in the historic mill town of Rockdale located in Aston Township, PA. Together we create a cultural destination to enrich our surrounding community through public engagement and special events.
Artist's Concepts
- Contributions of $100 or more will be recognized on our website.
- $500: recognized on a panel on the side of the mural (area of approx 5″ x 30″; 10 per panel; limited number of letters)
- $1500: recognized on a panel on the side of the mural (area of approx 12″ x 30″; 4 per panel; limited number of letters)
- Full panels of approximately 30” x 60” are available for a contribution of $5,000 or more. For more information, please send us an email at chestercreektrail@gmail.com
Please note that a mural is not a permanent memorial; while we expect that the mural and recognition panels will remain for a number of years, no guarantee of permanence is being made.