Monday, September 19, 2016
By Sarah Lehr
GIRARD
When Jack Carlton returned to Youngstown in the 1990s with his wife, Paula Jasper, the city’s downtown was far from the bustling metropolis that Carlton had described from his childhood memories.
“It was so deserted,” Jasper remembered. “I thought I was going to see a tumbleweed.”
To an extent, Youngstown’s downtown has revitalized since then, which, Jasper attributes, in part, to the success of the “Museums Without Walls” project.
Local artists Carlton, Jasper and Jason Vaughn collaborate with the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and the Butler Institute of American Art to make the project a reality.
The project involves creating large digital reproductions of works depicting local history, placing those works on vinyl and mounting them on the walls or windows of vacant buildings.
Carlton and Jasper choose images from the collection at the Butler and either secure permission from the artist or choose pieces in the public domain.
Carlton noted wryly that the project is not strictly “without walls” since many murals are mounted on buildings. The moniker, he said, chiefly refers to a desire to bring art out of doors.
Though the project began in Youngstown, Carlton and Jasper have since brought that mission to Girard.
West Liberty in Girard’s downtown is now home to three murals. One mural reproduces the May, 14, 1931, inaugural program for the Warner Theater in Youngstown. Carlton’s uncle, Barney Carnes, originally created the program, which features a vibrant red and green Komodo dragon.
The other two murals, reproductions of “Spring Training Fielder” by Max Mason and “Minor League” by Clyde Singer, pay tribute to America’s pastime.
A Trumbull County Better Block Grant, made possible by the William Swanston Charitable Foundation, provided the funding for installing the three murals.
The artists hope to install other murals throughout Girard in the future.