Downtown walkway will get a summer facelift

PRINCETON — The walkway between Fawcett’s Pharmacy and Quilters Garden in downtown Princeton will be getting a facelift this summer.

The Princeton Public Arts Commission has contracted with Ottawa artist Susan Burton to commission a mosaic sofa, table and two chairs, which will adorn the Mary Uthoff Memorial Walkway.

The Princeton Council on Monday unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the contract for Burton in the amount of $14,500.

During discussion in the meeting, it came out that the cost will be covered by fundraisers, grants and the city’s tourism dollars.

Rick Brooks, a member of the public arts commission, presented the idea to the council on Monday. He explained how this art project is one that stakeholders can be involved in. Not only will community members be invited to participate in the making of the mosaic pieces, but they will also have the chance to submit their own broken china pieces to be used.

The idea originated from Jyl Morse, owner of Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past, Princeton’s china pattern store, which has several pieces of broken china that people have sent from all over the world.

“They’re memories of their families. We’re going to ask them to contribute pieces of their own heirloom china that will be part of a group of mosaics,” Brooks said.

Those who donate pieces can submit notes or a story about the piece, which will be entered into a database. A map will be made using that information so that people can come and see where their china pieces were placed.

Burton, whose mosaic art can be found along Ottawa’s downtown, will hold two community workshop days where people can participate in the project by performing minor artistic work with the pieces. Brooks said the goal is to have the project completed by the Homestead Festival.