BROOKINGS — As the nation gets closer to the 250th anniversary of its independence, July 4, local communities are undertaking varieties of projects to celebrate the occasion.
Here in Brookings, a mosaic of about 1,000 hand-painted tiles have been completed. Those individual pieces will be part of a larger mosaic that will be mounted on the north wall of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2118 at 520 Main Ave.
“It will be visible to pedestrians and drivers traveling on Sixth Street,” explained Laura Schoen Carbonneau, Visit Brookings destination development director.
The mosaic’s theme is “Americana.” A main feature of it will be a flag with an eagle on it. While the theme is very fitting for the VFW building, it also ties in with America’s 250th celebration of its independence.
The unveiling will take place at 7 p.m. on June 4.
A board member of Visit Brookings brought the idea forward, Carbonneau noted: “We did have wonderful cooperation with the Brookings Arts Council on the project and that made it possible.” Painting the individual tiles for the project was completed on May 15 at the Visit Brookings offices.
Every volunteer who worked on the project used a packet with a pallet, paints, brushes and instructions provided by the company from whom the project materials were purchased.
“It’s been a real growth project,” the director said. “It’s definitely the kind of project that reflects the Brookings community. The company that we worked with has been doing this for a long time.”
A big piece of the action took place on May 2, when volunteers of all ages gathered at the Brookings Arts Council and painted many of the tiles. Other groups also contributed to the overall effort.
Visit Brookings is one of four organizations under the umbrella of the Brookings Regional Growth Alliance.
— Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
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