In an effort to bring a new look to downtown Harlan, volunteers from around the region worked together this month in a unique art project.

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) collaborated with Higher Ground and the Southeast Revitalization Project to celebrate the Second Great Mountain Mural & Community Design Mega Fest. Volunteers from all over Kentucky and from around the country participated in painting murals in downtown Harlan on Central Street and on the old Harlan Motor Building next to Huff Park. Most of the murals had an underwater theme, which included colorful fish, salamanders and sea turtles.

The Southeast Kentucky Revitalization Project is a three-year, workforce development program funded primarily by the Appalachian Regional Commission POWER grant and hosted by SKCTC. The festival was held from June 20-23 with a focus on professional development for working artists in the area. Members spent several days in workshops, learning various skills such as working with city governments, getting permission for public art, creating content, contracts and painting the murals themselves. One of the main tenets of the mission was for artists to learn the business side of art and how that relates to local economics.

The project had several partners including SKCTC, Harlan Tourism, Forecast Art, the county fiscal court and Headline Beauty Salon, which provided water for the painters the entire weekend. The group also has projects in Knox, Bell, Letcher and Perry counties. Their project coordinator Carrie Billett, originally from Pennsylvania, explained how they want Appalachian art to fit in with the rest of the global art world.

“Where does Appalachian art come in? We are right here in Appalachia,” Billett said. “We are here, and we are relevant to what is happening globally.”

Along with Billett, other key figures in the event included project director Alexia Ault, design education coordinator Robert Gipe and training coordinator Marsha Griffey. Two of the artists involved with the murals were Lacy Hale, of Knott County, who painted the Central Street mural, and Hitnus, a famous street artist from Rome, Italy, who took the lead on the old Harlan Motor Building murals. Hitnus, who has been painting for over 20 years, explained what his art means to him and how he would like for others to view it.

“I try to use my art to see what I mean” Hitnus said. “People should perceive it and ask themselves questions. They can look into their own vision within my vision.”

Buddy and Nelda Cornett have owned the old Harlan Motor Building since 1983. Its Ford dealership closed in 2003. The organization contacted them a couple weeks in advance to ask if they could paint their building. Nelda Cornett explained how the murals are significant for Harlan and the county.

“Fish on this building does not tie into the roots of the building” Cornett said. “But that salamander could tie into little boys who went into the coal mines. Those fish could tie into people who grew up fishing here. It’s better than the three walls being bare and dilapidated.”