Public arts group celebrates 20 years by unveiling new work
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Public ARTWORKS (PAW) will celebrate 20 years of community service with a new piece of public art and a book honoring the artists who created public art for Lycoming County. The committee is under the aegis of Lycoming Arts, which is a nonprofit 501(c)(3).
"I am truly amazed. I have never seen a community that volunteers so much. They have persevered through the years and have stayed steadfast. We are a better community because of their devotion to the committee," said Laura Hirth Martin, PAW co-founder and chairperson.
Throughout their two decades, the committee has raised funding for public art and installed pieces in public spaces throughout Lycoming County, including the Williamsport Regional Airport, Susquehanna Riverwalk, downtown Williamsport and more.
"We stuck to our mission and continue to fulfill our goal of public art for everyone to enjoy in the community. Not everyone is going to like it but if it causes conversation then you have succeeded," said Martin.
PAW will celebrate their anniversary with another art installation. Titled "Riverside Rhythms," the mosaic will be crafted by husband and wife Dave and Deb Stabley and installed downtown.
The mosaic celebrates the Williamsport area, highlighting its timber heritage, the Little League Baseball tradition, a rich arts and entertainment culture and the natural beauty of the Susquehanna River Valley.
The piece will be unveiled on the side of the building at 329 Pine St., Williamsport, at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 and will be dedicated in memory of founding member Mark Murawski, who passed away in June.
The public is invited to Monday's unveiling.
"Public art makes the downtown more beautiful and tells the story of our community," said Judy Olinsky, PAW co-founder.
The story of public arts will soon be told in a book produced by PAW. To commemorate their anniversary, a compilation of PAW's artworks will populate the book and will be available to the public. The book is still in the works and will be released in 2027. Graphic designer Lonnie Wilcox and photographer Rick Mason are helping to produce the book.
PAW's story started in 2006, when a group of art lovers came together to raise money for Michael Pilato's mural Lycoming County: Inspiration. The Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce and Our Towns: 2010 were lead partners for the mural project, who also worked with volunteers. Together they raised $40,000. The mural spans the exterior walls from the Bullfrog Brewery to Woodlands Bank on Fourth Street, across from the Journey Bank Community Arts Center.
After the mural project was completed, a portion of the people who supported it came back together to create PAW.
"We had so much fun. Our whole idea was that we were going to put public art in the community," recalled Martin.
Along with Martin and Olinsky, committee members now include Yvonne Di Rocco, Maggie Furst, Sandy Hill, Laura Lee Janssen, Karen Miller, Rosann Pelleschi, Cindi Perry, Laura Templeton and Tania Thomas.
PAW almost saw its work come to an end, when they lost a devoted member. Mark Murawski unexpectedly passed in June 2026 and had been the committee's treasurer for 20 years. In addition, he worked with the Lycoming County Planning Department for 32 years.
"Losing Mark is tough. We thought, 'Should we even go on?' But Mark loved this committee and we needed to go on. We will be honoring Mark by continuing to fulfill our mission," said Martin.
Olinsky added, "Mark Murawski was one of the most important members of the committee because he understood contracting and how to deadline a contract."
As PAW moves forward to honor Murawski and the community he served, there are plans to support Lycoming Arts' community objectives.
"Lycoming Arts is working on a cultural district and cultural trail and PAW will bring public art to all these projects," said Olinsky.
As the committee looks back on downtown's revitalization, they are happy to have played a role in that transformation.
Olinsky offered, "I think that we've done a good job. In 1995, the downtown was in decline. We were important partners in the renaissance of Williamsport. We were the model that showed how to enhance the downtown and create community. The arts were always here but we gave it a platform."