Photo by Norma Montaigne
RUTLAND-On Jan. 18, the heARTs of Rutland artists dedicated a
special heart to the City of Rutland. Mayor Louras received the
dedicated heart on behalf of the city at 1 p.m. in City
Hall. The heart represents the mission of the project with all
artists, who were involved in painting the original 30 hearts,
featured on it.
The heARTs of Rutland! project celebrates "our people and pride
in everything the region has to offer, says Sherri Birkheimer
Rooker.
The idea for the heARTs of Rutland began in August, 2011. "Mary
Crowley and Karen Seward called me to meet to start talking about
doing another street art project (been about 6 years since the
train project,)" Birkheimer Rooker explained. After Irene's
devastation, the artists knew they needed to do it and the project
evolved as artists painted and embellished 4-foot fiberglass hearts
that were displayed throughout the Rutland region from June 2012
until they were auctioned off in November.
The auction raised $25,075. Of that, $22,000 was distributed to
victims of disaster in the Rutland Region through the Long Term
Recovery Committee of Rutland County, and the remainder donated to
children's art and education programs.
"We'd like to thank everyone that has supported our heARTs
project, and made it possible to help so many in need," Sherri
Birkheimer Rooker said.
