Hearts on display 13 sculptures making way to Tamaqua streets
The hearts are here!
By the end of this week, a parade of decorated fiberglass hearts will be on display in downtown Tamaqua as the Tamaqua Has Heart project nears completion.Tamaqua Borough workers began installing the baker's dozen fiberglass hearts on Tuesday in an effort to have them in place in time for the Memorial Day weekend. As long as Mother Nature cooperates, workers expect to be finished in plenty of time.The project was unveiled during the 2016 National Night Out event, designed to bring together residents, businesses/corporations and artists to create unique, lasting displays that showcase the heart of the community.Volunteers took one basic white heart to as many community events as possible, encouraging residents and visitors to place their handprint on the surface. That heart will be permanently displayed at the Tamaqua Train Station.The project attracted enough sponsors and artists to create 13 hearts, which stand 39 inches high. A meet-and-greet session was held in January, where the artists' designs were on display and sponsors had the opportunity to look them over and make a choice.Then it was time for the artists to turn their designs into reality.Organizers are planning an official dedication on June 8, complete with a street fair and walking tour. The hearts will remain on display until sometime after Labor Day and will then be auctioned off on Sept. 29 at a gala event.The handprint heart will remain in town as a symbol where each handprint tells a story of a different person and their love of Tamaqua.The project has been organized by Leona Rega, art center director, and volunteers Wandie Zammer-Little and Kyle Whitley.Rega sees the project as an opportunity "to bring people from the outside in to see the way the town has and continues to be transformed. A lot of good things are happening in our community and we want everyone to know about them."The project is being made possible thanks to the efforts of Tamaqua Community Art Center volunteers, with the support of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership and Rural LISC.