Art and history merge in Westmoreland’s Liberty Bell replica at museum of art

The county’s contribution to the Bells Across PA campaign was unveiled Sunday morning.

By MEGAN TROTTER
TribLive

At the Westmoreland Museum of American Art on Sunday morning, an artist-designed replica of the Liberty Bell rested under a blue blanket draping.

Created in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary, the bell awaited its unveiling, surrounded by officials from the museum, local politicians and stained-glass artist Mandy Sirofchuck, who created the bell.

Just after 11:30 a.m., Westmoreland County’s colorful commemorative bell, which is part of America250PA’s Bells Across PA campaign, was revealed. The crowd clanked celebratory cowbells.

“This bell is a tribute to the stories that shape this community and the values that carry it forward,” said Bri Farrand, the director of branding and design for America250PA.

The Bells Across PA campaign gives artists across the state the opportunity to decorate 3-foot fiberglass bells to commemorate the upcoming U.S. Semiquincentennial.

A second bell sponsored by FirstEnergy will be placed at the Roberts Trailhead along the Westmoreland Heritage Trail in Murrysville.

Sirofchuck’s bell, titled “There’s MORE in Westmoreland,” is decorated with an array of colored glass, stained glass images of historical landmarks and small paintings of people participating in outdoor activities. The top of the bell shows a map of Westmoreland County.

The bell, sponsored by Discover Westmoreland and Go Laurel Highlands, will remain on view outside at the museum through 2026.

In addition to being an artist, Sirofchuck is co-owner of Main Exhibit Gallery & Art Center in Ligonier. She was chosen for the project by Dawn Lamuth, director of cultural and community connections and Westmoreland County adviser to America-250PA, and other committee members.

“[We] loved the fact it was going to be a glass mosaic,” Lamuth said. “We wanted to include a wide geography of the county, things from history, things from performance, things from art, as well as animals … and recreation.”

Sirofchuck’s design is made up of well over 1,000 pieces of glass, of which she lost count of since beginning the project in February.

The self-described “workaholic” used a variety of techniques to mold the pieces of glass to the shape of the bell, including mixing her own paint, using a special kind of decal paper to add images from Westmoreland’s history, melting multiple separate pieces of glass together and grouting and hand gluing each individual piece.

“I planned the whole thing. I had a giant table laid out so I could lay out the images because once I put glue down, we can’t move it. So, I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing,” Sirofchuck said.

A few of the elements included in Sirofchuck’s design are the Lincoln Highway, the state flower, a sweater worn by Westmoreland County native Fred Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and Westmoreland’s flag.

In attendance at the unveiling were state Sen. Kim Ward, state Rep. Jill Cooper, Hempfield Supervisor R. Douglas Weimer, Westmoreland Commissioner Vice Chair Douglas Chew and Cindy Wojnar from the office of Commissioner Sean Kertes.

“It’s both a piece of public art and a public invitation to everyone who visits the Westmoreland Museum of American Art,” said Farrand of America250PA.