Overly’s Opens with New Art from Westmoreland Cultural Trust

Greensburg, PA (November 11, 2019) – For years, the opening of Overly’s Country Christmas has marked the start of the holidays for residents all over Westmoreland County. This year, it will mark the beginning of Westmoreland Cultural Trust’s Wings Across Westmoreland initiative.  The first pair of artistic wings from this outreach program will be unveiled Friday, November 22 at approximately 6:15 PM during the opening ceremony of Overly’s Country Christmas and will be on display all season at this yuletide tradition through the start of the new year.

Wings Across Westmoreland was inspired by a piece of artwork from WCT’s Art in the Alley, an outdoor installation art gallery located behind The Union Trust building on North Main Street in Greensburg. Created by WCT Incubator for the Arts artist Patrick Mahoney, the large, metal set of wings features key landmarks around Greensburg including the County Courthouse, The Palace Theatre, and other distinctive downtown sites. Over the years, the wings have gained popularity as a selfie location on social media through the hashtag #WCTWings.

The wings that will be on display at Overly’s County Christmas are meant to capture the spirit of the holiday, showcasing the imagery of Overly’s throughout the years from its beginnings as a small light show at a family home to the celebration of Christmas at Westmoreland fairgrounds.

Westmoreland Cultural Trust Chairman of the Board Terry Reese is excited for the Trust to take part in this tradition. He remarks, “We are pleased to continue to grow our presence in and around Westmoreland County through Wings Across Westmoreland. Overly’s Country Christmas is a staple of the season in the county, and this collaboration only seems fitting.”

Stephanie Tomasic, Executive Director of Overly’s County Christmas is equally excited about this addition.  “At Overly’s Country Christmas, a large part of our focus revolves around sentimentality, old-fashioned tradition, and symbolism, so as to keep the spirit alive. For us, wings during the holiday season embody love, support, comfort, and protection by those who guide us or have gone before us. To participate in the Wings Across Westmoreland program was a natural and ideal choice, as it represents the past we believe in, as well as carrying forth with new traditions and memories for future generations. We are proud to be a part of other agencies within the heritage- and culturally-rich Westmoreland community who are willing to offer individual wings and the images and stories the wings hold.”

In addition to Overly’s County Christmas, several towns in Westmoreland County will be receiving their own pair of wings, including Jeannette (to be revealed on November 30), Vandergrift, Mt. Pleasant, Ligonier, and Youngwood with the hopes of more to follow in the coming year. Each pair of wings will feature imagery that makes the town unique.

Funding for the wings at Overly’s Country Christmas will be underwritten by Toyota of Greensburg. Funding for WCT’s Wings Across Westmoreland initiative in other communities was generously provided by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners as part of Westmoreland County Local Arts Grant Program.