By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor

DEUTSCHTOWN — A newly formed art organization is seeking to create 800 murals across a section of the Northside over the next 10 years.

Allegheny Arts held its kickoff on Jan. 17 at the Northshore Comfort Inn, located at 820 E. Ohio St., where stakeholders in the new organization explained their vision for transforming an area they’ve designated the “Allegheny Arts District.”

“A community without art and without music is not a community,” said Eugene DePasquale, whose father, Allie De-Pasquale, serves on the Allegheny Arts Advisory Board. “And this region, this neighborhood, has so many positive things going on, but we know there’s so much further it can go.”

The Allegheny Arts District that the group will be targeting is located in Deutschtown, and encompasses the areas around the 800-block of East Ohio Street, as well as Virgin Way, Chestnut Street, North Canal Street and the 16th Street Bridge area. The group hopes that by beautifying these areas with art, it will make the Northside a tourism hub, attracting people and business into the area.

Kyle Holbrook, the executive artist for Allegheny Arts, said the group is aiming to reduce crime in the area by drawing more attention to it and fixing up the area. Holbrook and the group cited the “broken windows theory,” which posits that urban areas with visual signs of crime — such as broken windows or graffiti — creates an environment that encourages more crime.

Holbrook said that by putting up murals and drawing more people into the Allegheny Arts District, it will make the area “less conducive” to criminal activities.

The executive artist is no stranger to public works of art. Holbook founded MLK Mural in 2002, a public arts organization, and has been doing art projects in Pittsburgh for 22 years. He has also done many works of art in Miami, Florida.

“I know the power of public art, as I think the whole world is understanding now,” Holbrook said. “When I started doing murals 22 years ago, no one was doing murals. Now every community you go to, everybody has a mural project that’s exciting.”

Holbrook told The Chronicle that Allegheny Arts will first target Virgin Way and the 800-block of East Ohio Street as the first step of the organization’s 10-year plan. He said for Virgin Way, the organization hopes to paint the street as well as the rear of the residential and commercial buildings which line the alley, creating an artistic space that will incentivize tourism and disincentivize crime.

A mural by Holbrook of Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin located inside the former Workingman’s Savings Bank at 800 E. Ohio St. Photo by Sean P. Ray

As for the 800-block of East Ohio Street, the organization hopes to beautify the former Workingman’s Savings Bank, which is located next door to the Comfort Inn where Allegheny Art’s kickoff was held. In fact, visitors to the kickoff were able to explore the interior of the bank to see various forms of artwork put up inside, including two portraits by Holbrook of Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin and George Ferris, inventor of the Ferris Wheel who was a Pittsburgher and Northsider.

Other planned projects discussed at the kickoff included decorating shipping containers with murals which could also be repurposed for retail spaces or stages; the formation of an annual Allegheny Arts Street Art Festival; and a youth employment program for young artists to work with the organization.

In all, Allegheny Arts aims to perform 800 neighborhood beautification projects, according to the organization’s website.

Currently Allegheny Arts is seeking people who would like to get involved with its endeavors. The organization hopes to have an 11-person steering committee with revolving members annually to help guide its efforts. For more information or to get involved, visit mlkmural.com/allegheny-arts.

Allegheny Arts is overseen by an advisory board, consisting of Holbrook, Allie DePasquale, Ray Meyer, Deb Caplan, Jermaine Cuyler, Ron Reid and Marie Stapinski.