HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2018-04-09 Waldron Mural Dedication
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
April 9, 2018
Media Contact:
Betsy Arnett, Public Information Officer
barnett@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2734
Mural on Town Hall Parking Garage Dedicated in Memory of
Local Arts Leader Gale Waldron
New mural depicts scenes from Leesburg’s past.
Leesburg, VA (April 9, 2018) – On Saturday, April 7,
2018, Town officials unveiled a new mural on alley
side of the Town Hall Parking Garage, dedicated in
memory of the late Gale Waldron.
Waldron, who passed away in January 2018, was a
leader in the Loudoun County arts community. She
was one of the founders of the Loudoun Academy of
the Arts foundation, a visual arts center that offered
fine art instruction, studio space, and gallery shows
for more than 20 years in Leesburg. In 2007, Waldron
submitted a proposal to install a mural on the
Academy building at 222 South King. Her proposal
was not approved, but proved to be the catalyst for
discussions about public art that led to establishment
of the Leesburg Commission on Public Art.
“This mural will be a lasting tribute to Gale Waldron and her contribution to the Loudoun arts
community, and in particular her role in promoting public art in Leesburg and helping to
establish the Leesburg Commission on Public Art,” commented Tom O’Neil, chair of the
Commission on Public Art.
In Gale’s memory, her family and friends funded the installation of the new mural, based on her
vision for the artwork. The mural features a map of Leesburg in the center, surrounded by four
historic views of the town. The mural was painted by Leesburg-based artist Penny Hauffe.
Educated in England, Hauffe specializes in murals, pet portraits, and book illustrations.
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Mayor Kelly Burk, speaking at the dedication
ceremony.