Planters provide much-needed spark of hope on Main Street

MOREHEAD, Ky. — In a collaboration of city, University, and community members, a pop of color has been added to main street. The idea for the tree planters lining downtown Morehead began at a recent meeting of the Morehead-Rowan Co. NewCity Community Development Corporation.  

The project was carried out by volunteer Melissa Yungbluth. Yungbluth is the gallery director, director of the Arts Entrepreneurship program and an instructor of art and printmaking for Morehead State University’s Department of Art and Design.

The planters are painted with abstract shapes inspired by those who will see them at eye-level–children from the community. With a template of shapes and colors, Yungbluth requested that they design the planters the way they wanted them to be, with bright colors and fun designs that liven up Main Street and inspire support for more public art and development projects. 

Yungbluth is originally from New Orleans, LA. She earned her B.F.A. in Ceramics and Graphic Design from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2005 and an M.F.A. in Printmaking from the University of Mississippi in 2008. She was formerly the Gallery Director at Marshall University in Huntington WV and before that, the Assistant Curator of Exhibitions at the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg, FL. She and her husband, Adam, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art and Design at MSU, live in Morehead.

Since 2006, NewCity has committed to improving the quality of life for the citizens of Morehead/Rowan County. With members who represent a variety of corporate, nonprofit, and government entities, NewCity meets monthly to review ways to enhance the community. 

For more information about these and other initiatives, email [email protected].