Bells Across PA artists honored at celebration
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Artists from across Pennsylvania gathered at Pittsburgh’s historic City-County Building in October for a special America250PA National Arts & Humanities Reception celebrating the successful Bells Across PA public art initiative.
The reception recognized the artists and community partners responsible for creating 123 commemorative Liberty Bell sculptures representing all 67 Pennsylvania counties as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
The evening featured refreshments and remarks by America250PA Executive Director Cassandra Coleman and former Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker, honoring the creativity and dedication behind this ambitious statewide undertaking.
Each three-foot-tall fiberglass Liberty Bell was transformed into an original work of art reflecting its community’s history, culture, people, and landscapes. Together, the bells form a statewide public art trail celebrating Pennsylvania’s contributions to America’s past, present, and future.
Pennsylvania Wilds Artists Celebrate Regional Heritage
Among the participating artists were three representing neighboring counties in the Pennsylvania Wilds: Angela Cornelius of McKean County, LeeAnn Waterhouse of Warren County, and John Schlimm of Elk County.
Warren County -- LeeAnn Waterhouse, Reflection on Warren’s Allegheny River
Waterhouse drew inspiration from the Allegheny River and its importance to Warren County’s people and landscape. Her design incorporates river scenery and native fish, reflecting the waterway’s natural beauty, peacefulness, and recreational traditions.
The project also involved students from the Warren County Career Center, who helped prepare and protect the finished sculpture. Warren County’s bell is displayed at the Warren County Visitors Bureau.
McKean County -- Angela Cornelius, Focus on Freedom
Cornelius created Focus on Freedom, a photographic collage celebrating McKean County’s history, people, and cultural heritage. Historical, current, and futuristic photographs connect generations of residents and invite viewers to see themselves in the freedom bell.
The public participated in posing for photographs and painting patriotic symbols onto the collage. The bell is displayed in the rotunda of the McKean County Courthouse in Smethport.
Elk County -- John Schlimm, The United Colors of Liberty
Schlimm developed an ambitious participatory art project that invited about 4,000 students throughout Elk County to contribute to creating their county’s Liberty Bell.
During a four-month tour of local schools in 2025, students added colorful expressions to the sculpture, collectively transforming it into an abstract artwork celebrating creativity, inclusion, and community participation.
Sponsored by the Elk County Commissioners, The United Colors of Liberty resides at the Elk County Courthouse in Ridgway.
While each county’s bell reflects a different artistic approach, the three neighboring projects demonstrate how public art can bring history and community identity together.
From McKean County’s historical photography to Warren County’s river landscapes and Elk County’s collaborative student artwork, the projects illustrate the diversity of creative expression found throughout the Pennsylvania Wilds.
The Pittsburgh celebration also offered participating artists and their guests opportunities to explore the city’s cultural institutions, including the Andy Warhol Museum and the Senator John Heinz History Center. Pittsburgh Regional Transit provided passes to explore the city and experience attractions such as the historic Monongahela Incline.
The reception marked an important milestone for America250PA, bringing together artists from communities large and small to celebrate their collective contributions to the nation’s semiquincentennial.
More than commemorative sculptures, the Liberty Bells stand as lasting examples of how art can preserve local heritage, encourage civic participation, and connect communities across Pennsylvania.
As the nation celebrates 250 years of independence, Bells Across PA invites Pennsylvanians to reflect on the meaning of liberty and the importance of preserving the unique stories of the places they call home.