On June 10, 2020, the Selinsgrove Pool received the second of its new murals, thanks to local artists and the Selinsgrove Area High School National Art Honor Society, in cooperation with START.
Seven local artists came together to give the Selinsgrove Pool a one-of-a-kind makeover. Using the concept of the Seven Seas, Chris Kalcich (Arctic Ocean), Ciera Zacek (Northern Atlantic Ocean), Edward “Ted” Hendricks (South Atlantic Ocean), Isabel Proger (North Pacific Ocean), Brian Caron (South Pacific Ocean), Cristi Beeler (Indian Ocean), and Pen Bxtr (Southern Ocean/Antarctic Ocean) each created a mural depicting a selection of aquatic life found in each body of water.
START is very proud of the group of artists that were involved in this project, as they represent a diverse group from our community. Our team includes current college students, recently-graduated high school students, a former Selinsgrove resident with strong ties to the community, a high-school art instructor/college instructor with her students, and a father/daughter team. In addition, three of our artists proudly represent the autism, LGBTQ+, and mental health awareness communities.
The mural was a gift to the Selinsgrove Pool and created as an effort to draw attention to the pool in hopes to increase fundraising for its needed repairs and updates. One final mural on the front of the pool building is in the planning stages with the execution slotted for spring 2022.
Mural Artists
Chris Kalcich
SECTION: Arctic Ocean
Chris Kalcich is a local artist and is a member of the board of START.
Christopher is a 2019 Graduate of Selinsgrove High School and is a student at Susquehanna University, working towards his BFA in Painting and Drawing and is minoring in Political Science. He is the Vice Chair for the Snyder County Democrats, a member of the Selinsgrove Borough Council, and the Political Representative for Central Pennsylvania Advocates for Justice.
Additionally, Chris is the small business owner of ArtByChris and is employed at The REC of Eastern Snyder County. Most of his work focuses on community initiatives with progressing art culture, sustainable living, supporting small businesses, combating inequality, and providing valuable opportunities to the area’s youth. Insta / artbychris6
Ciera Zacek
SECTION: North Atlantic Ocean
Ciera Zacek is a 2019 Selinsgrove graduate who participated vigorously in National Art Honors Society as well as had many projects featured in local art shows.
As an individual who deals with a variety of mental health issues, she draws inspiration from her struggles and uses it in her artwork to reach out to others.
Ciera is now a third year art studio student at Bloomsburg University concentrating in print making and graphic design with a minor in marketing. She is spending her summer doing commission artwork and growing her small print making business. Ciera plans to complete internships in major cities to spread awareness about social justice through artwork. She hopes to graduate college and go on to teach art to young children and to establish her own studio gallery. Check out her business instagram page @artgirlshit.co
Edward "Ted" Hendricks
SECTION: South Atlantic Ocean
Ted Hendricks is a 2001 graduate of Selinsgrove Area High School.
Ted received his bachelor’s degree from Susquehanna University in 2005, majoring in marketing. His artistic focus is on Pop Portraiture and Neon Abstraction. He has shown his works in galleries from Lewisburg to North Carolina. Ted is also the son of Joyce Hendricks, retired Selinsgrove Area High School art and drama teacher. Ted’s favorite quote is: “Anyone can paint, but an artist knows when to stop.”
Isabel Proger
SECTION: North Pacific Ocean
Isabel Proger is a local artist and is on the board of START.
Isabel is a 2021 graduate of Selinsgrove Area High School and will be attending Juniata College in the fall. Isabel is well-known in the area for the gorgeous murals that she has done around Selinsgrove.
Even at a young age, Isabel is an experienced artist, and her works can be seen in various locations in the area, from murals around Selinsgrove to messages painted on storefront windows at the Selinsgrove Mall. During her senior year at Selinsgrove Area High School, Isabel was a dual-enrollment student in the ACE Program at Bloomsburg University and a member of the National Art Honor Society at Selinsgrove Area High School. Insta / @isabelprogerart
Brian Caron
SECTION: South Pacific Ocean
Artist and architectural drafter Brian Caron grew up in New England, majored in fine art at the University of Connecticut, moved to Pennsylvania in 2001, and now lives and works in Selinsgrove.
Brian’s paintings have been displayed in Connecticut, Boston, MA, York, PA, Lewisburg, PA and Selinsgrove, PA. See more of Brian’s work at www.briancaron.com.
Cristi Beeler
SECTION: Indian Ocean
Cristi Beeler teaches art (including ceramics, sculpture, drawing, painting, and digital photography) at Selinsgrove Area High School. Aside from being a well-loved and respected teacher at SAHS, she is one of the advisors for the National Art Honor Society.
She received her Bachelor's from Lycoming College in 2010 and her M.S. in Educational Technology from Wilkes University. In addition to her duties at the high school level, Cristi is also an adjunct faculty instructor in Education at Susquehanna University, teaching the 300-level course, Arts in Education, amongst others. Cristi has traveled with her students to Japan, Italy, France, and England and is the supervisor of the Senshu University Exchange Program. She herself has traveled to 26 countries and a total of 58 cities worldwide.
A total of 14 students assisted her with painting this section of the pool mural.
Pen Bxtr
SECTION: Southern Ocean/Antarctic Ocean
Pen Bxtr is a 2021 graduate of Selinsgrove Area High School and was a member of the National Art Honor Society.
Pen won his first art contest in middle school, and he wrote and produced his first short film in 2009 at the age of six. In May of this year, he completed a mural in one of the art classrooms at Selinsgrove Area High School. His work has been featured in exhibits at Bloomsburg University and at the Sunbury Arts Council.
For the 2021-22 school year, Pen will be taking a gap year to both travel and to study graphic art and design. He is planning to attend Bloomsburg University in the fall of 2022.
Pen is on the autism spectrum (Asperger’s) and has made the choice to be more vocal about it when he learned that his favorite artist, Dale Chihuly, suffers from mental issues and has openly discussed his bipolar disorder.