EASTON, Pa. — If you’ve taken a stroll around Easton lately, you might notice that love is in the air.
Or rather, in the windows of your favorite businesses.
Downtown creative studio Mercantile Home, working alongside the Easton Main Street Initiative, has launched a community-oriented art project that led to the creation of 28,127 hearts of all sizes and materials to decorate windows and public spaces across the city.
The project, “Love, Easton,” kicked off on Jan. 9 and will run through March 9.
"It’s a giant love letter, an art project that represents, in a big way, the kindness, creativity and good vibes for which Easton has become known.”Mercantile Home co-owner Ron Morris
“We chose this number because it is the current population of Easton," Mercantile Home co-owner Ron Morris said. "There will be one heart for every resident of the city.
"It’s a giant love letter, an art project that represents, in a big way, the kindness, creativity and good vibes for which Easton has become known.”
The majority of the “Love, Easton” hearts have been hung in and around buildings and spaces from the Free Bridge to Fifteenth Street along Northampton Street and from the top of Cattell Street to the top of Saint Johns along Third Street through the Downtown District.
'Many ways to join in'
Residents outside the specified route still are encouraged to participate in the event, with all hearts made and logged on the website contributing to the total.
Additional hearts can be sent or turned in at Mercantile Home, 140D Northampton St., Easton Public Market, 325 Northampton St., and a variety of other venues which are identified on the website.
“The Easton Main Street Initiative is excited to be partnering with Mercantile Home on this community building project and encourages everyone from Easton and beyond to participate,” Easton Main Street Initiative Manager Kim Kmetz said.
“There are many ways to join in and help: making hearts, hanging hearts in your home or business windows, volunteering to help install hearts around the city, and more.”
A kickoff party was held at the Easton Public Market on Friday to celebrate the efforts of all the Eastonians who participated in the project.
'The enthusiasm ... is very contagious'
Festivities will continue into the week with a book folding event at the Easton Area Public Library from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to transform ordinary book pages into a stunning three-dimensional heart.
“The enthusiasm in the community around the project is very contagious."Ken Jones Jr., co-owner of Mercantile Home
Love, Easton’s website advises interested parties to RSVP soon, as spaces are limited.
And if you happen to be taking a walk around the Downtown to enjoy the “A Match Made in Easton”initiative — a special promotion in which shoppers can present a receipt from one shop to another for special deals and exclusive items — make it an adventure and partake in the scavenger hunt.
Five specialty hearts, all depicted on the website, have been hidden in windows throughout the area. Find them all and enter their location on the website for a fun adventure with your partner.
“The enthusiasm in the community around the project is very contagious," co-owner of Mercantile Home Ken Jones Jr. said.
"Folks are already creating so many inventive, unique, wonderful hearts by recycling all kinds of paper and other materials: old bills, newspapers, fliers, wrapping paper. I can’t wait to see all the creative ways we are able to ‘Love, Easton.'”
