Donna Costello, mayor of Farmington (left), and others watch as a City of Farmington worker removes a flag design with a peace sign from a crosswalk on Mill Street in front of Sam’s Place.
FARMINGTON — An art project in the Town of Farmington has caused controversy.
Five social work students from West Virginia University — Nicole Licata, Stephanie Turner, Andrea Chevron, Gretchen Erbin and Saydi Whiteman — painted artwork in crosswalks in Farmington on April 15 and 16 as part of a project for their class, “Human Behavior in the Social Environment,” taught by Dr. Kristina Hash.
The students discussed what type of project to do in Farmington with Mayor Donna Costello.
“One (project) that I’ve wanted to do for several years was to paint and design the crosswalks here,” Costello told the Times West Virginian in an April interview. “It would just brighten up the town of Farmington. I think people would actually appreciate it.”
The students painted the crosswalks downtown on Mill Street that led from the parking lot to Sam’s Place and the crosswalks by the four-way stop next to the Manchin Clinic. The students painted a coal miner pushing a coal cart, a flag with a peace sign in place of the stars, a Farmington Farmers design and a WVU design, Costello said.
The Town of Farmington received complaints via Facebook and at the town hall about the flag design with the peace sign. On Tuesday, Costello received a call from U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin…