Once again, 19 two-sided banners from the My Hometown Project are on full display in the City of Oswego. On display at Breitbeck Park, City Hall and the intersection of E. 1st and E. Cayuga streets, the banners celebrate the Oswego City School District’s visual art programs and honor the talent of young artists from each school. Banners will be up until November. There will be a reception in honor of the participating artists on June 28 in Breitbeck Park from 4 to 5 p.m. at the pavilion. It will include a short ceremony featuring Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow, and is open to the public.

The work displayed on the banners was selected during the virtual district show in the late spring of 2020. That event featured work by students at all grade levels. From this pool, sixty-four pieces were chosen to be included on public banners. This project was made possible by funding from the Richard S. Shineman Foundation and support from the Cornelius & Eleanor Borman Family Foundation, the SUNY Oswego art department, the City of Oswego and the Oswego City School District.

Begun summer 2016, the My Hometown Project represents a partnership between the art department and the district’s art teachers. The project seeks to provide public space for the display of artwork by K-12 students. The project’s primary goal is to showcase the creative vibrancy of the City of Oswego through the visual expressions of the youngest members of our community. Through this action, the project hopes that students feel empowered to use visual art to tell their stories and create sites of public memory. 

According to director Cynthia Clabough, “We hope the project inspires members of our community to continue to support the arts and their role in making our city such a great place to live.”

Participating Schools and Art Programs:
• Charles E. Riley Elementary
• Fitzhugh Park Elementary
• Frederick Leighton Elementary
• Kingsford Park Elementary
• Minetto Elementary
• Oswego Middle School
• Oswego High School

Banner Display Locations:
• Breitbeck Park on Lake St.
• City Hall (corner of W. Oneida & W. 1st St.)
• E. Cayuga Street (at the corner of E. 1st)