Many Communities: One Commonwealth, features a large-scale, three-panel collage designed by Caroline Melillo ’26. Photo by Nick Chismar ’20
Three-panel collage featuring approximately 250 K–12 student artworks from across Pennsylvania to be unveiled July 28 at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Rotunda.
BETHLEHEM, PA. — July 21, 2026: A statewide celebration of student voice, community, and creativity will be unveiled on July 28 at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Rotunda as part of the Pennsylvania 250 celebration. The project, titled Many Communities: One Commonwealth, features a large-scale, three-panel collage designed by Caroline Melillo, a Moravian University Class of 2026 Graphic and Interactive Design graduate.
Melillo was selected by the Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA) to design the six-by-eight-foot, three-panel collage, which brings together approximately 200 works of K–12 student art from communities across the Commonwealth. The artwork was submitted in response to the theme “Many Communities: One Commonwealth,” inviting youth artists to reflect on family, identity, local landmarks, cultural traditions, history, everyday life, and the stories that make their communities meaningful.
The project was developed through a partnership among the Pennsylvania Art Education Association, Pennsylvania Creative Industries, the Office of the First Lady Lori Shapiro, and the National Endowment for the Arts, in recognition of Pennsylvania’s role in the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. In addition to the physical installation, submitted student artwork will also be featured through an online exhibition on the Pennsylvania Art Education Association website.
Moravian University was represented in the project through the involvement of both faculty and students. MaryJo Rosania Harvie, assistant professor of art and director of art education at Moravian University and PAEA president-elect, served as co-chair of the committee with CJ Matz, PAEA president and art teacher at Catasauqua Area High School. Committee members also included Jaime Linn Brown, PAEA member-at-large and art educator, and Andrea Kline, PAEA region representative and art educator.
“This project is a powerful reminder that young people have important stories to tell about place, identity, and belonging,” said Rosania Harvie. “Through the visual arts, students across Pennsylvania are helping us see the Commonwealth not as one single story, but as a collection of many communities, perspectives, and lived experiences. I am especially proud that Moravian could contribute to a project that centers student voice on a statewide stage.”
The public unveiling ceremony will take place July 28 at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg. The installation will be part of the broader Pennsylvania 250 celebration and will highlight the essential role of K–12 art education in helping students express identity, community, history, and civic imagination.
Event Details
What: Unveiling of Many Communities: One Commonwealth Student Artwork Installation
When: July 28, 2026, 11:00 am
Where: Pennsylvania State Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg, Pa.
Who: Pennsylvania Art Education Association, Pennsylvania Creative Industries, Moravian University faculty and alumni, and K–12 student artists from across Pennsylvania.
Admission: Free public unveiling
For more information about the online exhibition, visit: https://www.paea.org/student-opportunities/pa250students
Project Contact:
Dr. MaryJo Rosania Harvie
Assistant Professor of Art and Director of Art Education, Moravian University
PAEA President-Elect
Email: rosaniaharviem@moravian.edu
Media Contact
Michael Corr
Moravian University
Email: corrm@moravian.edu
Phone: 610.861.1365
About Moravian University
Moravian University is the nation’s sixth-oldest university, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that blend liberal arts with professional programs. For more than 275 years, the Moravian University degree has been preparing students for reflective lives, fulfilling careers, and transformative leadership in a world of change. Moravian University is a member of The New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U), a national consortium of selective, small to midsize independent colleges and universities dedicated to the purposeful integration of liberal education, professional studies, and civic engagement. Visit moravian.edu to learn more about how the Moravian University focus on education for all prepares its students for life-long success.