–Images by Zach Matarazzo ’17 & Text by Kirsten Valentini ’17 – Place Studies Research Fellows
Pamela J. Snyder, an Altoona, Pennsylvania muralist, is an extremely busy woman. Between working as head coach for the Penn State Altoona’s women’s soccer program and participating in the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, she somehow still finds time to pursue her number one passion – art. While Snyder has found several outlets for sharing her creative passions with the world, her interest in public art and community outreach has made painting murals a perfect fit. Over the years, Snyder has painted many murals, including four major works in the town of Milton, Pennsylvania. She says that her favorite aspect of public art is the connection she is able to forge with the people living and working in that area: “I love the interaction with the community members and the opportunity to educate them in a unique and interesting way. Murals open me up to learning a great deal about the history of the towns and communities I work in. Many people are visual learners, so I provide a whole new means of learning and understanding for these people. Most people know very little about their past and I can give that knowledge to them in fun and palatable ways.”
