Make way for Miles of Mules!

By Phil Ehlinger

You may have noticed the large banner hanging over Starbucks at State and MainStreets or read about the Mules in the local newspapers. Perhaps you've seen the life-sized, fiberglass mule that Newtown artist Robert Dodge painted with thousands of tiny,colorful chairs, who's been standing sentry for the last few months in the entryway of theMichener Art Museum.

It's all part of the build-up for Miles of Mules, an exciting and extensive regionalpublic art project that will ultimately stretch the length of the Delaware and Lehigh CanalCorridor. Modeled on similar successful projects held in towns and cities around theworld, it begins with a herd of life-sized fiberglass mules, sponsored by local businesses,non-profits and individuals, and decorated and painted by local artists. The creative resultswill be trotted out this summer, with hundreds of these colorful creatures dotting thelandscape from Bristol to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. At summer's end, all Mules thathaven't been purchased by their sponsors will be auctioned off, with proceeds to benefitthe endowment for the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and State HeritagePark and the Michener Art Museum. One third of the proceeds from the auctioned muleswill go to other local non-profit organizations.

The Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and State Heritage Park(D&L) has organized the project, and is partnering with cultural organizations to act as"Corral Herdsman" in each of the three regions of the Delaware and Lehigh Canal: TheJames A. Michener Art Museum in Bucks County; The Banana Factory of Bethlehem inLehigh County, and The Cultural Council of Luzerne County in Luzerne County. "CorralHerdsman" are responsible for recruiting artists to decorate the Mules, sellingsponsorships, planning events and tending to the Mules on display in their region.

The Mule was chosen as a playful and dynamic symbol of our regional heritage. Inthe 19th century, mules played an indispensable role in the area's economic and socialhistory, as coal mines, canals and farms flourished along the Corridor. Picturesque townsthroughout the region owe their prosperity to the mules who pulled mine cars and towedcanal boats, hauling coal from the ground to the surface, and then on to markets in NewYork and Philadelphia.

Through extensive community and business involvement, Miles of Mules is designedto stimulate economic activity, tourism and cultural participation throughout the region.Mules will be on display for viewing, petting, and photographing in public 'paddocks' allalong the 165-mile Canal Corridor. Locally, we hope to place Mules out to graze in NewHope, Lambertville, Bristol, Yardley, Newtown, Washington's Crossing, Quakertown,Tinicum, Dublin and other communities along the Bucks County portion of the corridor.

More than 140 artists have submitted over 200 original designs for Mules, rangingfrom colorful mosaic patterns to a topiary Mule covered in living green plants. Alreadymore than 28 area businesses and individuals have signed on to sponsor their very ownMule. In the non-profit category, individuals and groups throughout Bucks County havejoined together to sponsor Mules for a variety of worthy causes from breast cancerawareness to several local elementary schools.

For more information on sponsoring a Mule, please contact Laura Biersmith,Sponsorship Chair, at (215) 794-6867

Expect to see plenty of these colorful creatures throughout eastern Pennsylvaniain the very near future. More information on the project is available at www.milesofmules.org. So log on, saddle up and get ready for Miles of Mules!