Public Art Installation at Ward 5 Apartments

Downstreet is thrilled to share that we’ve been awarded the full implementation grant from the Vermont Arts Council for a mosaic design created by Mary Tapogna for the Ward 5 Apartments!

This achievement is the result of a thoughtful and collaborative process. Heartfelt thanks to Mary, the Vermont Arts Council, Sue Higby at Studio Place Arts, and the dedicated committee who guided the artist selection and design development with care and creativity.

About Mary Topagna
Born and raised in Springfield, OH, Mary is the 8th of 9 siblings. She attended art school at The University of Cincinnati (graphic design) and graduated with a BFA in Photography from the Art Academy of Cincinnati. After moving to Portland, OR, she opened a storefront/gallery/studio called Hail Mary that was an arts and community fixture for 12 years. Mary’s mosaic work covers a range of sometimes religious and secular portraits, crosses, rosaries, tables, lamps, etc. The portraits are fabricated using various accumulated materials, images, and layering. Working mostly from her photographic images and drawings, they are made from found and recycled materials gathered from her everyday surroundings.

We are excited to bring Mary’s welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring mosaic to life in our community. The installation will enhance the concrete steps leading to the entrance of the newly completed Ward 5 Apartments, serving as a vibrant connection between the building, the neighborhood, and the wider community. It’s a meaningful reminder of the power of public art to transform affordable houses into homes.

Work on the mosaic will begin off-site this fall, with installation planned for spring 2026.