Thursday, June 21, 2012

Artist Relocation Program in Oil City, PA

Early this month I drove across Pennsylvania from the east side to the west, and spent five days in Oil City, PA. Oil City has both an artist relocation program and extremely affordable housing, so I decided to visit.


When I first entered the city I breathed a sigh of relief, as my first impressions were positive. I knew that if I didn't find the place to be extremely paint-worthy, I just wasn't going to be interested, but one look at the city told me there would be plenty of scenes to paint. Oil City lies along the Allegheny River, is surrounded by dramatic hills, and seems to be watched over by the commanding and elegant presence of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church 

Here is another view of the same church, this time from below:

St. Joseph's Catholic Church

Oil City is divided by the Allegheny River into the "South Side" and "North Side". Beginning in the 1850's, barges were used to transport oil barrels down Oil Creek from Titusville, then sent on down the Allegheny River to Pittsburgh. Oil City was a boom town until the 1950's, and has suffered especially hard since the 1990's, when the companies of Quaker State, Pennzoil and Wolf's Head left town.  

                            
Oil City, South Side

Oil City, North Side with Oil Creek entering the Allegheny

Most of my visit was spent painting outside, an excellent way to get a feel for a place as well as to meet the locals. I found the people friendly and down-to-earth. No putting on airs in Oil City! The people see what is right with their town, and also what isn't. Once while I was painting a beautiful panoramic view, a man stopped to tell me that he loves that view, and especially at night. Shortly after this an elderly woman came out of her house on a walker, carefully maneuvering her front steps to take a look at what I was doing. She pronounced Oil City as "dumpy". Since she is 85 years old and has lived here all her life, I imagine she is especially aware of all the changes Oil City has been through since the 1930s.

I visited the National Transit Studio building, where artists rent studios for .49 cents a square foot. It's an absolutely beautiful building, with space for art classes and two galleries.

National Transit Building

National Transit Building entrance


Gardens at the back of the National Transit Building

There are more than 25 artists in the building, and they come from all over the country, many of them from big cities such as Chicago and L.A. 

Okay, this is not a paid advertisement, so I'm not going to hide evidence of problems. While the National Transit Building is in good shape, many of the buildings downtown are empty or in sad shape:


                        



                           
The Empty Oil City National Bank

Some of the Victorian style homes are stunning:



While many, many others are in need of repair:


Still, $60,000 will buy you a very decent place, and how many towns can offer anything like that?

Whenever I'm in a new place it doesn't take me long to check out the local library. The Oil City Library is one of the best I've seen in a town of this size, large and comfortable and, of course, packed with books.

Oil City Library

A word about the food. If I move to Oil City, I'll need to grow a large vegetable garden or belong to a CSA. I'll also take monthly drives to the Wegman's in Erie to stock up on whole grains. Simply put, the local supermarkets and restaurants do not cater to vegetarians. 


That being said, the positives about Oil City warrant giving the place some serious consideration. The affordability of the housing and studio space, the 100% financing offered to artists buying a home in the area, the natural beauty of the dramatic landscape as well as the friendliness of the people are all powerful incentives for artists to consider relocating to Oil City.

If you would like to find out more about the Oil City Artists Relocation Program, you can email Joann Wheeler for more information, and put the words "artist relocation" in your subject line.






13 comments:

  1. Looks like a pretty little city. I live by the ocean in Oregon and tiny empty lots start at $99,000 to as much as $400,000. $60,000 sounds like a good deal. Looks like there is a lot of potential there. I am a west coast person born and bred so am not likely to move out there but I read your post with great interest. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Looks interesting, Taryn! What's the weather like there? I bet they get a LOT of snow!!

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  3. Taryn, I live north of Pittsburgh and have been to Oil City a handful of times. I have seen the great potential there and hope that the arts take hold. It really is a beautiful area and has some wonderful inspiring people. It was nice to read your viewpoint too.

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  4. I found this very interesting. How fortunate the artists are to have a place like that.
    But when I see all that green and think rain!
    Come on out to the desert here and we can almost match those prices...but not the same type of view.

    I love your paintings.

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  5. Brilliant article! I remember travelling around that area and was so surprised at how green and pretty the countryside was...

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  6. Thanks for taking us to Oil City with you. What an interesting idea. I thought it was amazing that no one in front of "fat dogs" was fat.
    Looks like a beautiful place.

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  7. Wow! I never heard of such a thing! What a great idea. How wonderful that a city realizes that to turn itself around it needs culture to draw people in! Can't ait to hear what you decide!

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  8. How romantic! I'm already in love with Oil City - bet it's a gorgeous place in every season, esp autumn. lol about grocery shopping - maybe you can convince Fat Dogs to add a vegan corn dog to the menu. :) Sounds heavenly, esp at 50 cents a foot. :) Please let us know!

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  9. Very interesting. But... If you are giving Oil City consideration you may also want to look at Pittsburgh. I just bought a little house in January for $43,000. It needed no work and I can walk to my studio only a mile away. Plus we do have an amazing art community and lots of good food! I'll gladly be your tour guide!

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  10. I had already heard about Oil City and then came across your post. I'm intrigued....also very portable. I may just need to plan a visit next! After living in Northern California for 4 decades, owning another home was not on my horizon. But, Oil City....hmmmmm.
    Thanks for this great post, Taryn.

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  11. I am living vicariously through your adventures. There have been a number of towns in th US that have been revitalized through artist colonies. The place I live in is the case, Emeryville, CA. I have a day job, otherwise I might be out there following your foot steps.

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  12. Hi Taryn

    Well, I leave at midnite to check out Oil City for myself. Wanted to let you know I referenced you and this post on my site today.

    http://www.artforthesoulofit.com/2012/10/01/ever-heard-of-oil-city-pa-im-packing-and-here-are-my-art-supplies-video/

    I'm excited, nervous and trying to keep my expectations nice and low...and be pleasantly surprised. The real estate alone is beyond anything I thought possible. Then again, I've lived in California for almost 40 years!

    Love this post of yours, and btw - your painting today Entering Giverny - exquisite!!!!!

    Blessings, Joanie

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  13. Awesome, Sarasota artist planning to check this out.

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