Crosswalk Painting Open House set for 8/20
The Heartbeat Creative District invites the public to an open house to meet the artists who will lead the crosswalk painting initiative on several First Street intersections in downtown Hastings.
The open house will be 5-6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026 in the Hastings Public Library second floor meeting room.
The artists will work with the public to design and paint 19 crosswalks at the intersections on First Street between Lincoln and Colorado Avenues. Painting of the crosswalks is scheduled to take place during spring 2027.
This project is made possible through the support from a $100,000 grant from the Nebraska Arts Council and Nebraska Cultural Endowment. This project is part of the implementation of the adopted Public Art Plan, which identified the community’s interest in various art types within the District.
A mid-block crosswalk on the 300 block of North Denver Avenue, as well as two sculptures, are also planned using grant funds for spring 2028 in conjunction with the Hastings Public Library greenspace project.
The Partners Undertaking Local Solutions for Expression (PULSE) advisory committee for the Heartbeat Creative District developed a Request for Qualifications, which was shared statewide, to solicit responses from artists. The RFQ period was open for artists April 9-June 1, 2026.
The following artists have been selected to develop one or more crosswalks with public input:
Danielle Schwinn
Trent & Amy Kelly
Rad Lab
Blair Czarecki & Paige Smitherman
Drift Mural Co.
Dominic Laporte & Anais Labreque
Biographies of the artists are included below.
Artist biographies:
Rad Lab brings together a multidisciplinary urban planning and design team under one collaborative practice. Our decade of experience spans graphic design, active transportation planning, public realm installations, technical documentation, spatial analysis, and community engagement.
Danielle Schwinn: I'm an artist, designer, muralist, and graphic design instructor based in Hastings, Nebraska. Originally from Fort Collins, Colorado, I came to Hastings to study fine art at Hastings College and quickly fell in love with both the community and the people. After graduation, I built a life here, started a family, and am proud to call Hastings home. As a community college instructor, I love helping students discover their creative potential through real-world design experiences and partnerships with local organizations. Seeing their work make a lasting impact in the community is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. My artistic work is inspired by travel, the outdoors, and the stories that connect people to a place. In college, a mural project in Belize sparked my passion for public art and its ability to celebrate culture, tell stories, and strengthen communities. Beyond the classroom and studio, I'm a wife, mom of three, and enthusiastic supporter of countless sporting events, music performances, and theatre productions. My husband, Adam, is a local realtor, and together we've built deep roots in the community we love. Being a mom is one of the most important parts of who I am and a constant source of inspiration in both my life and creative work. When I'm not teaching or cheering on my kids, you'll likely find me planning themed parties and finding reasons to celebrate life's everyday moments.
Trent/Amy Kelly: Trent and Amy Kelly have shared a passion for creativity and community as residents of Hastings for over twenty-five years and this passion is reflected in their work. Trent is a retired educator with a career spanning more than 30 years in public education, while Amy continues to inspire students as an art educator for the Hastings Public Schools. Together they have dedicated their careers using art to enrich minds, schools and public spaces. Trent's background includes working as a commercial artist, painting large-format billboards and operating his own business. He has created playground murals and other public art projects for Hastings Public Schools. Amy shares her love for art daily with children and throughout the community as she volunteers at kids camps, their church, and the Hastings Middle School Garden. They feel honored to be combining their artistic talents, educational experiences, and commitment to community to create public art that celebrates the character, pride, and spirit of Hastings.
Rad Lab, Danielle Schwinn, and Trent/Amy Kelly will be available at the Aug. 20 open house. Drift Mural Co. will do an online engagement session at a future date.