Retired sign painter creates 'Alien Apples'
A cluster of new extraterrestrial visitors look out from the windows of local Mars businesses to promote the upcoming Mars Applefest this week.
They hail from Jill Welsh's Alien Apple project, a self-started effort to offer free, themed mini paintings of aliens holding apples to local shops and storefronts in downtown Mars.
Welsh, a retired sign painter, started the Alien Apple project five months ago. She stopped painting signs for a living in 2018, but continues to create art for charity.
“With the pandemic and everything last year, Applefest was canceled. When I heard in May that they were going to bring it back, I thought I would like to get the interest going for it,” Welsh said.
“Local businesses were hurting, and I figured if I could do a window splash for their windows, it could help put people in a good mood.”
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