Input sought for community mural project

Monday, May 20, 2019
Examples of the design and style of murals from around the country are being considered as organizers and the public decide what form the Putnam County Mural Project should take.
Courtesy photo

Greencastle will soon be home to one of Indiana’s largest murals.

However before the painting starts, organizers are seeking public input on just what should be painted on such a large canvas.

In an effort to generate civic pride and to visually illustrate life in the community, a group of volunteers has launched the Putnam County Mural Project, with a goal of painting a mural on the four silos of S&W Feed Center, which sits northwest of the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway and U.S. 231.

The committee consists of members of a variety of countywide organizations and businesses. The group will apply for a $30,000 grant that carries a crowdfunding requirement.

Over the next few months, the group will be engaging community members in voting for the types of mural they would like to see while also actively fundraising to meet the match requirement.

Traveling “voting stations” will visit the following locations:

• Roachdale Public Library (May 28-June 10)

• Putnam County Public Library, Greencastle (May 28-June 10)

• Cloverdale Town Hall (May 28-June 10)

• Russellville Town Hall (May 28-June 10)

• Richard E. Peeler Art Center, DePauw University (Opening reception June 7)

• ParkFest, Greencastle (Tuesdays in May and June)

• Greencastle Summer Music Festival (Wednesdays in May and June)

• Greencastle Farmers Market

• Greencastle First Friday

• Cloverdale Farmers Market

Votes will be collected through June 10 for the preferred style and content of the mural, which will be on the four south-facing silos.

“We believe murals have the ability to transform communities by celebrating heritage, creating civic pride, and enriching lives through participatory art-making,” said Chris Flegal, who leads the group. “We are grateful for the grant opportunity and thrilled at engaging the entire county to create an eye-catching piece of public art that reflects our community and its creativity.”

The mural group will be seeking applications from local, national and international artists, and a separate group of nearly 20 people from around the county will make a selection by mid-July.

Once an artist is selected, the Putnam County community will be invited to vote between two artist renderings at the Aug. 2 Greencastle First Friday, which will determine the final artwork to be placed on the silos.

Prepping the silo “canvases” will take place in August, and painting will begin and be complete by the end of September.

As part of the artist agreement, the project will also host workshops and presentations for community members interested in learning about murals and their positive effect on neighborhoods.

Learn more at www.putnamcountymuralproject.org or contact putnamcountymuralproject@gmail.com if you have questions or you’re interested in volunteering or donating.

The Putnam County Mural Project seeks to enrich lives by engaging the community in participatory mural projects that activate spaces, build artistic capacity and celebrate who we are. Committee members include Alexandra Chamberlain, Chris Flegal, Eric Freeman, J.D. Grove, Kate Knaul and Kristen Fuhs Wells.

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