Mural group ready to make history again
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| The "Secret Six" mural is on the wall of The Precinct in downtown Sterling. It's been many years since a new mural was painted in Sterling, and the Sterling Mural Society and Sterling Main Street are working together to try to promote and restore existing murals, as well as secure a site for a new mural. (Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com) |
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STERLING – The city has a tradition of using murals to depict its history.
There are 18 murals throughout Sterling, but it’s been years since a new one was painted. Some of the existing works of art need restoration. And the nonprofit Sterling Mural Society could use some help.
“You have to raise the funds,” said Dick Cox, mural society vice president. “For a while, we were doing it every year. We had funds.
“We haven’t worked on a fundraiser for the last couple years.”
Money isn’t the only obstacle to more murals, however. The group also must find businesses willing to allow the use of a wall that is visible to the public, Cox said.
The murals are a unique attribute, said Kim Ewoldson, executive director of the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce.
“They are a great history tool to tell the story of the community,” she said.
They also bring tourists, Dick Cox said.
“People come to see murals,” he said. “You can park at one place and see all the murals, you don’t have to keep driving. It brings tourism, ... people who are looking for something to do.”
“When you ride through downtown, and if you are a stranger to this community and you are riding through, it sparks your interest,” Sterling Main Street Executive Director Susan Boyd said.
At a recent Main Street board retreat, members discussed incorporating the murals into a walking tour of downtown “so we can bring tourists in,” Boyd said. She thinks more needs to be done to promote the murals.
She also wants to create a way for people who are roaming on their own to find out about each mural. One option is to have a plaque in front of each mural to explain to history. Another possibility is having a prerecorded voice message with a history of each mural that could be heard with a press of a button.
But the interactive ideas take time and money, Boyd said.
“It all comes down to financing and interest,” she said. “We’ve got to figure out what is feasible.”
In addition to money, the group needs manpower. Mural Society President Patty Martinez, said the group needs volunteers, and help as it begins restoring two damaged murals.
She said there is some money set aside for beautification and restoration.
While tourists might be drawn to the murals, locals may not take the time to enjoy them, Boyd said.
“We need to market them more than we do through this office, so when people that live here have friends that come to town, and don’t know what they have to do with themselves,” they might go visit the murals, she said.
Ed Cox, president of the Main Street board, agreed.
“What we have to constantly do is create interest, particularly in the downtown district,” he said. “We have a tendency to drive by and not look as residents.”
Sterling City Manager Scott Shumard said the city needs renewed interest in the murals, but making that happen takes time and energy.
“We need fresh faces interested in public art,” he said. “It has to be a community-based effort. It would be terrific to see the community step up and want to do this.”
Organizers working to secure building for new mural
STERLING – Sterling Mural Society and Sterling Main Street leaders are working together to secure a site for a new mural in town.
Dick Cox, vice president of the mural society, said the organization has been working to secure the south wall of Dr. Richard Ng’s office at 705 W. Third St.
Susan Boyd, Main Street executive director, said she hopes to secure the building soon. The two groups are working with Ng's lawyer to get permission to use the wall, said mural society President Patty Martinez.
A new mural would be the 19th in Sterling. It would be the latest in a series of Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition murals. There are 21 so far, including in Dixon, Rock Falls and Oregon.
A $10,000 grant for a mural still is available from the coalition, Boyd said. Mural society members had hoped to have the mural completed by October 2010.
But the departure of former Main Street Director Karen Ogden slowed the process, Martinez said.
"Now Main Street has hired [Boyd]," Martinez said. "We are hoping that we can get the committee so we can get the project back up. It would be ideal to get going on something once the weather turns better to work on it."
Once the organization has gained permission and control of the property, it can move forward with the mural, Sterling City Manager Scott Shumard said.
To get involved
To get involved with the Sterling Mural Society, contact President Patty Martinez at 815-626-7450 or Vice President Dick Cox at 815-625-1091.
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