Give mural project a new life

The Sterling Mural Society already has an amazing record of accomplishment.

Since the mid-1990s, when its first public art project was commissioned in downtown Sterling, the Society is responsible for the creation of 18 murals.

Each tells a story from Sterling’s past.

Each has its own distinct character.

Taken together, the existing murals constitute a collection of art that is imaginative and eye-catching.

Many communities would be satisfied to rest on those laurels.

Not Sterling.

Community leaders got together recently to talk about jump-starting the process and resuming the creation of new murals.

Among the obstacles are lack of money, volunteers, and buildings upon which to paint the murals.

Several existing murals need restoration, too.

Those problems should not be allowed to derail the mural collection’s revival.

The murals provide an important visual connection with the past.

They demonstrate community pride.

Murals promote an appreciation of art.

They improve the downtown’s appearance.

And they are an obvious tourist attraction.

Sterling Mural Society members have talked about organizing a fundraiser and creating more interest in the murals.

Those are good ideas.

So is the attempt to find a location for a 19th mural that would depict the city’s links to the Lincoln Highway. A $10,000 grant is available from the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition to help pay for it.

We believe the members of the Sterling Mural Society and Sterling Main Street are on the right track.

Perhaps the Mural Society could partner with the Fourth Fridays group to organize Mural Walks.

Mural topics from the not-so-distant past could be considered – how Sterling’s steel production capacity helped win World War II, for example, or a mural that depicts the Hardware Capital of the World.

Might Rock Falls be included in future mural projects? If finding buildings is the challenge, including Sterling’s neighbor would open up more “canvasses” for mural artists.

At any rate, it’s time to get off those laurels and get going.

We encourage people to support any proposed fundraiser and also step forward to volunteer. Contact Patty Martinez, Mural Society president, at 815-626-7450, or Dick Cox, vice president, at 815-625-1091.