Commissioners received reports on repairs to a theater mural and on several new public-art projects, including newly installed murals and a set of commemorative statues unveiled downtown.
Theater mural repairs: The commission heard that artist Miles has researched an appropriate top coat for the theater mural and plans to apply it after completing an out-of-state commission; staff said the work must wait until temperatures cool and that repainting and texture-matching will require lift rental and coordination with city maintenance. No formal contract or appropriation was approved; commissioners asked staff to arrange meetings with the artist and public-works staff to determine costs and scheduling.
New murals and public art: Commissioners discussed a recently completed stucco mural on First North Street that includes textured stucco and embedded glitter to add visual depth; the commission heard that the effect changes with lighting and viewing angle. Another mural project is under discussion with Ace Hardware (an employee artist is in talks with the store owner), and a third mural design is being developed by Miles in coordination with Josh Tietchen, general manager at Reliance Connects.
Statues and unveilings: Commissioners noted a recent unveiling of three public statues funded through a Main Street America grant administered by Morph (a local organizing group) and with MPAC sponsorship; Baja Imports donated a bench at the library connected to the unveiling. Commissioners encouraged residents to view the installations and invited additional proposals to be brought to the arts commission for funding conversations.
Why it matters: The commission’s discussion covers repair and maintenance of city-sponsored public art, coordination with external funders and ongoing public-art programming that shapes downtown’s appearance and tourism appeal. Deferred repairs and lift-rental costs mean some work will occur when weather permits.
Next steps: Staff and the artist will meet to finalize materials, schedule painting in cooler weather, and identify budget or grant sources for lift rental and finishing. Commissioners asked staff to bring cost estimates and a schedule back to the commission.