LOCAL VISION CONTINUED - Mural Boulevard
“Give people something more to look at”
All around the Historic Downtown of Martinsburg are buildings with spaces on their outside facade that would lend themselves nicely to housing a mural. Local artist and Arts Advocate David Heatwole is proposing the development of murals around the city but specifically around the street of E. Martin Street where the Apollo Theatre is located. Imagine going to a play at the Apollo, or coming out of the Apollo after a fine performance, and seeing lit up murals on both sides of the streets and neighboring streets.
Read the following testimonial to the power of murals! |
Click here to learn how I plan to do it"Spring Fling" by David Heatwole.
This piece while created by Heatwole it was supported by a view citizens and business owners from around the region. This is the largest mural in the city and welcomes visitors to the historic district to south bound travelers. |
Existing Murals
The historic district of Martinsburg WV located in the Eastern Panhandle has seen it's share of public art some has come and gone and some stays as a permanent fixture. The CIty has been blessed to have on the side of the old Market House two amazing murals by internationally known artist William Cockran. In addition to these two smaller, but substantial, murals is a large mural by David Heatwole that greets people as they come into Martinsburg from Edwin Blvd. None of these murals have any visible indication of who created them, how or why. There are also many "Micro Murals" around the city by Hagerstown MD artist Todd Groesbeck.
Ping Pong Paddle painting by Todd Groesbeck of Hagerstown MD is just one of many 12" x 12" micro murals around Martinsburg WV.
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One cannot leave out Christie Munn's duplex that is a fun work of art with a message. Even the sidewalks have character and fun things to discover.
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HOW DO WE DO IT?
STEP 1: I will light up the existing murals and create plaques that tell their story. All future murals should be lit and have info plaques indicating who the artist is. Where possible have QR codes that people can scan on their phones to access even more info including photos of the mural in progress.
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STEP 2: I will work with the community and building owners to install murals by various artists around the city. These murals should be of fantastic vision and should be able to withstand the test of time.
Here are photos of buildings identified that would work great along "Mural Boulevard"
Continue creating unique murals around the city! Here are photos of other great canvases!
While a focus on creating the Mural Boulevard should be a priority I believe that we should also have murals to welcome visitors that are traveling into town on the main corridors. These include east bound on King Street, North and South bound on Queen Street, west bound on Moler Avenue, south bound on the new Raleigh Street by pass and around or at the Train Station.