Art Vision Cheboygan, Cheboygan Area Arts Council select artist for Washington Park mural

CHEBOYGAN — Members of Art Vision Cheboygan and Cheboygan Area Arts Council have made a decision — after seeking submissions of designs — on an artists to paint a new mural at Washington Park in downtown Cheboygan.

"The new Washington Park Mural Project is officially ready to begin with several funding sources stepping up to help cover the $14,000 budget," said Patricia Gildner, chair of the Art Vision Cheboygan group.

Late last week, First Community Bank of Cheboygan presented a donation to the group of $1,000 to help with the purchase of the materials needed for the artist to paint the mural. Art Vision Cheboygan is providing all the materials for the project, as well as paying a fee to the artist.

The new mural will be painted on the south side of the current mural in the park, owned by the city and facing the Sozo Health building, replacing the quilt squares which had been displayed on the wall for several years. These squares are now displayed at different locations in the city.

It will be on the same wall as the mural in Washington Park featuring Native Americans and settlers painted on the north side of the wall, nearest to the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

The new mural is scheduled to be finished and installed this fall. It will be painted by Cheboygan muralist Krista Allerding. The goal of the call to artists earlier this year was to have a local artist complete the new artwork that will be on display in the city.

“First Community Bank believes in enhancing public spaces as a way to attract visitors and residents to enjoy our downtown and spur economic growth. The mural design is very representative of our Up North experiences here,” said Tom McKinley, First Community Bank President and member of the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

The Art Vision Cheboygan group, a group created two years ago to bring more public art to the City of Cheboygan, made the new mural project their priority for this calendar year. The group has been doing some fundraising with local businesses to help raise the money needed to hire Allerding to complete the work of art, and purchase the supplies necessary for the artwork.

"She is very talented and has done a painting in Ottawa Park previously," said Gildner. "We wanted to work with a local artist and were happy to receive four excellent submissions."

Gildner said with the gift from First Community Bank, a donation from The Hive North Mead and Cider Restaurant, a grant from Cheboygan County Community Foundation, a fundraiser by Cheboygan Brewery "Pints for a Purpose," and volunteer fundraising projects, enough money has been raised to partially cover the cost of materials and hire Allerding.

"The new mural, covering the back side of the current historical mural in Washington Park, will have an Up North theme depicting all the variety of outdoor activities enjoyed throughout the seasons by residents and visitors," she said.

The completion date for the mural will be in September of this year. Allerding will be painting on 25 panels, each of which are four feet by seven and a half feet in size, making up the entire 100-foot structure.

Fundraising to help with the cost of the project, as well as bringing more public art to the community is ongoing.

"Any contributions to help pay for mural expenses are appreciated by Art Vision Cheboygan," said Gildner. Checks may be mailed to Cheboygan Area Arts Council, P.O. Box 95, Cheboygan, MI 49721, with the note of Art Vision Mural.

Donations can also by made online at theoperahouse.org/donate, or by calling 231-627-5841.

Contact Features Writer Kortny Hahn at khahn1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @khahnCDT.