Painter Shane Kelly unveils a new mural on the side of Elks Lodge No. 1943 Saturday in Myrtle Creek.
Painters Shane and Kaley Kelly pose in front of their new mural Saturday in Myrtle Creek.
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Painter Shane Kelly unveils a new mural on the side of Elks Lodge No. 1943 Saturday in Myrtle Creek.
Painters Shane and Kaley Kelly pose in front of their new mural Saturday in Myrtle Creek.
Despite a bout of chilly rains on Saturday morning, a crowd had gathered outside Elks Lodge No. 1943 in Myrtle Creek to get a first glimpse at a new feature for the town, hidden behind a large black sheet. At 10 a.m., it was pulled from the building’s exterior to reveal a brand new mural, the first completed in a planned series of upcoming beautifications.
The artwork, made by painters Shane Kelly and Kaley Kelly, is part of an ongoing project by the Myrtle Creek Mural Committee (MCMC) to decorate buildings across the town with original artworks highlighting the town’s culture.
According to committee board member Jessica Sharon, the MCMC was formed as a result of last year’s Imagine Myrtle Creek meetings, in which citizens expressed a desire to see beautification efforts. For her, the Kelly’s mural is an exciting first step.
“We just want to add vibrancy and color to the town, make it more of a destination,” Sharon said.
The Kelly’s mural is filled with imagery relating to the South County, featuring an elk walking through a patch of wildflowers native to the area. The scene is decorated with a number of symbols and patterns used in the basketry of local tribes.
“They city’s slogan and out theme is ‘where nature is your neighbor,’ so we really wanted to encompass the local wildlife and flora of this area,” Painter and MCMC president Shane Kelly said. “I love Myrtle Creek and I love Douglas County, so I’m just excited to bring some art to town.”
Currently, there are four other murals lined up in the MCMC’s list of future projects. A painting of trucks adorned with Christmas lights, inspired by the D.R. Johnson Memorial Timber Truckers Light Parade, is planned for the exterior of 305 S Main St. while a painting of the Friend’s of Myrtle Creek Library’s signature “moon tree” is planned for the back of the Umpqua Research Company building at 626 NE Division St.
An interactive mural featuring a horseback rider in the South Douglas Rodeo is planned for the exterior of the Rice Brothers and Adams Building at 136 S Main St., with plans to feature scannable QR codes which show viewers an animation of the rider in motion.
Plans are also underway for a mural featuring the Myrtle Creek Bridge on the exterior of 111 NW 2nd Ave., with the MCMC still needing approval from property owners.
To follow progress on MCMC projects, visit tinyurl.com.
Andrew Griffin is a reporter for NR Today. He can be reached at agriffin@nrtoday.com.
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