Downtown mural restoration underway

Restoration work is underway on four downtown murals. Three University of Iowa students started work last week and are already making strides on their first mural, the 16-by-35 foot American flag on the VFW building.

The process to fix up the murals started more than a year ago when the Newton Hometown Pride committee invited students from the University of Iowa to analyze the murals and create a report on work that needs to be done. A thorough assessment of each mural including dimensions, primers, concerns, art mediums and evidence of structural damage was taken last July by the students. A mural sketch was also created for documentation purposes and a list of products and materials were determined.

“The reason this is being done is because all of the murals in the downtown area are more than 10 years old,” Newton Main Street Executive Director Graham Sullivan said.

Four murals were found in need of restoration. Those murals are the 36-by-82 foot mural on the west side of the E-Clips building featuring a welcome to Newton message, the 16-by-35 foot American flag mural on the VFW building, the 30-by-135 foot Newton farm scene mural at Sersland Park and the 12-by-50 foot mural on the west side of The Farmer’s Wife building featuring Newton stores.

To prepare the murals, Joe Revel of Advanced Power Wash is cleaning them with a good power wash. Work is planned on the murals through July.

To pay for the project, approximately $14,000 in funds are needed. The University of Iowa has donated $7,000 toward the restoration but an additional $7,000 is still needed.

For more information on how to donate to the project, contact Bruce Showalter at 641-521-0605 or Newton Main Street at 641-792-5545.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com