HUBA seeks support for Uptown mural project

In a project geared toward celebrating the rich history of the Hillsboro and Highland County, while drawing in tourism, the Hillsboro Uptown Business Association is seeking support from businesses and community members in developing and uptown mural project.

The mural project that has been in development for years but has gained momentum in recent months. 

Rachelle Trefz, HUBA president, said some funding came to the project last summer when the city indicated they had some additional revolving loan funds. HUBA met with several artists, took proposals and priced how much a project would cost. 

HUBA voted last fall to hire Duane Richard, from Clinton County, as the artist for the project, after considering proposals from other southern Ohio artists. 

Brent Huffman, HUBA vice president said, "This has been a big priority for HUBA. We want something that is unique to the area, and that relates to the area." 

A subcommittee of HUBA members who are working on the project met last week with Richard and representatives from the city of Hillsboro – Mayor Drew Hastings and Peg Beekman, a grant writer for the city.

"This is a project all of us would like to see happen," Beekman said. 

Hastings said that uptown murals are something that he has been interested in for the last several years, and since taxpayer dollars may be allocated for the project, the city was taking an active role. 

Ann Morris of TwentyFour eXchange has been leading the project within HUBA and has gone around the uptown area with Richard, taking photographs of buildings that might good locations for murals. 

Beekman and Hastings asked if HUBA was planning on moving forward with just one artist or if other artists would be considered for multiple murals. 

It has not been decided the project will involve one mural by one artist, multiple murals by one artist or multiple murals by different artists.

Hastings suggested involving the Hillsboro Historical Design Review Board, which reviews all signage that is proposed in the uptown area. However, he said that in order for the project to progress quickly, "We need as few chiefs as possible." 

Hastings said that he felt more artists should be involved, again, "so the process is more democratic." 

Morris said, "I'd like for us all to be able to work together. I like the idea of different artists and different styles. We need to figure out if we're going for a mural with less detail or what style that we want." 

Richard said that the amount of time spent on an individual mural depends on the amount of detail and overall look and quality that is wanted, which can impact the price.

Huffman asked, "Well, do we want to go with an inexpensive mural and have people say, 'That's it?' or do with go with a more expensive one and have people say, 'Wow.'"

Most people in attendance at the meeting expressed that they would like for the mural or murals to be a draw to the uptown area, and referenced Wilmington's murals and the Portsmouth flood wall murals. The Portsmouth project began in 1992, with the most recent one being completed in 2007. The murals depict the history of Portsmouth and the Scioto County area through its Native American heritage, businesses and people on more than 2,000 feet of flood wall along the Ohio River. The project led to merchandizing of the murals and tourism in the area, according to the Portsmouth-Scioto County Visitor's Bureau. 

There was discussion on the types of murals that the project could include, from a font and writing-based mural that welcomes people to Hillsboro, to depictions of Highland County's agricultural roots, to historic street-scapes based on old photographs of Hillsboro. 

Going forward, HUBA members said they want this to be a positive project for the community, that can be worked on together, with an end result that everyone can be proud of.

Trefz said that HUBA is growing, with more than 50 members, and new members joining every week. 

"We have more members than ever," Trefz said. "We'd like to have more people involved." 

People interested in becoming involved in the project can contact Morris at (937) 763-7076.