East Main Mural Approved

“Peace” Comes To Westerville

Plans to commission a new mural in Uptown began two years ago for Westerville Rotary President Katrina Plourde. The Uptown Review Board approved Thursday a new mural on the side of the Amish Originals building that faces East Main Street.

Centered on the theme of ‘Peace,’ the mural is the work of Columbus artist Adam Hernandez. Hernandez was chosen from five finalists. These finalists emerged from a pool of 92 artists from 30 states and Canada, all responding to a national call for mural proposals. The five finalists were commissioned to create specific designs on the theme.

“It’s a really pretty straightforward piece. Peace could be so broad, so we didn't want it to be so in your face. But also we wanted what is peace and community building. The community-building aspect of peace. We wanted it to be bright and visually appealing,” Plourde said during an interview.

Plourde said she’d looked at three walls for the mural before selecting Amish Originals.

One proposal for painting an alleyway in Uptown was canceled when the city asked that it not be used because of possible plans for vias and alleys in Uptown.

Another large wall came close to being chosen but the building owners changed their minds before getting final approval.

Amish Originals was the third choice.

The new mural will cover a 20-year-old mural that has lost its significance. The proposal before the URB said “The existing mural depicts many local businesses that are no longer part of Uptown Westerville and is fading. The building owners and occupants, Amish Originals Furniture Co., are interested in refreshing the space with something more current and enduring.”

Work on the mural will begin April 9 with a substantial portion completed in time for the Westerville Art Hop on April 20.

More photos of murals both current and former in Uptown Westerville are below for paid subscribers.

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