The main public art project that the Tower View Team in Jefferson is looking to do has announced the artists that will be involved.

Tower View Team Chair Deb McGinn says they received a $35,000 grant from Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation earlier this year for an initiative called, “Operation Paint the Town.” She states that this project involves two community murals with one of them being painted by an Altoona artist, Marissa Hernandez, on the north wall of Funky Zebras on North Wilson Avenue. McGinn talks about incorporating the newest mural to emulate the other art displays along the alleyway with Jefferson City Hall.

“And so, we’re kind of making that kind of an ‘art corner’ kind of like, with Art Garden and the murals we have back there, and now added this mural. So, that’s kind of our goal.”  

McGinn reveals the other mural will be done by local artist, Chad Elliott, with artwork on the metal panels of the exterior of the Greene County Historical Museum building on East Lincoln Way. 

“We’re really happy that this is going to be Chad’s first public art in his new hometown. So that’s going to be exciting and he’s excited to work on that. And that’s going to have a more historical feel to it, I think.”

McGinn is grateful for the funding from GGCGC to allow for these art installations within the community of Jefferson. She adds that TVT is currently working to secure funding for the newest rooftop art addition, with an artist from Des Moines, who works with a company to do art designs on vinyl panels that are durable to attach to a roof. She is hopeful to see that project also comes to fruition later this year.