Xenia Mural Society Selects Winning Designs

We have Winners! The Xenia Mural Society tabulated the votes of the judges and announced the results of their first Mural Contest, "Trails," on Saturday during Xenia's Old Fashioned Days.

Rob Richards won the $500 first prize and his work is slated for the Montgomery Insurance and Investments building on S. Detroit St. in downtown Xenia. Given the enthusiastic response of the community to both the art and the project, the Mural Society has decided to seek private and public funding for two murals next summer. Although there is no official prize for second place at the present time, finalist Karen King has agreed to have her work placed on the Express Yourself Coffeehouse and Art Gallery building on E. Main St.

Third and fourth place finalists Paul Lavigne and Olivia Anderson were also praised for their beautiful original mural designs. Comments about all four of the finalists' work were very favorable in general, but many people wanted the murals to be larger in scale and to extend to the ground if possible. "If they can stretch it out to fill the area, that would be wonderful!" says Mural Society member Sue Hunt, who favors larger scale murals. The Society will issue a "Call to Muralists" to solicit bids for the completion of the actual murals. The creators of the designs may complete the work themselves or will work closely with a muralist or team of local artists to transform the "Trails" themed paintings to mural size.

For more information about the Xenia Mural Society, visit their website 111.XeniaMurals.org Below are the winning designs and "Photoshopped" conceptions of the completed murals.