Second Mural Coming to Downtown Xenia!

The City of Xenia and the volunteer Xenia Downtown Revitalization Committee (XDRC) are delighted to welcome back professional muralist Keith Hasenbalg to downtown Xenia.  Starting this weekend, June 15, 2012, Mr. Hasenbalg will be painting downtown’s second mural on the southern wall of the Fastenal building at 130 S. Detroit Street.  The building owners, Powers Management Associates LLC., offered up the wall to become the permanent canvas for the locally-designed, award winning, trail-themed artwork.

Sue Hunt, an early member of the Xenia Mural Society -- now part of the Design Subcommittee of XDRC—is delighted to see this mural come to fruition.  “The volunteers of the Xenia Mural Society held a design contest three years ago generating designs for future murals.  We asked area artists to compete using the history of Xenia as well as its outstanding trail system as the key themes.  Rob Richards, an art instructor with Xenia Community Schools, was the top prize winner in that contest and his fine work is finally being featured in this mural.”

Catherine Wilson, Director of the Greene County Historical Society and co-chair of the XDRC Design subcommittee reflected, “I think you will agree it was worthy of first prize – it beautifully incorporates the iconic structure of our court house, the rich history of leaders such as Tecumseh, and the  history of Xenia’s trains and now trails.” 

Keith Hasenbalg, a professional muralist from Toledo, Ohio, was selected through a request for proposal process in 2010 and commissioned to paint two downtown murals. The first was completed last summer on the west wall of the the X*ACT (Xenia Area Community Theater) at 45 E. Second Street.  He begins work on 130 S. Detroit this Father’s Day weekend and will be painting all weekend, weather permitting.  Those of you who met Keith last summer will want to stop by and watch him work.  A ribbon-cutting is planned by the XDRC on July 6th at 6:00 p.m. as part of the First Friday celebrations. 

More information about Mr. Hasenbalg may be accessed at www.studioVon.com and on Facebook;  keith@studioVon.com. 

To learn about volunteer opportunities or about the other activities of the Xenia Downtown Revitalization Committee, go to www.xeniadrc.org, their facebook page at www.facebook.com/xeniadowntown,  or to be placed on XDRC mailing list by mobile phone text xeniadowntown to the number 22828.  

To get the downtown you want, engage the downtown you have!