By HOLLY GASKILL
A new mural is coming to downtown Bluffton.
The work of art is being painted by Amy Buchs of Waterloo, Ind., who partnered with Bluffton NOW! to complete the project. The final image, located on West Market Street, will depict piano keys, music notes, a butterfly and a dandelion, as well as feature the lyrics to the song “On the Wabash” by the Mills Brothers.
Chad Kline, Wells County Economic Development executive director, said the Buchs and his team worked together to plan a work of art that felt representative of the Bluffton.
For example, Kline said they had chosen to prominently feature a piano in the mural to pay homage to Bluffton’s history making pianos. The music theme is tied together with the lyrics, “From the fields there comes the breath of new mown hay… On the Banks of the Wabash, far away.”
Kline hopes elements like the dandelion blowing in the wind provide an opportunity to take photos and engage with the artwork.
The mural was funded partially through a $5,000 grant from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation. These grants are awarded to bring Indiana-specific artwork to the public to encourage tourism. Bluffton is one of 34 counties to receive the grant, totaling $242,000 awarded. The City of Bluffton, as well as building owner Jon Baumgartner, covered the remaining cost of the mural.
The mural is also part of the Downtown Pathways Project, which aims to improve the alleyways of downtown Bluffton for pedestrian traffic. This alleyway on West Market Street was one of five specifically outlined for improvement.
Weather permitting, Buch hopes to have the mural finished within three weeks. She has previously completed murals throughout Indiana, including Fort Wayne and Warren. Sydney Spevak is assisting with the Bluffton mural.
holly@news-banner.com
