The Lufkin Daily News
By NICOLE BRADFORD/The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel
July 20, 2023

NACOGDOCHES — A city policy for planning and funding downtown murals that is still in the early stages drew members of the Nacogdoches art community to city hall for a discussion last week.

City Councilman Brad Maule said he put the topic on the July 11 agenda “for clarification” after learning a group has been meeting regarding murals and that city funding had been set aside for them.

“These are things I think we should at least be a part of and at least know about,” Maule said.

Indeed, a subcommittee focusing on murals was appointed by the city’s Main Street Board, community services director Brian Bray said, with up to $20,000 set aside. But these aren’t taxpayer funds, Bray said. Rather, they are raised by the Main Street organization through events such as Wine Swirl.

“This program for murals is not happening tomorrow,” Bray told the council. “This is months down the road and when funds become available.”

Councilwoman Kathleen Belanger said she consulted with several cities and found they had detailed policies regarding murals.

“Some even had certain colors,” she said. “And they had an approval process.”

Bray said a policy on murals was in the early stages of research by the subcommittee.

“We’re developing a plan to present to council,” he said, “and you say yes or no.”

About half a dozen speakers addressed the council during public comment. These included local artist Brigette Kozash, who asked that city leaders be mindful to create a mural program that doesn’t stifle creativity.

“It’s important to trust an artist in their process,” she said. “I would encourage you to do the least prohibiting of an artist as possible.”

Main Street Advisory Board member Lynn Myers said she envisioned a common theme of celebrating Nacogdoches’ history through murals.

“It doesn’t have to be just dead white guys,” she said. “Nothing wrong with that — but we’ve got lots of sculptures that already show that. Let’s do something a little different.”

Mayor Randy Johnson is not unfamiliar with downtown murals, having hired Nacogdoches native Tyson Davis in 2015 to create the 24-foot tall mural on the Johnson Furniture building at the intersection of Main and North streets.

It was the young artist’s first mural project, and Davis went on to complete public art projects in the Austin area as well locally, including murals at two public parks.

“He was in my son’s class,” said Johnson, who said he searched for years for someone to spruce up the wall at the highly traveled intersection. “I said, ‘That’s a dangerous job,’ but he said, ‘I can do it.’ And he did it. I do like the idea that we go through what ya’ll are doing now.”