The Poplar Bluff Historical Preservation Commission is in the first stages of drafting mural guidelines for the downtown district, in collaboration with Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc.
Poplar Bluff has work by muralists including Tara Brown, whose art is visible at Huntington Pool, and Paul Jackson, who designed the “River Dreams” mural at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. Guidelines would not constrict the potential for new murals, HPC chair Emily Wolpers explained, but instead make it the ideation and preparation stages clearer.
“Some cities have very, very detailed guidelines, but that doesn’t always seem to work for us because it makes people feel like they’re too restricted,” she noted.
A handful of murals have been run past the commission over the last several years. Problems arise from artists or businesses misunderstanding what documentation they need ahead of time, such as a scale rendering of the project, or proposing images that have no significance to the Poplar Bluff community.
HPC began discussing the potential for mural guidelines at their last meeting in December 2021. So far the points considered are:
-The formation of a steering committee of artists, or members of HPC and Downtown Poplar Bluff with artistic experience.
-Requirements that murals be relevant to Poplar Bluff’s community or history, painted in plainly visible locations and occupy buildings in good condition.
-A rule against murals meant as ads or political statement.
-A stipulation that artists must have previous experience with commercial paint.
-Written permission from the building’s owner as a requirement before painting.
Wolpers explained HPC’s role would remain an advisory one, and the final vote for murals would belong to the Downtown Poplar Bluff board.
“I personally wouldn’t think it would be our call on what types of murals are downtown. I think that vision needs to come from the Downtown board, maybe the two together, but the HPC’s role is to protect the integrity of the historical buildings,” she said.
Contrary to popular belief, she added, not all buildings downtown are historic, or listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic and non-historic buildings have different requirements in beautification projects.
Wolpers hopes that instead of bringing protest, the discussion and implementation of guidelines will bring new attention to the possibilities of art downtown.
“We hope that it’ll bring an interest,” she said.
The mural guidelines are on the agenda for HPC’s next meeting at 5:15 p.m. March 9, in the city council meeting room at Black River Coliseum.