• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Janesville planning two more murals

Photo

Judith Kneece

JANESVILLE — Two are up, one is coming, and now a fourth mural is under way for downtown Janesville.

The new Janesville Women’s History Mural will celebrate the role of women in making Janesville a better community from 1860-90. The project is co-sponsored by the Janesville Design & Development Center and the Friends of Judi Kneece.

The new mural will follow the template of the earlier mural project sponsored by the design center.

The Heart of the City Outdoor Art Campaign featured three murals celebrating the founding of the community. Each mural highlighted a decade of history from 1830-60, and all of them featured male central figures.

Two of the murals have been hung. The first is on the north side of the Prospect 101 building at 101 E. Milwaukee St., and the second is on the east face of The Janesville Gazette building at 1 S. Parker Drive.

The third mural will be hung on the backside of the city building, 18 N. Jackson St., by the end of March.

A fourth mural will feature a female central figure. All of its subject matter will reference women’s contributions to the community in the late 19th century.

Sponsors hope to enhance the project and convey the full history of women’s contributions to the community with follow-up educational activities targeting both children and adults.

In January, the Friends of Judi Kneece approached the center about co-sponsoring a women’s history mural in her memory. After Kneece’s death in May 2009, about 20 women created the organization to discuss ways to keep her legacy alive.

Kneece was an active volunteer and leader in many women’s and community organizations including the League of Women Voters, American Association for University Women, and the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin. At the time of her death, she was station manager for JATV, Janesville’s local access television station.

The Janesville Women’s History Mural will be dedicated in her memory.

Artists are welcome to apply for the $2,500 commission. Application deadline is Friday, April 23, and final art is due July 9.

Sponsors are seeking $32,000 for the project. The budget includes art, production, insurance, lighting, promotion and educational activities. To date, the group has raised $8,700.

Donations are tax deductible. Checks can be made to “JDDC” and sent to the Janesville Design & Development Center, 18 S. Jackson St., Janesville, WI 53548.

For more information, call (608) 756-3721 or visit janesvilledesign.com.