Town of Corunna Mural Funding
Article by Andy Barrand | KPC News | July 6, 2022
CORUNNA — A small group of dedicated women are doing their part to help beautify their community.
Admiring the other large murals that dot the DeKalb County landscape, the group decided it was time to put their small town on the map with a mural of its own. That process started almost a year and a half ago.
With artwork in hand designed by Amy Buchs and Dave Schlemmer the group has embarked on a month-long fundraising campaign aimed to make the mural a reality. The group is hoping to raise $10,000 by July 31 for the mural, which will be painted on the east side of the Corunna Fire Department.
The group has applied for a matching grant through the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority to help with the funding of the project. All money raised over the next month will be matched by the housing authority.
Judy Rensch, who is spearheading the project said they are hoping to raise the entire $10,000 to have a pot of $20,000 to work with. With those funds the group is looking to not only paint the first mural, but possibly paint a second mural in the community. Extra funds will be given to the Corunna Fire Department as they are starting a campaign yet this summer to replace playground equipment in the town park.
The mural once completed won’t be the first mural in the community however. Recently artist Michael Lude and his wife, Jennifer of Columbia City completed a smaller mural on the side of the U.S. Post Office in Corunna.
That project was funded by Dr. Mark Souder, who owns property in the community.
“I just thought it would be a good thing for the community,” Souder said. “It helps to add a sense of community.”
The post office mural has a Norman Rockwell theme, which was created by Lude featuring the words “The Evening Post” and a mailman, girl with a dog and mailbox.
The mural on the side of the fire station will be considerably larger as the east side of the fire department gives the artist a large canvas to work with.
The group said they hope to replicate the town’s 200th anniversary celebration with the mural, which took place in 1976. At that time the Freedom Train passed through the community. The large mural will feature the Freedom Train roaring out of the side of the fire station.
After the site was chosen and the design was on paper, Buchs and Schlemmer had to bow out of the project as they utilize paint brushes to create their murals. The two artists told the committee it would be hard to paint with brushes on the corrugated steel building.
Rensch said Buchs and Schlemmer then recommended fellow artist Ricco Diamante, of Fort Wayne, to do the work. Diamante uses a different technique to create his murals as he uses an airbrush to create his masterpieces.
Rensch said they are hoping Diamante will be able to start the mural sometime in August so it is completed yet this fall.
Corunna’s history is centered around the Norfolk and Southern rail line that runs through the center of town. In the mid-1800s the town was a railroad hub, for the county with mail and other goods delivered by rail.
Donations for the mural are being accepted through the patronicity.com website by searching for the town of Corunna’s project, on mobile phones at patronicity.com/Corunna or at the Community Foundation of DeKalb County. The town received its first $100 donation on the site this morning.
The mural project is part of a larger initiative in the community as a garden club was recently established to help promote pride in the community.
“We want residents to take pride in our community,” Janet Willey said. “We want to see everyone be proud of our community.”
The garden club is presenting monthly beautification awards to people living on the north and south side of the railroad overpass in the town. They are also available to help find volunteers to help those who need help with their lawns.
Rensch said the group would already like to thank the Corunna Town Board, Corunna Fire Department, Steve Hissong, Amber Caccamo, Tanya Young, Bridget Anderson, and Mike Tullis with their help on the project.
The mural committee consists of Judy Rensch, Becky McDonald, Tresa Bishop, Janet Willey and Cindy Rottger. Anyone with questions can contact Rensch at 541-0355 or McDonald at 349-8885.
Article source: https://www.kpcnews.com/thestar/article_f1d16de8-de0e-58c9-a0c2-5d0584a03e2a.html