BEATRICE – Some local artists, with ties to downtown businesses, have been adding some color and creativity to Beatrice alleys, between Court and Ella…from Fourth to Fifth Streets.


"They were able to get ten pieces of art in alleyways downtown...all public art. It was very, very exciting and its really fun to go through all of the art that was submitted. We have so many cool pieces."  Main Street Beatrice Executive Director Morgan Fox says the works being done by a half-dozen local artists are being funded through the Big Give Gage project this year and through a creative district grant awarded to the community.


"There's one that's working as a team...there's two of them. Then, the others are individual artists and they are all local,"  Fox said.

 

Shoe art on alley wall
Shoe art on alley wall  

 
Fox says murals are becoming popular in many Nebraska communities, and are expanding to smaller works of art on downtown properties….another means of drawing people to an area to enjoy the creativity that comes out. Many of the downtown works were finished by the recent Night of the Great Pumpkin event….and they’re already drawing some reaction.


Fox said, "We're starting to see it pop up on social media. And, that was really the intent. We wanted pieces that can appeal to a wide variety of people, that bring different people to town. We just want to see family pictures out here...we want to see people walking to dinner or to shop, and then stopping and taking some time in these spaces...and enjoying art. That's just really cool for our downtown."


Lauren Scheele…the owner of the Blush Ceramic Studio… is one of the artists…working on mosaic tile art on a downtown wall between Fourth and Fifth.
"It's the first time doing mosaics...and it's been really fun, so far....maybe slightly stressful!"

Tile art west of 5th Street
Tile art west of 5th Street  


Fox says the goal is to keep expanding the works….filling some additional spaces….with the goal to have people linger for a longer period of time in the Main Street district. "Something else we'd really like to explore is bringing in creative lighting...so that they can be enjoyed at night, as well. They just really help uplift the downtown, like we're all trying to do."


Fox says the alley artwork may be part of an upcoming public broadcasting feature on mural art across Nebraska, tentatively set to air next spring.