Revised superhero mural due for decision Monday – Maryville Daily Times

A redesigned superhero mural proposed for the retaining wall across from the Blount County Courthouse will be up for a vote again Monday.

The Maryville Downtown Design Review Board will revisit a request from David Laney, co-owner of The Golden Age, 1942 comic book store at 316 Court St., for a superhero-themed mural on the retaining wall that turns the corner at Court and High streets.

The retaining wall is on Laneys property.

While blank walls are discouraged in Maryvilles Office Transition zone, it is up to the DDRB to determine whether painted murals and other wall decorations are appropriate, according to the citys zoning ordinance.

The DDRB has been debating the concept of a superhero mural since their May meeting. Laney heeded the boards feedback, removing urban art elements that some DDRB members said resembled graffiti and, in the process, lost the local artists who designed the original proposal for him.

The mural the DDRB will see Monday is by artist Wesley Stout of Florida, who has 24 years of experience in fine art and murals, according to his website, and runs the Wesley Stout School of Art.

The new mural proposal features several superheroes running towards the viewer with mountains in the background, the citys Development Services staff writes in board members meeting packets. The rendering seems conceptual in style (no detail on superheroes, etc.). Will this be the style of the completed mural?

Appropriate is key

The primary questions before the DDRB, however, are whether any mural is appropriate at the location and, if so, is this particular mural appropriate based on subject matter/content, color and scale.

In many cities, murals are works of art, Development Services staff writes. These can become iconic for a city or district and can withstand changes of ownership.

At the same time, other murals in the past have been approved when tied to the business, staff adds.

One example is the mural the DDRB approved in August 2016 for Bike N Tri at 601 E. Broadway Ave. The mural proposed for the buildings wall facing Washington Street would depict biking, swimming and running with specific downtown Maryville landmarks in the background.

Murals do not count toward a businesss allotted signage if they do not include the business name, Development Services staff have noted at past meetings. Brackins Blues Club got the go-ahead from the DDRB last month to replace its existing mural with a design that eliminates the name of the venue for that reason.

Supporters speak

Supporters of Laneys proposed superhero mural showed up en masse in June, but the DDRB did not have a quorum to take a vote that night.

The board allowed supporters to voice their opinions for the record, however.

Laney pulled his request from the DDRBs July agenda as he continued to look for another artist or artists to complete the mural for him.

The DDRB meets at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, in the Maryville Municipal Centers Council Chambers, 400 W. Broadway Ave.

Any decision made by the board, which is an ad hoc advisory committee, will have to be validated by the Maryville Regional Planning Commission before it is final.

The Planning Commission meets at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, also in the Maryville Municipal Centers Council Chambers.

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Revised superhero mural due for decision Monday - Maryville Daily Times