New Virginia wall gets a new look

Osceola artist Tacy Cummings and Graceland University’s Art Department Coordinator and Associate Professor of Art Karen Gergely were commissioned by the New Virginia Hometown Pride committee for a mural on a wall roughly 80′ by 35′. Graceland faculty, alumni and friends assisted in the painting process.

“The main focus of this came from an old picture of Old Settlers Days that happened in the town,” said Gergley. “This has been a partnership but also a gift to the community. And we also feel the gift of kinship now with the community.”

“It gives a visual story for the community,” said Cummings. “When you pass by you see this imagery and it conjures up what people think when they talk about Old Settlers Days and gives them a sense of pride and something to look at.”

“Murals drive tourism to the community and also dress up the community and we had some walls we could enhance with murals,” said Beth Cory-Volmer, Secretary of the New Virginia Hometown Pride committee. “We were able to pick the artists that we felt represented the look and the feel that we were going for overall.”

The New Virginia Hometown Pride committee also commissioned a second mural by Des Moines artist Alley Frame and has sponsored banners to hang from light poles around town.