By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The finishing touches were added to the latest downtown mural this week — a depiction of individuals with disabilities on the front of the Arc Thrift Store building, 600 Main.
The mural was painted by local artist Dennis Schiel. He is a prolific mural painter, having also created the mural on the side of the Fox Theatre, S&W Supply on Eight Street and the Hays VFW, along with with many other projects in communities outside of Hays.
The Arc sponsored the mural with funds they would have used for programming in 2020, but all of the out-of-town activities for the Arc participants were canceled because of COVID.
Sarah Meitner, Arc president, said the Arc board had been thinking about a mural for some time. They wanted to bring awareness to people with disabilities in the community.
She said she wanted the community to understand individuals with disabilities want to belong, have fun and celebrate their successes. Arc activities allow the individuals to be with friends, be a part of something and be proud of something, she said.
This is the third mural in what local officials hope will be eight to 10 downtown murals in two years. The project has been dubbed Brush the Bricks.
Schiel's current work on the Arc building depicts individuals with disabilities involved in Arc-sponsored activities, including Special Olympics. Although he used local athletes for his inspiration, no local indvidual's face will be depicted in the mural. Local officials didn't want any of the individuals in the Arc program to feel left out, Schiel said.
"It's a heck of a program as far as I'm concerned," Schiel said. "I didn't realize they did as much as they do. The Arc is pretty amazing."
Among the athletes that are depicted are a basketball player, a blind baseball player, track athletes, a cheerleader in a wheelchair. A bingo player and dancers are also featured. These are activities also sponsored by the Arc.
This will be the last mural for the Brush the Bricks project finished this year. However, Schiel will assist with a community mural on the Midland Marketing building next year. A red dragon is planned for the side of the Sake2Me building to pay homage to Sister City Chinese connection with Hays.
Schiel will also paint a mural on the building in the 100 block of East 11th Street. The exact content of that mural has yet to be determined.
"It's going to be lots of color and lots of flowers," he said. "I'm not sure what all is going into that one, but that one will be fun."
The project will also be working on stretch banners that will highlight the art of sculptor Pete Felton and John Cody, who was known for his paintings of moths.
You can donate to the mural project online through the Brush the Bricks Facebook page. You can also donate from the DHDC website.