DTCP, Chamber celebrate new Second Street Mural

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The Tipp City Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 29, celebrating the installation of a new mural sponsored by the Downtown Tipp City Partnership Design Committee on South 2nd Street.

The mural, designed by local artist (and Tipp City Mayor) Logan Rogers, is part of a special revolving project that will feature a new artwork and artist in the space every five years.

“It is absolutely perfect,” Downtown Tipp City Partnership Vice-President Kayla Buehrer said. “It represents our community beautifully.”

“We look forward to seeing all the beautiful memories that everybody makes here,” she said, “and we’re so happy to be a part of it.”

Located behind Harrison’s restaurant on South 2nd Street, the mural features a large-letter postcard theme, with different scenes from the Tipp City area inside each letter. Each letter in the mural features one of Rogers’ individual paintings.

The original paintings each took between one week and two years to create.

“It’s been a labor of love,” Rogers said. “Each letter is a detail of an individual painting.”

Rogers currently serves as Tipp City Mayor and also has an extensive background in the arts.

“I was one of those kids who drew whenever the teacher wasn’t looking,” he said. “I went to Ohio University and majored in art.”

“It’s always been a hobby and a side hustle,” Rogers said. “I tried to do it for a living a few years ago, and it made me really tense.”

To protect the brick wall, the mural was created using a vinyl wrap printed and installed by Vantage Signs, instead of traditional paint.

“That’s not paint; it’s vinyl,” Rogers said. “It’s better for the brick.”

“We got very lucky that Harrison’s allowed us to use their wall,” Buehrer said. “We had to wait out the rainy weather. It was supposed to be in a couple of weeks prior, but they got it done.”

Sponsored by the Downtown Tipp City Partnership, the mural was funded by donations from local businesses and community members.

“It’s all been a community collaboration, with donations as well as local businesses who have contributed,” Buehrer said.

“This has been a huge project for us,” she said. “We have been wanting to add more artwork to downtown, and we thought what better way than to do a mural?”

“Thank you to everybody who had a hand in this,” Buehrer said.

“Thank you to the Partnership for the opportunity,” Rogers said. “I love this little town.”

Downtown Tipp City Partnership Executive Director Tasha Weaver also announced a special Passport opportunity related to the mural.

“Starting on June 1, there’s going to be an email that goes out with a special Passport opportunity that’s only going to be for next week,” Weaver said. “There’s going to be five challenges in this passport; three of them are taking your picture with the three different murals in town.”

“All you have to do is complete all five challenges by the end of next Saturday, and you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift card,” she said.

The DTCP Design Committee is also already searching for the next artist that will be featured with a mural in the space. The organization is also continuing to seek donations for the public art fund.

Response to the current mural has all been positive, Buehrer said.

“So far it has been very good,” she said. “I can’t wait to see all the wonderful memories that people have here and see all the amazing photos. I hope it brings people from outside of town.”