WPTA Showcases Artists Turning Blank Walls Into Community Art

Someone’s been going around Northeast Indiana throwing paint on buildings. But it’s not a crime, and residents seem to like it. You see, it’s not vandalism; it’s art.

Where most of us might just see a wall on a building, local artists in Northeast Indiana see a blank canvas, and for 11 days in 11 counties around Fort Wayne, local artists have been painting murals on them as part of a festival to celebrate art.

And WPTA, Quincy’s dual ABC affiliate in Fort Wayne, followed the artists over 11 days, as part of the Make It Your Own Mural Fest organized by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. The project was launched to showcase the quality of life in local communities and to expand on an already vibrant artistic palate in the region.

The organization worked with the 11 counties of Northeast Indiana to find a location for each mural, create a vision for it, and choose the artist who would paint it.

Those artists have brought their own backgrounds, ideas and experiences to their murals.

The program focuses on the diverse array of artists who were selected to convert metal and brick walls into canvases, and to enliven government buildings and local businesses.

“Northeast Indiana has embraced the arts in so many ways — from theatre to dance to the visual arts,” said Merry Ewing, WPTA’s general manager. “It’s a part of our culture and a driver of the economy. The Make It Your Own Mural Fest is a great way to keep that front-and-center during this unusual, challenging time.”

WPTA turned their coverage into a half-hour special, Northeast Indiana: PAINTED, where for the first time, all of those artists were in one location, many of them meeting each other for the first time.

Click here to go to WPTA’s robust online site with additional material on the mural projects.

WPSD-TV, the NBC affiliate in Paducah, Kentucky (DMA 81) and The Paducah Sun, both owned by Paxton Media, are seeking a digital savvy person who wants to work with the best group of marketing professionals in the Paducah DMA, in the capacity of Digital Sales Strategist. This position leads from the front and the successful candidate will possess a broad working knowledge of the fundamentals and emerging trends of interactive media sales, advertising, and marketing solutions for local businesses. Understanding of local broadcast and print media businesses is helpful. Click here for more specifics and how to apply.