Courtesy Photo Grand Rapids artist George Eberhardt, left, and Nick Poli of the Sunset Project stand in front of Clem’s Bait and Tackle in Alpena, where Eberhardt is painting a mural as part of the Fresh Waves mural project, sponsored by the Alpena Downtown Development Authority.

ALPENA — Over the next two months, downtown Alpena will have four new murals painted through the Alpena Downtown Development Authority’s Fresh Waves project.

Since 2019, artists from around the country have painted 10 large scale murals and 14 smaller pieces of art throughout the downtown.

This year, artists will come from Harrisville, Grand Rapids, Hawaii, and North Carolina to leave their mark.

Alpena native Aaron Golbeck kicked off this year’s project in July by re-painting a mural at 102 W. Washington Ave. (SkellaFit Personal Training Studio). He had previously painted the wall in 2019. The new design features a young boy imagining playing an NHL game, encouraging those who walk or drive by to dream big.

Beginning this week, four more murals will be painted throughout the downtown district.

George Eberhardt of Grand Rapids will paint a mural on the side of Clem’s Bait and Tackle, 304 N. 9th Ave.Eberhardt started painting this week on the summer’s next mural, located at Clem’s, that will be visible from the riverfront. This mural is sponsored by The Sunset Project, a local nonprofit committed to advancing creative opportunities in Northeast Michigan.

“After so much positive feedback from last year’s participation, we are very excited about the opportunity to be involved in the Fresh Waves Mural Project for 2024,” said Nick Poli of the Sunset Project. “This year, we’ve partnered with Clem’s on a mural covering over 550 square feet of exterior wall space, more than doubling the size of last year’s project. The mural will feature a collage of fish species all native to Northeast Michigan and the Great Lakes.”

“As Clem’s undergoes new ownership and extensive renovations, this project is a great way for us to participate in the larger development efforts going on across Northeast Michigan through the lens of our FOCUS45 Program,” Poli continued. “Through this project, we hope to encourage more people to visit the northern edge of Downtown Alpena and bring new life to a long-standing riverfront business that continues to be a staple for outdoorsmen in the region.”

Sydney Compeau of Harrisville is painting in the alleyway side of Colburn Outfitters, 108 N. 2nd Ave. Her mural will highlight elements of the Lake Huron sunrise and elements of the Michigan State flag, celebrating the natural elements of Northeast Michigan. Her style and mural create more of what she would like to see in the world: “colorful, unexpected moments of wonder.”

Britt Flood of Chapel Hill, North Carolina will return to Alpena to paint a mural at PIF Cider, 205 W. Chisholm St. Flood previously painted as part of the 2020 Fresh Waves project at Thunder Bay Theatre; unfortunately, the mural was destroyed in the warehouse fire in December 2023. The DDA is thrilled to have her back in late August to paint a new piece on the side of PIF Cider. The artist’s work provides “moments of discovery, connection, and positivity to our communities through public art and placemaking.” Her piece will embody “the spirit of the lake,” mixing muted and vibrant colors that are inspired by the textures, colors, and sunsets of Alpena that the artist experienced while here in 2020.

Eric Karbeling of Honolulu, Hawaii will be painting a mural across from Dairy Queen on Chisholm Street. Karbeling will be painting mid-September at 615 W. Chisholm St. in a highly visible wall on the Chisholm Street corridor. According to the artist, “My work evokes a sense of joy, calm, and balance amidst chaos, inviting the viewer to get lost in and find inspiration in the way the imagery comes together while forging a stronger connection with the place of the work, just as I do while creating it.”

“The experience of painting a mural in a new place is my absolute favorite thing as it allows for creating a truly unique connection with a community in a way I’d never experienced,” Karbeling said. “You really get to feel the heartbeat of an area and forge an intimate connection with unexpected places through being in one spot painting for countless hours and experiencing every interaction that takes place. Beyond that, getting to see immediate reactions from the community, hearing the stories, and talking while painting is inspiration that fuels everything.”

Now in its fifth year, Fresh Waves is an arts initiative facilitated by the Alpena DDA. There is no theme for Fresh Waves; instead, the project celebrates art for art’s sake, artistic freedom and vision. Each year in January, the DDA calls for artists and property owners to apply to be part of the project. The project is funded by the DDA and supported by grant funding from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council. To learn more about the project, visit downtownalpenami.com/fresh-waves-muralproject.