News file photo This mural on the rear of the Alpena store Rusty Petunias adds some pizzazz to the alley behind one of Alpena’s popular shopping areas.

ALPENA — The Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is preparing for a new batch of artists to participate in the Fresh Waves mural project and is looking at how the beautification initiative will evolve in the coming years.

Anne Gentry, Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) executive director, said that the DDA is going to target specific locations this year as mural placement options though the DDA hasn’t nailed down a specific plan yet.

Gentry explained that when the DDA puts out a call for submissions, local artists are notified first of the opportunity. Then afterwards, they open the submissions up to anyone, local or non-local, to apply.

She explained that the DDA is planning on adding two new murals to the downtown area though she added that the DDA has applied for additional funding through the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.

If the DDA receives the additional funding, it would allow more artists to participate.

“If we are successful, we will be able to do one to two more,” Gentry said.

At the DDA’s monthly meeting, Gentry told the DDA board that there is $15,000 set aside for this fiscal year to put towards public art.

Gentry told The News that there are a plethora of locations that would make good mural canvases and that some property owners have reached out to the DDA with interest in having murals placed on their property.

“We can always find walls downtown that would be a great canvas,” she said.

Gentry explained that the Fresh Waves project uplifts the community and that community art has the ability to inspire and bring joy to the area.

“I think it beautifies walls that would otherwise be blank,” Gentry said. “It does uplift the community … the murals are inspiring and beautiful to look at.”

Gentry said that 2029 will mark ten years since the Fresh Waves project first was introduced to the community and there will come a time when the project has reached its completion.

“We will reach a point when there aren’t any walls that are good contenders,” Gentry said.

She explained that the DDA is considering incorporating sculpture projects as part of the Fresh Waves initiative.

“We are really keeping it year-by-year,” she added.

Gentry said that the ultimate goal of Fresh Waves is to beautify downtown and to ensure “different styles of art are represented.”

This year’s submission window closes on March 15.

Gentry stated that the DDA plans to have murals completed between May and October of this year.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.