JOHN COFFELT
Editor

The Manchester Historic Zoning Commission rejected a mural project that the Manchester Arts Center requested to be located on two bricked-in windows near the center’s front doors at the Sept. 3 meeting.

However, the Commission approved the mural to be placed on the Woodland Street side of the building if the Center wants to replace a portion of a mural that was painted there as a community arts project organized through a partnership with the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Manchester Art Center Board Art Committee Chair Molly Metts said that the organization is hesitant about changing the community mural.

She said that the goal of the mural was to improve the aesthetics of the bland cinderblock windows.

“We were just trying to bring some life into it. Like it was mentioned in there, people didn’t even know what the building was. It would give the building more life and tell people this is what we do,” she said.

The Commission had issue not with the design, but that a city historic district ordinance specifies that a mural cannot be located on the side of the building’s main entrance unless there would be no alternative location. The Woodland side that already has a mural would be a viable location, the Commission felt.

Alderman Paul Thorton said he likes the concept of the mural but felt it would set bad precedence to give the organization an exception. 

“We don’t need to lose focus on what the purpose of the Historical Zoning District is about. It is about retaining the history of the town. So as much as I like it, if it doesn’t meet the requirements that zoning has set forth, then I’m struggling with the idea that we can change it. It is a beautiful sign and so creative,” Thornton said. 

Historic Zoning newcomer Holly McLaren said that denying the request would counter the spirit of the ordinance.

The application for the mural was submitted for review in July, 15 days prior to the later canceled July Historic Zoning meeting subsequent meetings were also canceled, delaying the discussion until September. 

A custom design by local artist Duane Wilson, the mural features a color inversion design that looks somewhat like a photo negative, but when photographed with the inverted camera feature on a phone, would have shown a brightly colored image.

The muted negative image would have fit more closely with the historically accurate paint scheme.

“It would not be the giant rainbow … but more of the mute blues, orange, black would be on the wall,” she said.

A motion to grant the MAC an exception failed six to two. The motion to preapprove the mural in the place of a portion of the Woodland St. side mural passed unanimously.     

Members suggested also removing the current Manchester Arts Center sign, donated by James Harden Signs, and to call the mural a sign for the building. That suggestion was tempered by Codes Director Brittney Fiske who noted that sign design elements were much more stringent than the ones for a mural and the design might not be approved.