Mystery mural going up on Sixth and Main

CLOVIS — A new mural will be going up in downtown Clovis over the coming weeks but those responsible for the art project aren't saying what the painting will depict ... yet.

Earlier this month students from Clovis Community College, with the help of Clovis Main Street, began working on a mural located at the corner of Sixth and Main.

Organizers have remained tight-lipped about what the finished product will show, other than saying it is music-related and encouraging residents to keep checking in on the mural's progress periodically.

"It's a music theme and every week that you come out here will give you another hint to it," said Clovis MainStreet Executive Director Lisa Pellegrino-Spear.

Additional hints will be shared on the Clovis MainStreet Facebook page as work on the mural continues and people are invited to share their guesses about the art project's final theme via social media, Pellegrino-Spear said.

The mural stems from a collaboration between the non-profit organization and CCC where Clovis MainStreet supplies the art materials and the college provides the artists.

"We wanted to encourage art in our downtown district and get the community engaged in art projects that enliven our downtown," Pellegrino-Spear said.

Michael Longhofer, the artist tasked with teaching the mural class, said the Sixth and Main location was selected for several reasons including high visibility and ideal weather conditions.

"We chose an east facing wall because in the afternoon we'll be in the shade and not get the brunt of the heat and all the weather in the pan handle comes from the west so it's not going to get direct hail on it," Longhofer said.

The artists tried to creatively employ parts of the building already in place, including drawing a mailbox around the wall's existing mail slot and including a sold sign that features the name of the real estate company located next door to the mural.

"It's nice if you can match up elements on the wall to your mural, to the scene," Longhofer said.

Longhofer said with the paint that the class is using, the mural should last over 20 years.

Pellegrino-Spear said students will be working on the mural every Saturday and it is expected to be completed by the end of July.

Her hope is that CCC will continue the class in the fall and develop additional murals to be painted in Clovis' downtown area.