(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte public library is brainstorming ideas for a new mural in downtown.

 

A couple of years ago, the library expanded into the old telephone exchange building on Indiana Avenue. The south side of the building has been painted a light gray and is now a brick canvass for artistic embellishment.

 

The Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City helped secure a grant to pay for a mural, and an artist has been selected. Now they just need a design.

 

The library has already hosted one meeting, directed by the Lubeznik Center, for public input. Another is planned for this upcoming Tuesday, July 16 at the Exchange, beginning at 5 pm.

 

No theme for the mural has been set. The side of the building is literally a blank slate. “That is what the community input meetings are for,” said Library director Fonda Owens. “We’d love to hear from more folks about what their ideas are.”

 

A few years ago the city commissioned a large mural on Lincolnway that commemorates the history of La Porte.  Owens says this mural might focus more on innovation.

 

“We certainly want it to reflect in some way the history, but also represent the transformation of the building,” she said. “It was innovative in its time. We feel like it’s an innovative, transformative space in its current use. So I think that would really be one of the key concepts.”

 

The former Telephone Building represents a time when La Porte was on the cutting edge of technology. In 1892 the city was the first in the country to install a new telephone switchboard device, years before automated switching became commonplace.

 

Today the Exchange features meeting rooms, audio and video recording studios, 3D printers, sewing machines, design software, soldering equipment, a CNC milling machine, wood lathes, and more.

 

All it’s missing is a mural.

 

After public input for the design is gathered, there will be a final meeting to approve it. Owens says the plan is to have the mural done by this fall.