MURALS PAINTING THE TOWN

From Broadway to the floodwall, they stare down at you -- emblazoning Cape Girardeau with colorful artwork that seems as much a part of downtown as the Mississippi River.

Cape Girardeau's murals do more than dress up the floodwall and building exteriors; they provide a colorful backdrop to the city's annual Riverfest celebration.

No one loves the murals any more than Tim Blattner, who heads up the River Heritage Mural Association. The organization's stated goal is to erect 10 murals in 10 years.

The first mural went up in 1986. To date, five outdoor murals and one indoor one have been produced.

The five outdoor murals are all downtown. The last to be erected was one on the Shivelbine building, celebrating the city's musical heritage.

"Several of the murals were timed to try to be completed for Riverfest," explained Blattner.

He said the murals complement Riverfest. "Riverfest celebrates the history of Cape Girardeau and the history of the river, and the murals do that in spades."

Said Blattner, "We just feel a sense of satisfaction that they are there, and that they are being accepted and enjoyed by citizens and visitors alike."

Plans are under way for a seventh mural. The "Missouri Wall of Fame" mural would be the largest yet -- extending some 500 feet along the city side of the floodwall from Merriwether Street to Independence, Blattner said. The mural will depict about 30 to 35 famous Missourians.

"We're still in the selection process. We are still selecting and determining who is and isn't a famous Missourian," he said. "We have 70 to 80 names that we are paring down."

Said Blattner, "Instead of just faces, we are planning to do mini murals within the context of the whole mural."

Painting of the mural is scheduled to begin this fall, he said.

Blattner said the association isn't limiting itself to downtown sites when it comes to future murals.

"We intend to do 10 murals in 10 years, and we are making steady progress," he said. "We have several others in the talking stage, but this is the only one we have on the drawing board."

Blattner said the water tower on Gordonville Road has been suggested as a site for a mural.

Regardless of where future murals are erected, Blattner is sure of one thing: They'll continue to provide a colorful backdrop for the river city.