DAPHNE, Ala. — Downtown beautification was taken to a new level last year when volunteers painted murals on buildings to enhance Daphne’s artistic and historical vibe — and organizers say they want more of a good thing.

In 2009, seven murals were painted mainly in downtown Daphne; artists volunteered their time, businesses offered wall space, and financial donations paid for paint.

Pat Wilden, volunteer coordinator, would like to schedule a meeting to resume the project if enough artists, businesses and financial sponsors are interested because she said the murals spark interest. 

“I thought it would help bring some life into the community and attract more people to come look at them and encourage people to shop in the stores,” she said. “I can imagine it enhancing the community when people go to restaurants then stroll down Main Street to look at them.”

“The murals are of different things, and I think it’s so unique when they have to do with the history of the town.”

She said the group tries to keep history in mind, but members work between the artist and the business owner to find the perfect mural.

One of the 2009 artists, Susan Howell, of Mobile, who painted the “Manci” mural on Manci’s Antique Club, said her work was fun and rewarding.

“I really enjoyed the experience because the people in Daphne are so nice,” she said. “People would stop and talk or yell out from the car, Looks good.’”

She said the painting became personal for her as she got to know owner Alex Manci and studied his antiques and family history—Manci’s claims it has one of the largest Jim Beam decanter collections in the world, and Howell used inspiration from a horse decanter to make a memorial to her friend who died of breast cancer by changing the horses to look like her friend’s horses and by putting her name on it.

On a larger level, she said, “anything you do for your community is important—just a community of people working together for a common good. I’m from Mobile, but I feel like I’m a hometown girl because my family always came over here to go to the beach.

“Daphne still feels like a really old, Southern town—people walk their dogs and speak to each other.”

Last year’s projects included a “Wetlands” mural by Faye Earnest, on the corner of Main Street and College Avenue on the Frame Corner shop; the “Take Me Home” mural by Myra Knight at the Daphne Animal Shelter on Johnson Road; “The First Italian Families of Daphne” mural by Ameri’ca Jones-Gallaspy at Main Street across from Daphne City Hall (south side of building); the “Jubilee” mural by art teachers Julie Day, Vikki Finch and students, located on Main Street across from City Hall (north side of building); “Manci” mural by Susan Howell, on Main Street and Belrose Avenue (front of Manci’s restaurant); and “Regatta on Mobile Bay” mural by art teacher Shepard Partridge of Daphne High School and students (on south side of Will Hughes Catering and Market), according to Tomasina Werner of the Daphne Beautification Committee.

The next mural project needs volunteer businesses, artists, and sponsors who provide $150 for paint.

For more, call Wilden at 625-4717 or City Hall at 621-9000.