With 93 petition signatures in hand, about 20 residents filled city hall Monday night to complain about the ongoing mural project on 5 S. Main St., home of The Clarkston News.
‘We have discussed this with many people in the area,? said Clarkston resident Charlotte Cooper. ‘It is suggested that the mural should be painted over in a solid color before the 2009 Memorial Day Parade when many visitors come to the Village.?
Marilyn Moir said she was ‘happy and pleased? by the original sketch of the wall, presented by artist Michelle Tynan in 2006, however her feelings have changed since then.
‘I can only speak for myself and my husband because we do live where we do I have full view of that from every window in my house and from being outdoors I can’t get away from it,? she said.
Carol Walter said she attended because she feels she still ‘represents that building.?
‘That is the Walter building,? she said. ‘My name is Walter and in the village I am the sixth generation.?
She recalled when she was young and someone would paint alongside the building, her dad would have her and her siblings out there ‘within a day? repainting the wall back to its original gray color.
‘I agree gray may not be the most appealing, but dark stormy clouds, carousel horses, fire, ghoulish moss or whatever it is coming over. It is an embarrassment to me and my family I speak for them, we have sent them pictures,? said Walter. ‘I feel that Mr. Sherman bought that building in good intent, but I believe he has a liability and a stewardship that it speaks to the entire village and welcomes those who are traveling in to see this beautiful village that we’ve all talked about so much and read about.?
But resident Don Freer cautioned the group about how they go about correcting the situation.
‘I would hate to see Clarkston News close, hate to see them relocate, hate to see a vacant building sitting on Main Street that affects our taxable base,? said Freer. ‘I also want action taken, but how we do it, who does it, I think, is extremely important so we don’t create the kind of situation I’m calling an ‘unintended consequence.??
Mayor Steve Arkwright said the council has discussed the issue but is limited to what it can do.
‘I think a showing like this huge to make a point that it is a community issue,? said Arkwright. ‘I can assure you we will do everything we can, but we certainly have parameters to what we can do. I think you have focused our attention on it very effectively tonight.?
Tom Ryan, city attorney, said as long as the painting was not obscene, lascivious, or break any law, government doesn’t have any discretion
‘What is objectionable about this plan (compared to the first) and what objection standard do we use by the city to take an action,? asked Ryan. ‘There are none because objectively just because you don’t like what’s there doesn’t mean that it’s got to be taken down. That’s censorship, that’s a violation of free expression and there’s other ways of doing it without involving the government.?
Councilwoman Kristy Ottman who was on the board when the original idea was proposed said the artist Michelle Tynan and Clarkston News building owner Jim Sherman Sr. brought the plans before the board as a ‘common courtesy.?
‘We were actually thrilled to get rid of a blank fa’ade and put something up that would bring in something a little bit more appealing to that corner,? she said.
Ottman said they found out through conversations with Sherman and Tynan that she had never done a building to this scale before.
‘Now the unfortunate thing I think may be happening is she may be feeling intimidated because there has been nothing but negative press about this, but Mr. Sherman owns the building and he is paying her,? Ottman said. ‘I would love to see this finished. I am speaking for myself that this is doing nothing to enhance the artist’s reputation or bring business for her and it’s certainly not doing anything for Mr. Sherman and his judgment for what is happening locally and the stigma that it is bringing to downtown Clarkston.?
Tynan, who attended the meeting to listen, said she was upset city officials did not contact her about it.
‘I’m very proud of the work I have done to date and can assure Kristy Ottman that my business has been enriched by my authorship of this project,? Tynan said. ‘It is my very best work and the reason I get referred for other projects.?