SHELBY — Folks walking around downtown Shelby may notice an alleyway full of color and community history.
The alleyway artwork, completed by renowned local artist Allison Pence, was unveiled Thursday morning by the Leadership Unlimited Class of 2024.
Class members and local officials gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday in an alleyway along Main Street between Kilgore, Herring & Associates and Pivot Creative.
Angie Cirone, Leadership Unlimited program director, said the mural was part of a beautification capstone project — newly incorporated into LU programming.
This year’s LU class members are working on projects in Mansfield and Shelby.
Cirone said the mural was a collaborative effort between the LU Shelby team, city officials and local business/building owners.
“The teams worked really hard,” she said. “They had guidance along the way, but they really rose to the occasion to complete the project.”
LU Class of 2024 hopes mural ‘adds to downtown Shelby’
Leadership Unlimited class members worked with city officials and organizations to decide on a capstone project, including the Shelby Community Improvement Corporation and The Shelby Foundation.
Additionally, several local businesses and philanthropists made donations to help fund the efforts.
Amy Hiner, member of the LU Class of 2024, said the group collaborated with Jessica Gribben, Shelby and northern Richland County economic development manager, to chose between three proposed projects.
“We decided to go with the alleyway — just because it’s fun and it brings people downtown, which we think is what Shelby’s trying to do with the new Black Fork Commons and such,” she said.
Hiner said the group worked closely with Charles “Chuck” Kilgore, who owns the building on which the mural was painted.
LU class members sought Kilgore’s input regarding the design of the painting and what was represented on the alleyway wall.
“This is something that we really hope a lot of people will be able to come visit and take pictures,” Hiner said. “We hope it adds to downtown Shelby and what they’re trying to do.”
Alleyway to include lights, bench, plaque and planters
Ted Hahn, member of the LU Class of 2024, discussed how the group had to work together to narrow down their focus for a project.
“We really had to be collaborative and discuss it,” he said. “We had a great team of people that put a lot of effort into this.”
Shelby Utility Department workers recently installed string lights over the alleyway — shining light on the mural during evening hours. The group plans to finalize the project with a plaque listing the project’s partners and donors.
Furthermore, the Shelby United Lions Club donated a bench for folks to sit on while visiting the downtown art feature.
Hahn said planters will also be added to the alleyway, which will match those scattered around Black Fork Commons.
“The end result is a pretty fabulous thing,” he said. “This is my third time seeing it and I’ve seen it in stages. As you watch it develop, it’s really interesting.”
Pence leaving her mark on local communities
Pence’s artistry can be seen frequently when driving around Richland County and surrounding communities.
The Mansfield artist said Cirone and a few others approached her about completing a mural in Shelby — followed by a meeting with Kilgore to discuss the “vision.”
“He (Kilgore) wanted some cows and agriculture parts because he’s big into farming,” she said.
“Since it’s such a long wall, I found a way I think to kind of incorporate the agriculture and that part of it, and then bring it into a more modern side of Shelby as everybody’s advancing around here with some great additions,” Pence said.
As her portfolio continues to grow, Pence sometimes feels she’s “become immune” to the amount of her work displayed throughout the state, she said.
“Sometimes I have to remind myself when I go through somewhere, ‘Oh yeah, I did that,'” Pence said with a smile.
“I love it. I really like the things that people can take pictures in front of and it brings joy to their face… and I like the fact that it gets the community involved and people are happy to see something going up on the walls.”
Mural captures ‘unique identity of Shelby’
Shelby Mayor Steve Schag thanked the LU Class of 2024 for its addition to the city’s beautification efforts.
He said downtown Shelby has changed dramatically — most notably in the last four to five years.
“This mural is a wonderful addition as you come down through town — you cannot help but see it,” he said. “I love that it captures so much of the unique identity of the City of Shelby in such a beautiful way.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by Gribben and Ellen Heinz, Richland Area Chamber president and CEO, who each thanked everyone involved with the project.
Heinz, who most recently worked as the economic development representative for Ohio and Indiana, returned to Richland County to begin her work at the Chamber.
“I left the community about 16 years ago and I can visibly see such great progress taking place,” she said.
