JUDD WEIL
Hutch Post
NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton Public Library in partnership with Newton Murals and Arts Project, will be offering a walking tour highlighting some of Newton's amazing murals on July 10 and July 13.
The tours will set out from Newton Public Library at 7 p.m. both days and follow the same route.
"We'll just meet at the library and then I think it will probably be about an hour depending on how long people want to stay at the murals and stuff," Sam Jack, Newton Public Library Adult Services Librarian, said. "But within an easy walking distance I think there are about eight community murals."
The Newton Mural and Arts Project will be the tour guides for the walking groups. They will take the time to talk about each mural as people in the tour admire them.
"It's just going to be fun to admire all the murals," Jack said. "A lot of them have come into being in the last decade or so thanks to community efforts."
The Mural Walk ties into Newton Public Library's summer reading program.
Past activities include a talking event with one of the artists of the mural on the walk, Dave Loewenstein. He is best known to Newton citizens as the artist behind "The Imagineers," the large mural located at 304 N. Main St. He is a prolific mural artist, and a co-author of "Kansas Murals: A Traveler's Guide."
Other projects include one in the children's department where kids get to work with an artist to paint a temporary mural. That mural will hang in the Newton Public Library until their new building is ready to be moved into.
The Newton Public Library's new building is currently under construction.
Murals are a large part of the theme for Newton Public Library's summer reading program.
"It just goes with our theme, 'All Together Now,' which is all about unity and community," Jack said. "We thought murals would be a good focus for some activities this summer because of how the murals are community projects that kind of reflect community spirit."
Registration is not necessary for the mural walk and there is not a maximum number cap on tour groups. Those wanting to experience the walk can just show up at the Newton Public Library.
Newton Public Library is located at 720 Oak St. in Newton, Kansas. For more questions call the library at (316) 283-2890.
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