Downtown Nacogdoches sees artists restore old murals, create new works

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) - There will soon be something new to see in downtown Nacogdoches. The Nacogdoches Main Street advisory board has kicked off the Historic Downtown murals project.

“I’m just brightening up against the purple, against the black. It just gives it a bit more of a definition,” explained artist Michelle Filer as she painted one of the new murals.

Between North and East Main Street, you might see the artist in action and new colorful flowers in front of her. Filer said this is her first time taking on a large-scale mural.

“It was a little scary, but a friend told me one time how to eat an elephant one bite at a time, so I just take it one section at a time,” she said.

She partnered with photographer Wendy Floyd to reference flower photos to highlight the city as the Garden Capital of Texas.

City mayor Randy Johnson said the murals project has been in the works for several years and is excited to see the final pieces.

“I’m just ecstatic. I’m happy for this town. It’s something we can brush up Nacogdoches and make it better, and we have a beautiful town anyway,” he said.

Main Street Advisory board member Lynn Myers explained the murals help to attract tourists and take pride in the city’s history.

“This wall is such in a visible location, people drive by and see it, they honk, they stop, and they come talk to us,” said Myers. She said they are 100% funded by donations for preparations and the artists’ work.

One iconic mural is getting some TLC. “All the same, just like it was. Just a new face on an old image,” said artist Dixie Daniels.

Daniels said she was honored to restore the Coca-Cola mural that was originally painted by her father 30 years ago.

“I mean, I’m attached to it for obvious reasons, but it’s really cool to be painting and having people stop by and say, ‘oh my husband proposed to me here 15 years ago, oh we take our family pictures here,” she said.

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