Old Town Fairfax Mural Design Deadline Nears For Area Artists

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Local artists are invited to submit designs for two murals that are being considered for a new building in Old Town Fairfax.

Fairfax City Board of Architectural Review was originally scheduled to review a request at its Sept. 1 meeting to add painted murals to a building under construction in Old Town. However, a power outage forced BAR to reschedule the public hearing on the murals to its Wednesday, Sept. 15 meeting.

The building, which is located at 3936 Old Lee Highway, is the future home of Draper's Restaurant, will be operated by Perry Restaurant Group under a long-term lease with the city. The Economic Development Authority will retain ownership of the property when construction is completed.

The proposal seeks approval to add two murals to the south side of the building, which faces a gravel lot on Main Street near the intersection of Old Lee Highway.

"The BAR members will not be approving content," said Anna Kohlbrenner, a planner with the city's Department of Community Development & Planning. "The BAR will only look at where the murals would be placed on the building and how the murals would be applied on the brick. The EDA and the Commission on the Arts will be choosing/handling content."

Related: Murals Under Consideration For Future Restaurant In Old Town

The Commission of the Arts is already soliciting mural concepts from local artists for the two murals. The Selfie Spot Mural will measure 7 feet wide and 9 feet high and the Postcard Mural will be 13 feet wide and 11 feet high. The deadline for submitting designs for both murals is 4 p.m., on Sept. 17.

A panel made up of representatives from the Commission on the Arts Public Art Committee, Parry Restaurant Group, the EDA and city staff will choose the winning designs. The artists will be paid $4,000 and $8,000 for the Selfie and Postcard murals, respectively.

"The artwork that is being installed on this building owned by the EDA but developed by a private restaurant operator is furthering our commitment to include more public art in Fairfax, to create more engaging and active spaces, and to acknowledge the significance of the site within Old Town Fairfax," said Christopher M. Bruno, a spokesman for the city.