Designing A Community Mural for Longview, WA
Artist Shelly Metzger stands with volunteers in front of the mural in progress.
This summer, I had the honor of creating Places to Go, a 21-foot-tall by 37-foot-wide mural on the backside of the Elam’s building in Longview, WA. The mural came together over the course of one week, with the help of volunteers who joined in to make it a true community effort.
Volunteers start to bring the mural to life by adding the first coats of color to Places to Go.
Community at the Heart
I wanted to make this public artwork both for the community, and with the community. The Broad Strokes Project invited me to design a mural that could be painted with volunteers, and I set out to make that experience as accessible as possible. Supported by an easy-to-follow, organized system, volunteers could confidently dive in with a warm welcome and simple instructions.
I created a paint by numbers system:
Designed the mural with bold blocks of color.
Built a paint-by-numbers reference sheet to guide the process
Labeled all paint This comes in handy with multiple similar shades, as paint can appear different wet than when it dries. (Pro Tip: labeling both cans and lids makes colors easy to identify from the top and ensures the correct color is used if a lid is misplaced).
Marked wall sections with corresponding dots of paint color.
Placed reference guides in strategic locations: one at the paint table for volunteers to see which colors to use, and another in the scissor lift for quick checks up high.
The numbered reference guide in action, transforming a complex design into clear steps as volunteers added color to the mural.
We started with volunteer-heavy days, filling in large shapes, base coats and recoats. Throughout the week participation naturally shifted to volunteer-light, and eventually I worked on my own, focusing on the more skilled, detailed work, and final touch ups. To finish, I applied a protective anti-graffiti and UV coating.
Lessons in Community Art
Working with The Broad Strokes Project gave me new insight into how community murals can be organized in ways that feel both accessible and rewarding. A few practices I picked up from TBSP that I’ll carry forward for future community projects include:
Volunteer scheduling: Shifts of 2–3 hours kept the work enjoyable and meaningful without overwhelming participants.
Dedicated support: A volunteer coordinator on site during volunteer heavy days to warmly welcome and guide volunteers. This minimized interruptions, allowing me to focus on creating art. (I was still available to answer questions as needed.)
Hospitality: A water and snack table created a welcoming atmosphere and encouraged volunteers to participate longer.
Brush care: Painting a mural with the community uses significantly more brushes than a standard mural. A communal 5-gallon water bucket provided a central place to store used brushes throughout the day.
Brushes left out with paint on them, can dry and may need to be thrown away. The 5-gallon bucket kept them wet and protected until they could be cleaned at the end of the night.
Finished community mural, Places to Go, by artist Shelly Metzger. Thank you to The Broad Strokes Project, and many wonderful volunteers who came together to make this mural possible for the Longview, WA community.
Celebrating Together
When the mural was complete, we gathered to celebrate with a wrap party and cookout. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on gratitude and the greater things we can accomplish when people collaborate.
Projects like this remind me how powerful public art can be when it’s shared. Places to Go celebrates both the city of Longview and the connections formed while creating it together. I’m grateful to The Broad Strokes Project, and every volunteer who picked up a brush to bring this mural to life.
If you’d like to bring a mural to your space, or explore a community mural project together, reach out to start the conversation here.
This mural can be seen in person on the backside of Elam’s Home Furnishings at 1413 Commerce Ave Longview, WA 98632
You can learn more about The Broad Strokes Project here.
Next, I’ll share why this mural is titled Places to Go and how community care can turn spaces into destinations.
