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Mural to celebrate women's suffrage
Christy Ross

To honor 100 years of women’s suffrage, a mural is under consideration to celebrate women and the centennial of the 19th Amendment.

Tourism Development Board members are considering an expenditure of $7,500 or $25,000 to participate in a program called Walls for Women, a DMA (Do. More. Art) event to honor women’s suffrage and commemorate Tennessee’s ratification of the 19th Amendment.

“I love it,” said TDB chair Christy Ross, after being presented information about Walls for Women by Mandy Eller. “I think it’s wonderful.”

DMA is a nonprofit organization operated by Kristin Luna and husband Scott van Velsor. 

It is devoted to creative placemaking through community events and the installation of murals. The couple also owns and operates a business called Odinn Media, a media production agency specializing in tourism marketing. 

Walls for Women is an all-female mural festival across the state of Tennessee. Installation begins July 18. The couple will be prepping all the walls in addition to coordinating with the artists and property owners, handling all logistics, photography, and marketing the pieces. Completion is Aug. 18, the actual centennial of Tennessee’s ratification of the 19th Amendment on Aug. 18, 1920. 

Eller presented two sponsorship possibilities, one for $25,000 and one for $7,500.

“At minimum, we’d have to do $7,500 to participate,” said Eller, who says a corporate sponsor might be found for the $25,000 sponsorship. 

The Walls for Women mural festival by DMA was presented as information only. However, a special called session has been scheduled for this coming Monday, March 16, at 4:30 p.m. to make a decision on the proposal.