The Writing on the Wall…is Art

Just one section awaiting the work of artists at Merge Mural Fest in Danville.

Every community in Hendricks County has a notable presence of visual arts. But Danville, without a doubt, has been making its case as the painting hub of the county.

The Gallery on the Square has been a staple in Danville for 17 years. The ninth annual Plein Air Paint Out experienced their largest ever group of participants and the Square was packed full of spectators for the awards presentation. There’s public art around the Square and notable sculptures. Adding to those, in just a few weeks, the town will host nine muralists from around the country for the first annual Merge Mural Fest.

Creating and leading the way is Danville Community High School graduate, and painter, Julie Freyholt. You may have already seen her floral patterned mural behind The Republican and another one just a few doors down on the walls of the Homegrown Beauty Salon.

While attending Herron School of Art Julie worked as a set painter for Hendricks Civic Theater and the Indy Civic Theater. She said it was a natural progression to move from large stage paintings to murals. Although she still occasionally paints on canvas, murals have become her love.

When painting the mural behind The Republican, her mom, Ginny Vornholt, commented that someday, she’d love to see all the walls of the entire lot covered in paintings. The lot she was referring to contain the walls for Peak Fitness, Oliver and Cline Law Offices and The Kickstand restaurant.

That idea began resonating with Julie. She once remarked, “I love seeing a blank wall and imagine what it could be.”

She contacted a fellow Herron School of Art grad and muralist, Nick Abstract Smith, the organizer for the 2019 Indy Mural Fest to see if doing something similar could be carried out in Danville and, if so, what steps were needed?

Nick replied, “If you’re doing this, I’m all in.” And Nick was named as a co-organizer.

Julie currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin and reached out to Wisconsin mural organizer Lena Ugren who answered many of her questions.

With the help of her family, Julie went about securing wall spaces in the parking lot east of Washington, northeast of the square. In January of 2026 Merge Fest was born.

Julie placed an Open Call for painters on Instagram. She thought she’d get a few responses from friends but to her surprise received 147 applications from 22 U.S. states and seven countries.

There was wall space for only nine artists, so she had to narrow the 147 down to nine. Vornholt wanted to keep it close to home, giving local artists opportunities.

To sort through the applications she formed a jury of herself, Nick Smith, Jerry and Ginny Vornholt, and since it was to be a community event they invited former Sheriff and current State Senator Brett Clark and his wife, Karie. They narrowed it down to nine with six men and three women, mostly from Indiana, but a few from out of state.

In past mural events painters are scattered throughout a city, never really working together. But what Julie had envisioned were artists all working in close proximity at the same time. She wanted the public to see how murals were done.

“I wanted to pull the curtain and end the mystery,” she said, “Sometimes we just see murals pop up and never know how they got there or who painted them.”

Community involvement and interaction are encouraged and even opportunities to talk with the artists about their work. Vornholt wants to inspire young artists and the curious as the paintings go up on the walls.

The painters will begin arriving, ready to paint, Saturday, September 12. Some of these creations will be as long as 30 ft. and some 16 ft. high, with spaces with between murals. They’ll use a variety of spray cans and buckets of enamel paint, and the murals must be completed by September 19.

The unveiling and free public reception of Merge Mural Fest will take place on that lot, Saturday, September 19, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., with food and music. Keep in mind, on that date, during the reception, Washington Street and that lot will be closed to motorized traffic.

Businesses supporting Merge Mural Fest include Mokey’s, Gallery on the Square, Beehive, Bread Basket Café, Electric Plus, Staley Construction, Visit Hendricks County and many others. However, fi nancial support is always welcome by contacting Downtown Danville at danvillepartnership@ gmail.com and designating your contributions to the Mural Fest. You may also go to their website at Discover Downtown Danville or find Merge Muralfest 26 on Instagram.

Muralists selected include Danville native and awarding winning painter, Tiffany Black. You may remember her large scale mural, “Open Window,” which was just north of the square at 20 W. Main. Other artists include Anthony Brooks a muralist who splits time in both Indiana and Germany; JD Bills, a local painter living in Indianapolis; Scott Trafford, based in Lebanon; Jon Mendelson resides in Fort Wayne; Ruben Aguirre and Natalie Clare Shugailo are from the Chicago area; David Swartz is from Denver, Colorado; Lauren Lewchuk comes from Dallas,Texas. Co-Organizer Nick Smith designed the logo and lives in Indianapolis.

There has been so much interest generated around Merge Mural Fest ’26, Julie Freyholt said businesses are already asking if they might be included next.

Will there be another Mural Fest in 2027?

It’s likely!