PORT ANGELES — Summer has come and gone and the “Olympic Visions” mural behind the Laurel Street fountain downtown continues to peel paint.
The mural depicting Olympic National Park at the intersection of Laurel and First streets was supposed to be repaired this summer by the Nor’wester Rotary Club.
The plan laid out in June was to hire someone to perform foundation level repairs and then have original artist Tim Quinn of Sequim touch up the edges of the mural’s panels.
At that time, Rotary Club member Steve Zenovic said the club would pay for the repairs out of its operating funds.
“We set aside funds every year for these projects,” Zenovic said.
“Whatever it takes … we have a fairly significant investment in that mural. We’re going to make sure it stays there.”
The Nor’wester Rotary Club paid $30,000 for the mural, which was dedicated in January 2000.
‘It doesn’t surprise me’
But Quinn said Wednesday that he hadn’t heard from anyone with the Rotary Club over the summer.
And the rainy weather has returned, affecting any potential renovation work.
“I was on their tails for a couple years,” Quinn said.
“It doesn’t surprise me I haven’t heard anything.”
Nor’wester Rotary Club member Doc Reiss said club members involved with the mural project are out of town until next week.
But he said the club’s involvement with the Port Angeles Skate Park project this summer wasn’t the reason for the delay in the restoration project.
Funding from other source
Funding for the mural project comes from the sale of mural prints, which is a different funding source from the skate park, Reiss said.
“It’s probably coordination with those repairing the mural more than anything, but I’d hate to speculate,” he said.
The mural is suffering from water that has seeped into the seals around the 4-by-8-foot panels that make up the mural, and caused the surface to begin lifting and peeling.
The plan was to repair the mural during the summer so accumulated water could dry and new sealant could be applied.
