Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

 

Orange Lions Club has supported and been supported by the community for decades. Now the non-profit civic organization wants to give back again, while also highlighting what the county has to offer.

Billboards have been spotted in Louisiana, and along Interstate 10 but now a banner is hanging on the fence at Stark Museum of Art on Green Ave. It is a location where school-age children have had their murals hung in the past. 

Now a local artist’s rendition of what Orange County has to offer in beauty is proudly displayed.

“We are planning to hang on in Bridge City and Vidor,” Lions President Chris Kovatch said. “Those cities were also incorporated into the design as you can see the bridge joining to Bridge City and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Vidor.”

The project is funded through a Hotel Motel Opponency Tax grant, also referred to as HOT Tax.

“We have been supported by local people and businesses and this was an opportunity to give back as well,” Kovatch said.

The artwork created for this project is available to use by whoever wants to use it, according to Kovatch.

“Our goal is to get outside of Orange to see what we have to offer,” Kovatch said. “It showcases the talents of the people and their work in the community.”

He added, he personally hopes to see a new mural every year around Orange.

“It would be to the Lions Club each year,” Kovatch said. 

He said he thought about the museum as a possible location when he drove past it after dropping one of his children off at school.

From there he reached out to the Stark Foundation President Tad McKee who directed Kovatch to someone at the museum.

“He sent me to the ladies at the museum who were excited when I asked,” Kovatch said.

From there, the banner was ordered. It arrived earlier this week and Thursday, it was installed.