The City of Florence may be getting some new public art and amenities.
City Administrator Joshua Hunt briefed the Florence City Council at its Aug. 26 regular business meeting on a proposed new mural by artist Christian Dallas.
The proposed mural will be installed on the side of the Stringtown Bar & Grill at 255 Main St. Hunt displayed a slide showing the mural, which will feature images that depict important people and things in Florence’s history.
“There’s a lot of little Easter eggs,” Hunt said as he decoded the new artwork for councilmembers. A stagecoach refers to Florence’s role as a main stop between Lexington and Covington in the 19th century.
A skunk points to what the city was called before it became Florence. “The city of Florence was called Polecat, and Polecat is a slang term for skunk, so there will be a skunk there,” Hunt said.
Also featured in the mural is John Uri Lloyd, a pharmacist and novelist who once lived in Florence. Mushrooms and flowers in the mural refer to his scientific work.
Hunt told councilmembers that Dallas’s work may be seen in other Northern Kentucky locations, including Newport, Lawrenceburg and CVG Airport.