MOSES LAKE — Columbia Basin Allied Arts Mural Project, originally planned to be unveiled at the 2020 Grant County Fair, was delayed until next summer over concerns about the mural’s design.

Shawn Cardwell, executive director for CBAA, said the Icicle Fund grant is still good until June 2021.

The mural is set to go on the water cistern located directly across from the purple gate at the fairgrounds, owned by Cascade Valley Water District. Cardwell said in a conversation with commissioners and artist Erika Kovalenko there was hesitation on the original design, after the political and cultural unrest and sensitivity prevalent across the nation in 2020.

The design featured Chief Moses and former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Cardwell said there were concerns some of the designs might not be sensitive to all the communities in the region, and the CBAA was grateful to have some added time to re-evaluate the design in the coming months.

“Throughout the winter, we will be working with the water district commissioners and the Allied Arts to find a way to represent the cultural and human aspects of Moses Lake and Grant County without being disrespectful to any group,” Cardwell said. “It’s challenging and a lot of people apologized throughout the process.”

She said it is important for everyone involved to do their best to be sensitive to the scope and understanding of the history of the area outside themselves. Cardwell also said it is important to really look at how the nation has been able to progress at the cost of other people.

The concerns raised with the original design play into a much larger story that has played out nationwide.

“We’re really grateful that the water district brought this up to make us realize that we have our own stories here that reflect that,” Cardwell said.

Anita Graham, a commissioner with the Cascade Valley Water District, said a more “graphic” display in the redesign, possibly featuring the lake and some of the foliage and scenic staples of the area, is sought.

“A lake with a couple of boats, flowers, sagebrush, anything of that order,” Graham said.

During the winter, she said Allied Arts and Kovalenko will have time to present a new design before work continues on the project.

In addition to the main mural, space in tiled areas surrounding the image is available for purchase for families, individuals and businesses to add their own touch. Options range from just $15 for initials to $100 and $500 for family, business or organization names. Space is still available with information at Allied Arts’ website at cba-arts.org.

Cardwell said the hope is to have the mural completed by June with an unveiling ceremony planned for the Grant County Fair in 2021.

Casey McCarthy can be reached via email at [email protected].