It all started with Christine Heidebrecht's mistaken notion that the City of Wichita Falls' Martin Luther King Center had a mural. It did not. So Heidebrecht, disturbed by the anger prevalent in the news and impressed with the MLK Center, saw a great opportunity for a project that could bring community members together and spread a message of hope.

Heidebrecht, wife of Assistant Professor of Music Dale Heidebrecht, applied for a grant through the Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture that would bring the mural to life and call for interaction with the community. Assistant Professor of Art Jason Bly answered the open call, and his design was chosen.

Bly said that the design was a group project. He discussed composition and ideas with students, and they considered what aspects of King's life they wanted to see. Some ideas concentrated on King himself, others the background, and they took the best ideas from their discussions for the final design. This was outside regular class requirements for the students and they worked around their own schedules, some early in the day, some late, and some on weekends.

Michael Davis, coordinator of the center, said that the mural was probably the most powerful piece of art in Wichita Falls. "It speaks to the generations who use this center and to all the people in the city of Wichita Falls. We're thankful that Jason submitted the design and put it all together."

The approximately 12-by-28-foot mural covers the length of a wall at the MLK Center. It took about six weeks to complete with most work done on Saturday and with students working through their Christmas break. Community members also helped - some who had never painted before.

The project was important to Bly because of the community interaction and the teamwork aspect. In the classroom, he is professor to the students. Out of the classroom, they are all artists working toward a greater goal.

On Jan. 20, after the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast, the mural was unveiled. MSU student Nahye Byun played piano, and music students sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and "Let There be Peace on Earth." The Zavala International Dancers also performed.

Incorporated into the mural is King's inspirational quote, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Christine Heidebrecht knows that the anger, ugliness and darkness in the world won't go away overnight, but she hopes that the community spirit that made the mural happen will bring healing and kinship, and that many more joint projects follow.

The Martin Luther King Center serves all citizens in the community by hosting senior activities, a childcare facility and many community service programs and special events, which encourage and promote service to others and positive relationships between all people.

Photo courtesy of Peggy Brown and MLK Center