Interactive mural going up in Wheaton next month

Jeffrey James really loves Wheaton. And come next month, he wants to show that affection through a city-sponsored art project.

James, a Wheaton resident who recently moved his marketing business into town, plans to showcase a block-long mural beginning Sept. 6 near Wesley and Cross streets, just outside the city's public library.

There will be 80,000 stickers along the 8-foot-tall, 140-foot-long wall, each with a description that can be used to identify the town or its residents - words like "adventurous," "amazing" and "antique."

Passers-by can pull the stickers off during the week, which will unveil the phrase "What is Wheaton?"

"The goal for me is spreading that message that we can and should be part of this community," James said. "I didn't get engaged in Wheaton until I moved my business into town. When I began frequenting the businesses in downtown, I found a sense of community I didn't know existed anymore."

James said he hopes the display gets people thinking about the need to create close ties in town.

The project certainly got the attention of the Wheaton Fine and Cultural Arts Commission, which donated about $5,000 for James' cause.

"From a cultural standpoint, the mural addresses the general culture of Wheaton," said Paul Colgan, who heads the fine arts group. "We thought it would be a nice community project that would engage people."

To learn more about the mural, visit www.whatiswheaton.com.