The splashy new look of Star Car Wash on Pioneer Avenue is the work of Alaskan mural-painting collaborative, Spellar. They came to Homer from Anchorage to jump-start Peonies on Pioneer, a revitalization project for Homer’s historic urban core.  A team of four volunteered for three full days to create this mural. The murals are Bunnell’s contribution to a cross-sector collaboration of civic, private and non-profit partners aiming to showcase Homer’s assets in the arts, agriculture and recreation. Peonies on Pioneer aims to improve the appeal of Pioneer for shoppers, walkers and visitors. Toward that effort, Bunnell presents artist in residence, muralist Kady Perry from New Orleans in June. Kady is facilitating mural workshops and leading a team of many local volunteers to create these murals. The featured image is a detail of Star Car Wash’s new mural. All designs are approved and sponsored by private businesses. Currently, murals are underway for K-Bay Caffe, the Art Shop Gallery building and the retaining wall at Pioneer Avenue and Heath Street. The murals and others that will come soon are all created by local volunteers who have trained with Kady and create designs collaboratively with the owners for the private properties where the work is installed. The Homer Foundation is graciously supporting Kady Perry’s residency with a grant of $2000.  With Bunnell’s non-profit sponsorship, murals are approximately $1500 and range up from 8 x 4 feet, but most of that price covers materials such as paint and signboard. Volunteers are putting hundreds of hours into this project and The City of Homer is rising to the inspiration of local peony pioneer, Rita Jo Shoultz, renovating the City’s garden beds along Pioneer Avenue. Meanwhile, Peony pioneer, Rita Jo Shoultz is sourcing hundreds of peony tubers to plant along Pioneer Avenue.The main areas that the City owns and plans to plant are the large cleared area across from Captain’s Coffee, along the sidewalk at the Bartlett/Pioneer restroom, in front of City Hall, and at WKFL Park and at the corner of Pioneer and Heath Street (Young’s corner) and in front of Nomar. The rest of the other cleared areas will be up to the business/property owners.