Nature abhors a vacuum, it is said, and so it is with bare, blank walls. The bigger the expanse, the more it calls for someone to fill it up with something. That can means unauthorized graffiti or posters and handbills, things that need to be cleaned off, covered up or removed.

But a big, blank wall can be a canvas for something special and artistic, and so the New Ulm Downtown Action team is calling for local artists to create a mural for the side of the Nuvera building at 1st North and Minnesota Streets.

The mural would be a 20×80 foot creation, framed and printed on billboard material, and attached to the wall. The Downtown Action team is looking for artists to apply with themes and ideas relating to New Ulm and its history. Proposals will be given an initial review, those artists selected thorugh the review will be invited to presented more detailed proposals.

Interested artists should apply at the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce — www.newulm.com/call-for-artists/

We will be interested to see what kind of proposals are presented. This could lead to more walls being used for murals in the future. That could make downtown someplace special while highlighting the work of local artists.