© 2024 WGLT
A public service of Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Town, Artists Working To Resolve Uptown Mural Dispute

Mural in Uptown
Ryan Denham
/
WGLT
The Town of Normal and Bush Constructionwant to demolish three buildings—including the mural's current home—along Beaufort Street to make room for the $30 million Trail East development.";s:

A federal judge has given both sides more time to try and resolve the legal dispute over the Uptown Normal mural.

The Town of Normal, Trail East developer Bush Construction, and the 13 artists who’ve sued over the mural together asked Judge Joe Billy McDade on Friday to delay a hearing that was set for Monday. The judge granted that request to continue the hearing until June 7.

The delay will “allow them to explore options for the potential resolution of this matter,” attorneys for both sides wrote. A separate filing from Bush’s lawyer also says the “City and Plaintiffs are attempting to resolve this dispute.”

Thirteen artists who worked on the mural sued the town and Bush last month, claiming federal copyright law protects their work from being damaged or destroyed without their consent. The town and Bush want to knock down three buildings on Beaufort Street—including the mural’s home—to make room for the $30 million Trail East development. The town says the mural will be moved—not destroyed—although it’s unclear where it will go.

The artists asked McDade for a temporary restraining order to stop the town and Bush from touching the mural until the legal dispute played out. At a hearing May 13, McDade signaled that he felt the dispute could be resolved without the court’s intervention. Both sides were instructed to discuss display and relocation issues.

“I sense this is not a dispute among enemies but among friends who have different perspectives about what to do,” McDade said.

The town and the artists were previously engaged in settlement talks. Those talks apparently broke down, and the lawsuit was filed.

People like you value experienced, knowledgeable and award-winning journalism that covers meaningful stories in Bloomington-Normal. To support more stories and interviews like this one, please consider making a contribution.

Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.
Related Content