Where can you go to enjoy a variety of free public art? Look no further than Manheim. Murals and other outdoor art pieces are popping up all over town.

"Often art is a voice for anything that words cannot express," said Heather Lindsey, owner of Creative Inspirationz Gallery in Manheim. "It is meant to move and speak to others in a way they can interpret for themselves. Every town should have beautiful and expressive pieces that allow people to feel through them."

And there's no shortage of art throughout Manheim. At her own business, at 23 N. Main St., Lindsey has painted the windows with whimsical art. Larger pieces she's completed include motifs around a shop on the corner of Charlotte and High streets and a mural at a residence at the corner of Hazel Street.

"Specifically in Manheim, a hard-working town with a community that has a heart for the families that live within, art is a beautiful expression of those that reside here and a reflection of the pride in the community," she said.

At The Shack Restaurant & Mini Golf, 662 S. Oak St., a student recently completed a mural in the walking tunnel on the property. Grahason Lindberg, a junior at Manheim Central High School, created the piece, which depicts the property's history. He was joined in the project by friends Katie Zook, Syrus Lubeski, Everett Lindburg, Maykayla Melborne, Hannah Grey and Deacon Weaver.

The mural not only added beauty to the site, but also solved a problem, said Lisa Alcala, who owns The Shack with her husband, Ray.

"The tunnel has always been a target for graffiti, and we've wanted to do something in there showing the park in its prime," she commented. "After Grahason shared his work and passion about art with me, I knew he was the right person to take on the project. He designed it and went to work right away and had it finished by late summer."

She noted that Grahason's mural highlights the past and present of the property. "The Shack is located on a property rich in history, and Grahason did a great job bringing it together in the mural," Lisa stated. "He started with the entrance of Kauffman's Park and some of the original features of the park, including the gazebo - which was actually a sandbox back in the day - and the merry-go-round, which is the soul of the property and has made memories for generations and is actually almost 100 years old. It also features the restaurant, which was actually built on the original foundation of one of the pavilions in the park."

For the Alcalas, the mural offers a way to preserve and highlight the history of the property while also sparking memories.

Large murals have also been completed in town at Teen Central, 15 S. Wolf St., and on the side of a building at 38 S. Main St., both installed by Horst Arts. The latter, a project of the Manheim Area Chamber of Commerce, depicts elements of Manheim's history, including glassblowing.

Murals and the other pieces contribute significantly to the spirit of a small town, Lindsey said. "These pieces of art bring moments of joy and smiles to those passing through, even by car. Manheim is often a drive-through town," she said. "We encourage those within the community and those traveling through to take a few moments and tour the art, letting it speak to and inspire them, maybe even sparking a passion in them to pursue a form of art themselves."