Lubbock, TX– The Buddy Holly Center is proud to announce the commencement of a mural project in North Lubbock.  The project was proposed by the Up and Coming Scholars, a local group for high school and junior-high aged teens to participate in community action to prepare for college.  The Buddy Holly Center is sponsoring the project for the Up and Coming Scholars, led by ‘Cowboy Fred’ Ortiz, and the youth group has been involved in the entire planning process, from choosing the artist to the details of the concept and design.  Painting began on the morning of Tuesday, June 6 by the Up and Coming Scholars along with help from additional volunteers and will continue every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in June from 8-12 each morning.  A dedication ceremony will be held July 7^th from 6:00 – 7:00 pm.

The Up and Coming Scholars is a locally awarded group, with national, state, and local recognition, which assists young individuals in achieving a college career and much more.  The group is working in coordination with Shannon Cannings, a local artist who designed the mural, to bring this attraction to the city of Lubbock.  Cannings received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Temple University and her Master of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University.  She is currently the professor of drawing at Texas Tech University.  Cannings’ design is progressively being painted onto the west wall of the Optimist Boys and Girls Club located at 3301 Cornell St., approximately 10 blocks North of the Indiana & 4^th St. intersection. 

Featuring illustrations of the West Texas legend Buddy Holly and the Center as well, the mural is an effort to inspire residents of North Lubbock to take pride in Buddy Holly and the positive effects he brought to the community.  The reason for painting a mural of Buddy Holly and the progressive stages of Lubbock is to teach the youth of Lubbock about Buddy Holly and the amazing impact he made on Lubbock and the world.  While Buddy Holly is a local legend, he did not effect simply the generation who remembers him; he also created hope and inspiration for the generations to come.  Buddy Holly was an influential icon for the past, present and upcoming generations.  Patrons are invited to indulge in a great learning opportunity on July 7^th from 6:00–7:00 pm as the completed mural is dedicated to the memory of Buddy Holly! 

Kelly-Moore Paint and Home Depot made this program possible with their generous donation of paint, and Thames Painting for spraying the base coat of the mural.  For more information on the mural project please contact the Buddy Holly Center at 806.775.3560.  For more information on Up and Coming Scholars, please contact 806.392.7584.