Downtown Casper will be decorated this summer with colorful banners, thanks to efforts by the Nicolaysen Art Museum to celebrate the museum's 40th anniversary.

The Nic saw a lot of success and public support following the painted bison sculptures in 2003 and the recently painted windows in the Townsend Hotel and plans to continue to display public art in creative ways, said Holly Turner, the museum's executive director.

"We are committed to public art projects and we feel people really enjoy them," Turner said. "Part of our mission is to show people the variety of talent in our community."

Turner said the museum recently put out the call to artists and received more than 120 applications. Because of funding limitations and to better mark the 40th anniversary, the museum chose to limit the art to 40 banners.

The museum has sponsors for 15 of the banners so far and is seeking more sponsors willing to pay $1,000 apiece, Turner said. She said the artists will create original works of art that will be copied onto the banners.

The original art will be on display at the Nic starting May 11 through the end of October, she said. The 40 banners will go up along Second Street from the Nic to downtown on June 1 and stay through the end of October, to coincide with the governor's art summit in Casper this fall.

Turner said once the exhibit is over, the banners will be given to the artists and the original artwork will be auctioned off. Prints of the artwork will be available for sale as well, she said.

She said she is grateful to the city council for allowing the museum to use the banner holders, which should not damage the light poles and can be reused for future projects.

Reporter John Morgan can be reached at (307) 266-0614 or john.morgan@casperstartribune.net.