Since 1989, Brown has created 20 murals throughout downtown, many painted with help from community volunteers. Although many murals are on private property, they belong to the entire community in mind and spirit. They are cultural fixtures of our community that make the downtown come alive in colors, figures, and patterns. Tucked in alleyways or sprawled across vast building walls, the murals collectively help define a distinctive character that belongs only to Chapel Hill.

After Brown gave a lecture at the Horace Williams House last year, I was surprised, and a little shocked, to learn that no one was looking after the murals. Mural ownership was uncertain and their future unknown. If anything needed to be preserved in this town, it was these artworks, for several reasons. Not only are they beautiful, but they send a message to visitors and to local Chapel Hillians: This is who we are Ñ whimsical, historic, environmental, musical, Tar Heel fans.

Nothing in this town captures our diversity or our pride in this town as collectively as these murals.

The first public mural by Brown, painted in 1989 on the back of a privately owned building, is visible from the corner of Rosemary Street and Columbia Street. Simply titled "The Blue Mural," it depicts a nighttime scene of Franklin Street.

Since then Michael Brown has painted creative and beautiful murals all around downtown Chapel Hill. Anyone who has ever walked, driven, or bicycled downtown has seen these murals. And almost everyone has a favorite mural. Their appeal spans all ages, races, and socio-economic status.

Volunteers helped to paint many of the murals. Children that held a brush to paint "The Blue Mural" are now nearing their 30s with children of their own Ñ children who will now have a chance to create a downtown mural through our new initiative, the Painted Walls Project.

After many hours of meetings, hard work and a publicity campaign, the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill and the Chapel Hill Historical Society announced in April the kickoff of the Painted Walls Project, an effort to restore and preserve Chapel Hill's murals.

The program will allow individuals or business to contribute to their favorite mural. During the next few years, we hope to touch up and apply a protective covering to give the works of art another decade of life.

The first mural restoration through the Painted Walls Project gets under way this month. On Friday, P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grille will donate a portion of sales from the day to the Painted Wall Project.

Come out and enjoy a meal on P.T.'s outdoor patio and watch local artist Michael Brown as he spends the day restoring the Pencil Mural on Henderson Street. Restoration of the Pencil Mural is possible through funds donated by the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission. Proceeds from the day will go toward the campaign to restore the hand-painted murals throughout downtown Chapel Hill.

P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grille is at 114 Henderson Street and is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the bar open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

A companion Web site for the effort will be unveiled in the next few weeks. The committee is planning a series of fundraising parties with businesses whose buildings are home to the murals.

Be sure to check the Preservation Society Web site at http://www.chapelhillpreservation.com for details about how you can donate and participate in the effort to save Chapel Hill's unique murals.