A new toy store, beauty shop and eyeglass office have moved into downtown, but they're not open for business. They may look real, but the businesses are part of a new mural completed this week by artist Linda Dixon of Shawnee.

Artist paints 'her corner' of world

By Ann Kelley
Staff Writer

TECUMSEH — A new toy store, beauty shop and eyeglass office have moved into downtown, but they're not open for business. They may look real, but the businesses are part of a new mural completed this week by artist Linda Dixon of Shawnee.

The painting is a scene of early downtown life. It includes a child peeking into an old-fashioned baby carriage, women wearing hats and clutching handbags stepping into businesses, tall lamp posts and a bright red telephone booth.

Each storefront has large picture windows, providing a view of life inside the businesses. Dixon said it took about two weeks to paint the mural. It was done while combating the wind and avoiding the rain, she said. "This is one of my new favorites,” Dixon said. "I hope when people look at it, it gives them a happy, warm feeling.”

The mural was commissioned by Dr. Matthew Ozment and his wife, Jessica, to cover a bare wall on Matthew Ozment's optometrist office. Matthew Ozment said the wall had become a target for graffiti artists so he and his wife decided to take away their blank canvas.

She began painting 14 years ago after taking an art class in Italy. Since then, she's painted too many murals to list, she said.
Dixon said she's not on a mission to paint the entire world, just her corner of it..