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What is hidden behind the tarpaulins stretched across the Perry Street side of the County Services Building in downtown Tiffin? Vicki Lowery, director of the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce, said the answer soon is to be revealed.

"We want to have the unveiling after the Heritage Festival parade on Saturday," Lowery said. "We've been really holding off to announce it, because there are so many things that needed to take place to make it happen."

Metal mounting brackets, donated and installed by Tiffin Metal Products, have been in place for some time, outlining three rectangular spaces. Workers hung three large art canvases on the building Wednesday. Clouse Construction offered the use of their equipment for the task.

Mark Levans of ML Advertising designed and printed the artwork and supervised the construction of the canvases.

Many other steps preceded the actual installation.

"The chamber asked me to attend a meeting for planning almost two years ago," Levans said.

Each 11-by-16-foot panel weighs 40-50 pounds. Levans did not want to give too much description of the designs, but he said their most predominant elements center around "working, living, learning and playing" in Tiffin.

"I felt that despite how people feel about living in small communities, Tiffin, Ohio is a great place to live. The theme 'Work, Live, Learn, Play, Tiffin, Ohio' explains it all," Levans said. "I travel to many small towns, and realize that Tiffin may have its share of problems as other towns, we are faring far better than most.

"Agriculture abounds, we have one of the best park systems, two highly ranked colleges, a public education system that is stellar, and a beautiful historic town with the beautiful Sandusky River running right through downtown."

Lowery said the people of Tiffin can be proud of the community effort that went into the production of the murals. Funding to purchase the materials came from the Gillmor Foundation and the National Machinery Foundation. Levans submitted designs to a committee, which made numerous changes before agreeing on the final versions.

"Mark actually designed the murals on his computer, using actual photographs. He has the technology to take these photographs, blend them together, add computer-generated art ... take what he's generated on the computer and print it on a vinyl canvas. It was done right there (at MLAD)," Lowery said.

Each mural consists of three strips of vinyl that were stitched together at Tiffin Scenic Studios. To finish each panel, a pocket was stitched along the perimeter. Fiberglas rods fit into the pockets to stretch the canvases and attach them to the brackets. The brackets do allow for some adjustment as the vinyl stretches. Lowery added the brackets are a special item produced at Tiffin Metal.

"They're actually well-known for manufacturing these brackets. They use them for murals and billboards all across the country," Lowery said.

Lowery said she was pleased with cooperation from the Seneca County commissioners and the city of Tiffin. The murals fall under the sign code ordinance. The city issued a permit stating the art can stay in place until April 30, 2009, but Lowery said the time period could be extended if the murals wear well enough. The panels are expected to last 18 months or longer, depending on weather conditions. Lowery said a mural painted directly on the building would need touching up or painting over, whereas the vinyl version simply can be taken down or replaced.

"The technology we have to put all this together is pretty unique," Lowery said. "Everything was done right here. This is high-end stuff."

The Heritage Festival parade is to get underway at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Church and progress north on Washington Street. The mural dedication is to follow the parade. Shirley Smith, head of the Chamber's working committee, is to give brief remarks at the unveiling ceremony.