It was hard to tell who was more excited Saturday morning– Alva Valle or Carolyn Smith.
Valle, an 18-year old Rochelle Township High School senior, was one of two dozen people who watched the mural she painted of Elvis Presley being installed on the brick wall of Ray’s Merchandise, which is co-owned by Carolyn and Ray Smith.
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BY DOUG OLESON
Contributing Writer
ROCHELLE — It was hard to tell who was more excited Saturday morning– Alva Valle or Carolyn Smith.
Valle, an 18-year old Rochelle Township High School senior, was one of two dozen people who watched the mural she painted of Elvis Presley being installed on the brick wall of Ray’s Merchandise, which is co-owned by Carolyn and Ray Smith.
“I feel it’s a big honor,” Alva said of her first mural. “I never thought I’d put something up, done by me, that people can see.”
“It’s something I never imagined,” her mother, Elvia Valle, added.
Carolyn, a huge Elvis fan, said she jumped at the chance to donate the wall – located at 316 North 6th St., - when local artist Fran Volz asked.
“Ray wasn’t crazy about Elvis,” she said jokingly of her husband of fifty years. “But now he is.”
“Whatever she wants,” Ray said good naturedly about the mural.
Besides Cecilia, three of Alva’s high school classmates volunteered to put up the Elvis mural, including Josh Harmon, Leo Hernandez and Sergio Guevara. To put everyone in the mood, Carolyn played vintage Elvis music while handing out peanut butter and banana sandwiches, one of Elvis’ favorite foods.
Now that the mural is up, Carolyn said she might hold a special Elvis night during the summer. “We’re right next to the city parking lot,” she said.
The mural includes a large Elvis face – circa early 1960s – at the top and, in the lower left hand corner, a 1950s Elvis performing with a group of fans at the bottom.
Alva originally wanted to just do Elvis’ face, but Volz suggested they add the figure of Elvis performing. Alva said Volz added the final touches to the mural.
Elvis is the second mural to grace the downtown area. The first is of Marilyn Monroe on Cherry Avenue. A third, which Cecilia has finished, is of John Wayne.
“We haven’t decided where to put it yet,” she said.