DANVILLE — Walldog artists plan to return to Danville this summer to add three more murals to the landscape.

Organizers say the event, Walldogs 2.0, will be smaller in size than last year, but they expect it to bring the same sense of community spirit that was palpable in August 2010.

Hoping to capture and save some of the magic created last summer, Anne Sacheli, who was instrumental in bringing the event to the city, said talk of a second Walldogs excursion began immediately.

“We started the day after the Walldogs event last year,” Sacheli said. “The Monday morning after, we met with Walldogs in the mayor’s office. We never really left it.”

A new corporation has been formed, Danville Walldogs Inc., with the group in the process of becoming a non-profit enterprise.

Alicia Pettigrew, president of the board, said Walldogs 2.0 will not be a repeat of last year, but more of an upgrade of what is already here. Fifteen murals were painted by 160 artists from across the nation and beyond.

“The Walldogs really loved being here and we never wanted them to leave,” Pettigrew said.

Sacheli, vice president of the board that will have nine to 12 members, said the second time around will not be on such a grand scale.

“Fewer walls will be painted, but we’re hoping for as much excitement and the same rapport,” Sacheli said. “People meeting their neighbors and enjoying being out in Danville.”

Walldogs 2.0 is scheduled for Aug. 3-7, with three murals slated for painting.

Sacheli said past project coordinator, Scott Lindley, will help run the meet with Mike Meyer, who was the artist on the Chuckles mural at 137 N. Walnut St.

Pettigrew said the format for artists will be different, with just two mural leaders selecting a team of artists to come help them in advance of the meet. Those leaders are Meyer and Michael Clark. Clark designed and led the C&EI Railroad mural at 2 W. Main.

Meyer will head up the double-sided panel mural to ultimately be placed on the 60-foot railroad overpass on Fairchild Street. Because of its length, the mural will likely be in three sections on each side.

Meyer is turning this mural project into an on-site Walldog tutorial class, for those who want to study the form.

“It will be an educational type of venue for new Walldogs,” Sacheli said. “To learn the art of Walldogging.”

At least some of the subject matter for the overpass mural will include Danville High School, with Sacheli suggesting one panel might be “Entering Viking Country,” with the other five yet to be determined.

Clark’s mural subject will be coal mining. The location is still under discussion, but could possibly be at Bud’s Car Stereo and Cellular, 22 N. Jackson St., depending on things such as the condition of the wall.

Sacheli said Clark already has an idea mapped out and his team of artists picked.

“That (coal mining) was one of the subjects we wanted to include last year,” Sacheli said. “It’s important to the county, not just Danville. That one never left our minds.”

A third mural is a children’s mural in the same alley as the existing Wallpups mural, 125 N. Vermilion St. The new mural will likely be an extension of what has been started there, which was extremely popular with both children and adults.

Different activities may surround the event, but the core idea of community coming together to celebrate, will remain.

So far, a celebration coinciding with the Summer Sounds concert series on Friday and a polka party on Saturday are already being planned.

Just like last year, the community will be invited to join in and help paint the murals.

“This is not technically a full Walldogs meet, but we encourage the community to come down and paint,” Pettigrew said. “We want them to take ownership and pride in what they’re doing.”

The community can start getting involved and excited about Walldogs 2.0 today.

Sacheli said they will accept suggestions and ideas for the overpass panels that have not yet been sketched.

Also, donations, sponsorships and volunteers will be needed.

Pettigrew added that if anyone is interested in serving on a committee that is also a way to help.

Right now, anyone interested in helping in any of these ways can contact Mayor Scott Eisenhauer’s office at 431-2400. Eisenhauer is serving on the Danville Walldogs, Inc. board.

They can also contact Pettigrew at 442-6201.