MOUNT DORA, Fla. – The iconic “Starry Night” home in Mount Dora on Wednesday is getting a fresh paint job as part of a new documentary that follows its once-controversial history.
The home made headlines back in 2018 as the homeowners fought with city officials to keep it painted. Nancy Nemhauser, the home’s owner, said the mural served as a way to help get her son home if he wandered.
“My son has autism, and he has a tendency to wander, and his language is impaired, so I wanted him to be able to say where he was supposed to go,” Nemhauser said.
Nemhauser said that after all of these years, it feels fabulous to be at this point.
“It’s been a journey, but we’re at a great place now and we’re hoping to make an impact for other people who have autism and make this house a template for other houses that can be throughout the world,” Nemhauser said. “After all of this time, it’s nice to bring it to people’s eyes again and have them experience it with us and experience the good that can come out of being persistent and knowing that when you’re right, you should continue with your fight.”
The documentary, “Starry Fight: A Canvas For The World,” was announced last year by its director, Lionel “Lee” Montells.
“Every element of this story is so unique that it created the perfect storm and I think that is really cool and that’s why I think people still to this day come here,” he told News 6 last year.
On Wednesday, painters with Florida Paints will re-paint the home with donated paint, primers, and other materials, according to a news release. This project is part of Florida Paints’ “Paint a Brighter Day” program that helps restore buildings and homes with paint donations.
“I think what makes it that unique is the story behind the inspiration, the fact that it’s raising awareness for autism,” said Santiago Quintero with Florida Paints.
Nemhauser first started painting the property in 2017 after her son’s favorite artist but quickly got a citation from the city.
The fight that followed made national headlines.
Mount Dora leaders claimed the painting was a driving safety hazard and tried fining Nemhauser thousands of dollars until she repainted it.
That legal battle ended in a settlement, with Nemhauser winning. The city apologized and paid her $15,000.
“I want this house to go beyond that fight and to symbolize autism or at least raise awareness for autism which is really needed, and art. Art was used here for something good,” Montells said of the documentary.
For more on the documentary, click here.