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“Victory Garden,” a giant mural in the North End of St. Paul, celebrates a diverse neighborhood that, like a tree with many roots and branches, depends on all of its ethnic and racial residents for
health and growth. Artist Carly Schmitt
’03 designed the mural and executed it
with the help of three Macalester students
including Amanda Coen ’08. |
Amanda Coen
Locke, New York
International Studies
Art has always been an important part
of my life, and working on a mural
was a way to use one of my passions to
help beautify a neighborhood. I had
been thinking about what to do for
the summer when I noticed an advertisement
for a local mural project in
Macalester’s daily newsletter. I emailed
artist Carly Schmitt ’03, the Macalester
alum in charge, and soon found myself
involved.
When I met Carly, she had already
talked with members of the community
where the mural was to be
painted—visiting town meetings and
area schools and doing research at the
local library. Working from what the
community found most important, she
designed a mural that included local
landmarks, the typical neighborhood
housing style, and plants and animals
that symbolize the diverse population
within the community. Color would
be important in revitalizing the space.
Carly invited my input regarding the
design and explained the process of
creating a mural.
Amanda Coen |
Emily Parks, another Macalester student, was also
involved in the mural project. Together,
Carly, Emily and I brainstormed
ways to avoid problems and invented
methods to enlarge and transfer the
mural design onto the wall. We even
found a way to involve some area high
school students. One of the best parts
about doing the mural was meeting
other enthusiastic, creative people who
are passionate about what they do.
As an international studies major and
art minor, I think a lot about how
people with different backgrounds,
whether social, ethnic or political, can
come together peacefully. While dialogue
is important, I find that people
are usually much more open to art as
a mode of communication. A mural
has the potential not only to convey a
message, but also to revitalize a previously
rundown space. It can draw people
from both the immediate area and
beyond, helping local businesses and
changing the atmosphere of the space.
Whatever the outcome, the mural is
the result of a large collaborative effort
that allows all involved—community
members, local businesses, the city and
artists—to feel proud.
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