Some pieces of the mural on the exterior wall of the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op in Grand Marais were salvaged when the building was demolished before reconstruction. “Save the Mural” organizers hope to incorporate some of those pieces—like this mosaic fish—in a new mural on the west wall of Johnson’s Foods. A planning meeting will be held Tuesday, October 15.
Many community members rallied last August when it was learned that the reconstruction of the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op in Grand Marais meant the destruction of the four-seasons mural on the co-op’s exterior wall. The expense of saving the entire mural proved to be too much, despite valiant last-ditch efforts by an active group of citizens. However, pieces of this student created outdoor art were carefully collected and stored in hopes that the mural could be resurrected in some way. “Save the Mural” organizers are happy to report that work will begin soon on another mural project that will incorporate some of the old one.
Ann Mershon, one of the members of the Save the Mural group, sent out a message to supporters saying, “Thanks to everyone’s support, we were able to save a number of the motifs from the co-op building as it was demolished. The co-op paid for the labor on saving the motifs, which range in size from 18-inch square to six- and seven-foot squares that are presently stored at Thoreson’s.”
Thanks to a $1,000 donation from the Cook County Education Foundation and an $846 donation from a fundraiser by Jan Hall, organizers have about $4,000 that will be used for a school-community collaboration to create a new mural. Robin and Mark Johnson of Johnson’s Foods have offered the west wall of their store for the project.
Sawtooth Mountain Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Jana Larson and art teacher Mary MacDonald have agreed to work with their students and local artists to design and produce a new mural.
Volunteers Jon Hilde and Jeff Kern are experimenting with methods of freeing the mural motifs from the bricks behind them, a very difficult process, thanks to the great job of cementing by past mural producers, said Mershon. It is hoped that a new mural will include those pieces.
Mershon was appreciative of how the community came together over a year ago to try to save the mural. “There are many people to thank for their efforts to save the mural as well as those working to create a new one. We thank all those who donated to the fund and those who worked on fundraisers—you know who you are. We thank Thoreson’s for moving and storing the pieces and we thank Mike Larson for his last-ditch valiant effort to save the mural.”
Mershon said she and Jeff Kern would be meeting with community members in coming weeks to organize both fundraising and mural planning efforts. Anyone interested in helping is encouraged to attend a planning meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, October 15 at the GunFlint Tavern. If you are unable to attend but would like to help, contact Mershon at amershon@boreal.org.
An account has been set up at the North Shore Federal Credit Union for anyone wanting to contribute financially to the mural project.
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