Community Collaboration - Cannon Falls
The Cannon Falls Library Teen Mural Public Art Project involved two events: the weeklong creation of a mural at the library, and the public unveiling and open house. In June, professional artist, Kelli Bickman, a native of Cannon Falls, came to work with area teens to help them learn how to paint a mural at the library. Over the course of four days she guided the teens through creating their own concept drawings, sketches on wood panels, and finally - painting. Once the work was complete, the library hosted a community Mural Unveiling that invited Cannon Falls residents in to meet the artists and take in the new mural at their library.
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We offered two surveys, one to the youth involved in creating the mural and one to people attending the unveiling. Our hope for the youth participants was that they would learn something of value, feel more comfortable in their art abilities, like the completed project, think that the mural contributes to the library's image and mission, and see the project as benefitting the community. For the oveall community response, we hoped they would feel positive about the completed project, that they would think it contributes to the library's image and mission, and see the mural as benefitting the community.
All responses were very positive. Students felt that they learned about art, about expressing themselves, about how to paint and work as a team, and how to approach making art with different styles as a professional artist might. Almost every youth artist felt more confident in their abilities to make art at the completion of the project. They felt that the mural added to the library's image and mission by making it brighter and more approachable. And they felt that the community members could look at the mural and find something they like. Responses to the unveiling were also all positive, and everyone indicated that they thought the project added to the library's image and mission in a meaningful way. Many of the comments about the project benefitting the community centered on increased community pride.
Cannon Falls Library, Cannon Falls Library Foundation, Cannon Arts Board