Hamline Midway Mural project needs a Kickstart

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The Burlesque Public Works Division, an offshoot of Minneapolis-based creative studio Burlesque of North America, is planning to design and paint a massive series of murals spanning nine garage doors on the side of the former American Can Company building on Prior Ave. They have a Kickstarter campaign to raise the remaining funds needed for the project.

Photo right: Six of the nine garage doors on the Can Can Wonderland building that would form a mural of the story of the area’s railroads and structures, the workforce, and the soul of the capital city. A Kickstarter campaign is trying to raise the last $8500 for the $40,000 project.

These murals will tell the story of the Hamline-Midway neighborhood, featuring images which honor its history, including the railroads which ran through it, the legacy of J.J. Hill, and the Minnesota State Fair which we will draw from the Minnesota Historical Society and the Ramsey County Historical Society. They’re also expected to work with members of the community to learn what’s important to them about their neighborhood and to translate that into these big and bold murals, helping bring new life to an area undergoing a revival thanks to the arrival of new businesses such as Can Can Wonderland and Black Stack Brewing.

When viewed together, the nine 20’ X 16’ doors will form a cohesive story of the area’s railroads and structures, and the history and integrity of the workforce in the Hamline-Midway area and its rejuvenation as a center of creativity and enterprise. The mission is to bring to light the Midwestern modesty and the blue-collar soul of this thriving capital city.

After a $20,000 Challenge Grant received from The Knight and additional generous backing of Orton Developments, Can Can Wonderland, and Ironlak Paint, they are within $8500 of their goal. There is a Kickstarter Campaign to get them to the goal. The deadline is July 21. Go to www.kickstarter.com and search for “Historical Murals for Hamline Midway.” As of press time they had raised $4700 of their $8500 remaining goal.

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