Moorhead’s Growing Art Mural

Arts | July 20th, 2016

By Elle Anderson

As the years have gone by, street art in the community has grown and keeps on growing. In large cities everywhere you walk there are murals on the sides of buildings and sidewalks. Art has always had a way of brightening up any city. In the city of Moorhead, Mandel Mertz has received a grant to paint a mural on the east exterior wall of the Junkyard Brewing Company.

Mertz is originally from Arizona and moved to the Fargo-Moorhead area in 2010. She attended college at NDSU, received a degree in Architecture and minored in Art. Mertz moved around a lot as a child. By experiencing many different types of scenery, Mertz found a love for creating diverse art. Mertz’s art is not confined to one genre. Her finished products always seem to cover many different areas of art. “Each painting is different but I always try to convey some sense of fun and wonder,” says Mertz.

Mertz received a grant from the Lake Region Arts Council to start the creation of the mural. The Minnesota State Legislature made this funding possible. The proceeds from the fund can only be spent on the arts, arts education and arts access, and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage. Mertz received twelve hundred dollars to start the masterpiece.

Mertz looked all over Moorhead to find the perfect area to create. She had emailed the mayor of Moorhead and Junkyard Brewing Company had been an option they discussed. After getting in contact with the manager, Junkyard was excited to have Mandel’s artistic palette added to their company. The east exterior of Junkyard will now be home to the mural forever.

The mural will be based on Moorhead’s history, which will include the Hjemkomst, the railroad, an Ojibwe-inspired element, dandelions and catfish. “The mural started off very busy but I have cut out different aspects and simplified the mural,” says Mertz.

The mural has taken a long time from creating it to sizing it on the wall to actually painting it. She knew the process would be long but well worth the time and hard work. Mertz began painting in the beginning of July and hopes to have it completely finished by the end of July. The bright colors will be sure to catch your eye on the drive in.

Mertz has been working on the mural in her spare time while maintaining her day job. She has been trying to set goals for each week and what she wants to be completed.

Whether you are out and about shopping, eating or having a few brews stop at Junkyard to watch the mural come to life. Since she is out at night, you will catch her live and in action. She is also open to questions and conversation. This mural is to show the beauty and pride that we have here in the Moorhead area.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Junkyard Brewing Company

1416 1st Ave N, Moorhead, (218) 936-5545

Sun-Thurs 4-10pm, Fri 4pm-12am, Sat 12pm-12am

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