The following article was written by Erin LaBonte for the Rahr-West Art Museum Art Forward series.
“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
St. Francis’s quote seems like an appropriate mural for our Manitowoc community. The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity saw a need in their community and began a hospital and a school. I grew a strong appreciation for the Sisters and St. Francis during the nine years that I taught at Silver Lake College. Strong-willed, educated women and quotes like the one we are using for the mural, guided me to be a more compassionate person. They made me feel empowered and part of something; so much so that I traveled to Assisi in 2019. My hope is that all those that frequent the Salvation Army Food Pantry will feel inspired, connected, and like anything is possible.
The Lakeshore Artists Guild’s fourth annual Art Slam commUNITY mural is scheduled for September 11, 2021. One of the event’s goals is to get the community actively creating together. Another goal is to leave behind one permanent piece of public art.
This year we are going to create a community paint-by-number mural on the facade of the Salvation Army Food Pantry. Over 130 community members came downtown to fill in the 2019 mural. Let’s make art together! Come out and be part of this process.
The project will be led by myself, Erin LaBonte, Don Krumpos, and David Carpenter.
The 2021 paint-by-number mural is made possible by amazing private business owners and individual sponsors. A big thanks goes out to Jeremiah Novak of Novak’s Service Center for being such a huge supporter of public art in our community. This is the fifth mural in the downtown area Jeremiah contributed to or sponsored directly. He is our largest contributor for this project.
We have other wonderful returning and new sponsors! Our major sponsors are Amy Lundberg of Lundberg & Associates Inc., American Family Insurance, Ryan’s On York, Schwartz Manufacturing Company, and Betsy and Tom Kocourek. We appreciate you! Thank you to Tony and Jenn Morris Fodden, Jill and James Iverson, Jim and Jane Hamann, Crowley Gear LLC, Briess Malt and Ingredients Company, the Fitness Store, and Balance on Buffalo.
Hallman Lindsay Paints, our reliable and friendly paint store, again donated paint for the project. A huge thanks to Hamann Construction for donating a lift!
Special thanks to Lt. Jenny Moffitt and others at the Salvation Army for your collaboration on the Art Slam 2021 commUNITY mural project.
See you at the wall!
Event Details:
Saturday, September 11, 9am-3 pm (or completion)
Salvation Army Food Pantry
402 N 9th St, Manitowoc, WI 54220