Elevated Art

Murals celebrate Faulkton's creative commitment

Photo courtesy Crystal Kopecky.

Visible for miles around this northeastern community, Faulkton’s latest mural project soars into the sky. Painted on the Agtegra grain elevator, the work of Australian muralist Guido van Helten depicts the youthful spirit of this artistic town, where murals throughout the community show a commitment to creativity.

The towering mural concept began with Dave Hedt, Faulkton entrepreneur and transplanted Australian. The murals of van Helten, now visible in communities around the world, (check it out at www.guidovanhelten.com or on Facebook and Instagram) began near Hedt’s Australian hometown.

Guido van Helten at work on the Faulkton mural.

Photo courtesy of Crystal Kopecky.

“Aussie Dave had heard that where these soaring mural projects had happened, the local economy took a huge jump because of visitors coming to the site,” said Linda Bartholomew, one of the original members of the Faulkton Area Arts Council. “He did some investigating and realized this was something to be pursued and could be literally something big for Faulkton.”

Van Helten was invited to Faulkton, where he met with arts council members, economic development officials and residents, all of whom were excited that the international muralist was willing to transform the local elevator. A committee was formed and fundraising and grant writing began, leading to a South Dakota Arts Council grant and an outpouring of regional support. Guido made a return visit in 2017, living in the area for about three weeks, taking photographs and getting to know the Faulkton geography and people.

During the summer, van Helten went up in a soaring lift arm basket, working on three sides of the elevator tower. The vertical mural, completed September 1, depicts a prairie boy and girl, connected by flying hats that symbolize the western culture and the lofty aspirations of this community dedicated to public art.

The van Helten mural is the latest of the many murals that Faulkton has added to the public face of the community. The trend goes back over a century, but it was after the creation of the Faulkton Arts Council in the 1970s that the mural phenomenon really took off. (For more about the Faulkton murals, see the story above.)

“Investing in public works of art like murals helps add a level of vibrancy to our town,” Bartholomew said. “It helps define and beautify Faulkton as well as instill a deep sense of community pride.” Faulkton has installed viewing posts on three sides of the van Helten mural;

Guido van Helton works from his lift basket as Faulkton's newest mural rises above the prairie landscape.

Photo by Patrick Baker.

panels explaining the process and the genesis of the towering work are still in the planning stages. The project was supported by the local arts council in association with the Faulkton Area Economic Development Corporation —an organization that understands the impact of quality of life investments like public art.

“There is an energy in Faulkton that is expressed by our community motto, We believe in possible,” said Troy Hadrick, president of the development corporation. “Businesses and families are attracted to communities that can come together to make wonderful things happen—and the van Helten mural project dramatizes that, in Faulkton, we do just that!”

Visit www.faulktonsd.com to see video views of the elevator mural.