FUN CITY IN COLOR

MORE MURALS NEEDED TO BRIGHTEN DULUTH?

By Brooks Johnson

My grandfather, Halvor Johnson, was known to quip: “I love the mountains, but they sure block a great view.”

I’m starting to feel the same about Duluth’s skyline. Yes, there is intrinsic beauty in all that preserved historical character and the way those old towers rise above the lake. But there is no life springing forth, no resonance — except at the AICHO building along East Second Street. See what I’m getting at?

Duluth needs more murals. Big, small, well-placed and random, the city could use a coat of color. I’m not saying we need to look like Larimer Street in Denver (an oversaturation of street art to say the least) but it’s clear Duluth has a shortage of outdoor ocular offerings. For a city that celebrates its arts and culture scene, it shouldn’t be so hard to find. So here are a few blank canvases and their potential paint jobs for your consideration.

ELECTRIC FETUS, 12 E. SUPERIOR ST.

Is there any better candidate for a music-themed mural? What an incredibly visible corner it is, too. Here is the rare intersection of the interstate, Canal Park and downtown, and here is the broad side of a building currently serving only a structural purpose. Let’s not let it go to waste.

The Pitch: Oh, something with Dylan, of course. But a diverse collage of musicians would be ideal, like the visual equivalent of flipping through records at the Fetus. Maybe, and all credit to esteemed arts writer Christa Lawler for this one: A Last Supper-style rundown of the local greats, with who else but Charlie Parr at the center.

DUNBAR FLORAL AND GIFTS, 526 E. FOURTH ST.

Here’s a well-traveled intersection that serves as another gateway to and from downtown. Driving west on Fourth Street, I become almost lost in the monotonous white of the building, thinking always of the natural advertising opportunity waiting to be seized.

The Pitch: Flowers, obviously. A beautiful field of color would brighten the coldest, grayest day. And we have plenty of those without cold, bare buildings adding to the midwinter malaise.

Parking Garages

Not every parking garage has a big, bare wall to cover with Cool Stuff. Some even blend well with their surrounds as-is. But there is an oversupply of short, long walls between floors. This could be a chance to feature a variety of artists, styles and statements.

The Pitch: Duluth is a very transportation-centric city, so let’s make these transportation structures sing the songs of movement. Boats and trains and buses and trolleys and Cirrus Vision jets and Subarus and mountain bikes and jetpacks — we were promised jetpacks, after all.

ORDEAN BUILDING, 424 W. SUPERIOR ST.

Here is how I imagine this building was originally decorated: Someone enlisted a group of kids to throw gravel at the side of it, and then, well that’s it. While this office tower reminds us to celebrate inner beauty, there is a massive mural opportunity on the windowless east side that could lend beauty to the whole town. It’s not perfectly visible right near the building, but from the interstate or Railroad Street, you can’t miss it. And now you’ll always see it. Sorry.

The Pitch: This is where Head of the Lakes United Way is headquartered. Let them take the lead to showcase our giving nature.

CITY OF DULUTH FLEET SERVICES, 4825 MIKE COLALILLO DRIVE

This is a barn, and an ugly one at that. Which means it’s a perfectly suitable, utilitarian municipal structure. But for the millions of eyes it greets as visitors and residents drive in and out of town? Even if it said WELLCOME, yes, even if it were a misspelled word, we’d be making better use of this magnificent canvas.

The Pitch: Scenes from around the city, from Fond du Lac to Lakeside. A mixture of arts and industry, recreation and history ought to do it.

This goes without saying, but please don’t take these hypothetical projects into your own hands without getting the proper permissions. I appreciate your zeal but can’t condone your tactics. Oh, and send along some more ideas to bjohnson@duluthnews.com.