4 minute read
DISCOVER THE “STORY” OF LANESBORO’S NEW THEATER DISTRICT MURAL
-ERIK PEARSON, ARTIST
Big cities have big theater districts. In New York, it’s Broadway. Chicago has one, too. Minneapolis? The Hennepin Theater District. All are venues for great shows and fun entertainment and very popular with lots of people.
Did you know that Lanesboro has a theater district, too? Smaller, for sure, but offering wonderful theatre and entertainment in two historic downtown theaters, the Commonweal and the St. Mane. Both are very popular, with lots of people attending from Lanesboro and beyond.
In the spring of 2020, a beautifully-crafted, communitypainted mural will be installed to celebrate our town’s theater district. Located on the north end of Parkway Avenue, the mural is the result of a partnership between the Commonweal Theatre and Lanesboro Arts. Funding for the paint was provided by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s “Paint the Town” grant program. Ideas came
from Lanesboro residents (of all ages), and the person who created it is Erik Pearson, a St. Paul artist. Erik is known locally as Lanesboro Arts' first artist-in-residence in 2001, for his work in the Lanesboro Schools and for his large panel paintings for the Commonweal’s “construction zone” in 2005, which later graced the interior walls of the former Intermission Restaurant. Pearson designed the new Lanesboro mural as a work that tells a story (see page 11). More than 200 people (both local residents and visitors) helped paint it last October. The mural—created on parachute-like material—will be permanently attached to the south corner wall of the Manion Law Office Building in the spring of 2020.
Maybe you’ve enjoyed plays and concerts in New York, Chicago or Minneapolis. You may be a regular patron of the arts in Lanesboro’s Theater District, too. If not, come by soon. You won’t want to miss what’s going on here!
ADAM WILTGEN ERIK PEARSON KARA MALONEY Lanesboro Arts
FIND THE STORY IN LANESBORO’S THEATER DISTRICT MURAL The panels Pearson created tell a story using real and fictional characters based on his own research and historical photos. Here are just a few details featured in the mural.
The fairy in the top left corner is on the stage, and represents “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which was the Commonweal Theatre Company's first production in 1989. The character performing with the guitar represents the St. Mane Theatre, because it hosts both professional and communitybased musical performers.
Learn more about the mural at lanesboroarts.com The audience member with the broom represents Robert Greer, one of the first businessmen of Lanesboro and the first mayor.
The woman above Mr. Greer represents one of the former switchboard phone operators in town, and the phone line travels to each character, ending on stage, plugged into the guitar.
» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
SUMMER
12 | # LANESBOROMN | # ONLYINLANESBORO FALL In September, anticipation for the coming leaf change is seen in the way our streets are lined with corn stalks, mums and pumpkins. The Fall colors are reason alone to visit Lanesboro in October. Catch a glimpse of sugar and red maples, burr, red and white oaks, aspen, birch and other hardwood species. There is still plenty of opportunity to enjoy the colors, and more than 40 species of birds from the Root River State Trail, hiking trails or the river, as you fish or kayak. Art, history and beauty lovers flock to Lanesboro in the Fall for the annual performances of the History Alive Pop-Up Plays, the Lanesboro Area Art Trail and to check out the Lanesboro Historical Museum. Spring seamlessly changes into Summer, as Lanesboro is hopping with visitors, warm temperatures, river activities, vibrant energy and festivals! We Minnesotans know that summer is the time to enjoy as many days as possible outdoors on the Root River State Trail, hiking at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center and canoeing, tubing or kayaking the scenic Root River. Sylvan Park is a great place to play basketball, tennis or pickleball, get some energy out at the playground, fish the pond or enjoy a picnic under beautiful trees. The Lanesboro Golf Course and Rivers Bend Golf Course are waiting for you to practice your game along gorgeous views of bluffs and nature. There are many front porches from which to watch the world go by and various outdoor venues to dine al fresco and delight in seasonal flavors, madefrom-scratch delicacies, unique cocktails and local beers or wines. Events are plentiful in the summer; there’s never a weekend without activities. Visit Lanesboro in the summer to enjoy all we have to offer: natural beauty, outdoor recreation, fishing, art, theatre, history, shopping, dining and a time to truly unwind.
