A Mural to the Maplewood Community

Ben, Kelly & Sara take a trip to Maplewood Mall. These three kids go on an adventure to the Carousel (all two levels of it!), the Sustainable Safari & of course the train as it treks into the sky. All these wonders fit snugly between the walls of the Mall, but it turns out they can fit onto one mural in the mall too!

“Once upon a time… there were a group of children who went to the Maplewood Mall. They shopped for hours,and then went for lunch. Ben had a burger, Sara ate some Cotton Candy, Kelly had some fruit. They dropped their food. . . Can you help them find it? Look in the Mural - <3 The Real Sara”

Painted by Maplewood Local, Sara Fohrenkamm of @froriginals fame, the mural’s a MASSIVE 84 feet wide just as you enter the south entrance. It depicts the communal joy the mall leaves open to all; A wide variety of foods, animals, musical instruments & people of all types & capabilities! Whether you’re a robot, a snowman or some awkward lady interviewing the artist on the bench across from the piece, the mural says it plainly. A community’s a lovely thing to be a part of & communities deserve art!

Sara putting the final touches on the Mural. (Recreation)

I met Sara off-handedly through Art Battle & I’ve only ever known her to be kind. She engages in tons of community art events from face painting classes with Mural contributor, Tamina Muhammad of @taminafunfaces fame, to the Wednesday Community Art Events held at OurGallery at West End, Art Battle, Neon Painting classes, Drawing classes, Live Painting at concerts, Paint & Sips. I think she said it best. Sara loves “sharing how art can help you grow and even heal”. Her work and her community-oriented attitude show it. Art’s for everyone, & that means you!

This was pretty short & sweet, so where do we go next? There are plenty of opportunities to pursue art in your life, so here's where you can go!

• Sara's always up to something new, she made a Coloring Book for the Maplewood Mall! So keep an eye out for that & what else's next on her Instagram @froriginals!

• If you want to be cool & give back to the community you’ll join OurGallery on

  Wednesday, April 2nd for Art 4 Shelter, an Art Sale Fundraiser for Simpson Housing Service & their mission to end homelessness. Original Art will be sold & created by upcoming & established artists, so you never know what you’ll find!

• Saturday, April 19th is the next Art Battle event! Doors open at 5pm, Painting starts at 6pm! Get tickets online at artbattle.com or at the door of OurGallery at 1637 West End Blvd, St Louis Park, MN! (You can also sign up for a chance to participate if that’s more your speed :P)

• But if you’re too busy for all that, read a comic! A book of art! You can check them out from the library, or buy them from your local bookstore, you can even read them online & peruse the multitudes of indie published works on apps or websites like globalcomix! You can read my emo superhero comic Silver & Gold here.

Tootles y’all!

CREDITS:

Written by Tamaris Morgan

Silver & Gold: globalcomix.com/c/silver-gold

OurGallery - 1637 West End Blvd, St Louis Park, MN