Published on: Mon, 11/05/2007 - 15:17
Members of the Dayton’s Bluff community gathered on November 1st to celebrate a new mural and recognize the outstanding artists. Students from City Academy High School volunteered their time and talent to paint the vibrant mural on the side of the Size Matters Fashion Shop (located at 851 East 7th Street). The mural represents the interconnectivity of the many cultures found on Saint Paul’s East Side—Native American, Hispanic, Scandinavian, Hmong, Italian and African American. Each culture is represented in a series of circles that surround a central pyramid. A hand reaches out from each circle towards the pyramid symbolizing the potential for collaboration.
Jeff Prowell: City Academy student and muralist
Jeff Prowell, a City Academy student and aspiring painter, stated that the class learned about the history of the neighborhood before starting the mural. They were inspired by the stories of immigration and translated these stories into art. “We looked through books and found European designs,” Prowell said about the intricate geometric patterns modeled after a picture of Scandinavian jewelry. Che Xiong, a student who helped design the mural, explained that the intricate rose and seashell design encompassed in the bottom-most circle represents the European (including Italian, Polish and German) heritage of the neighborhood.
The mural has personal meaning for Mee Thao, the proprietor of the fashion shop. In fact, Thao’s needlework served as a model for a portion of the mural. Thao immigrated to Minnesota from Southeast Asia in the early 1980s. She worked hard as a tailor and eventually earned enough to purchase her own space on East 7th Street. Most of her customers live nearby and she takes pride in serving the East Side neighborhoods. In order to demonstrate that pride, she recently collaborated with Historic Saint Paul to restore her building and enliven the storefront (click here to learn more about the project).
Mee Thao: owner of the Size Matters Fashion Shop
During the restoration, Historic Saint Paul board member Kathryn Paulson observed that east wall of the fashion shop, which was covered in garish advertisements, provided an ideal canvas for public art. Paulson approached City Academy teachers Mem Lloyd, Alice Rivard and Chia Vang about the potential for collaboration. They responded enthusiastically; according to Lloyd, the project presented the students with the opportunity to learn about local history while contributing to revitalization efforts.
At the mural celebration, the deserving students were commended by Historic Saint Paul, Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood organizations and representatives from Mayor Chris Coleman’s and City Council President Kathy Lantry’s offices. One Dayton’s Bluff resident remarked “While the mural reflects the neighborhood’s past, it really represents the neighborhood’s future.” That future looks promising (and colorful) thanks to the young muralists. They have already succeeded in promoting the types of neighborhood collaborations that are represented by the mural.
Mem Lloyd, a teacher at City Academy, spoke about the mural project
Do you know of a wall on the East Side that could use a mural? City Academy is always looking for new projects. Contact Historic Saint Paul or Mem Lloyd at City Academy to inquire about a potential site.
