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Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News February 3, 2006 - Rapids ready to unveil two murals By: Deb Cleworth, Daily Tribune Staff Downtown Wisconsin Rapids will be a flurry of artistic activity on Saturday. Part of the action will be the unveiling of two new historic murals, beginning at 1 p.m. The unveiling will take place along West Grand Avenue as teams of amateur sculptors participate in the first Wisconsin Rapids Snow Sculpting Spectacular across the Wisconsin River at Veterans Memorial Park. The murals, painted by Susan Sampson of Black River Falls, are part of an ongoing "Murals Walk," a project of the Public Art Group within the Community Progress Initiative's Downtown Revitalization Cluster. "I just think this is the start of a snowball, and once we get the other murals up, and the mural walk in place, and the condominiums ... I just think (downtown will have) the feel and the look of a place where young people will want to spend time," said Dawn Olson, who helped sponsor one of the murals. Corenso North America also sponsored one of Sampson's murals, which will be displayed on the outside wall of Book World. That will provide more visibility than available at Corenso's plant at 800 Fremont St., said Tom Janke, company president. Former Corenso President Krister Rosenquivst initiated the project. "He was very interested in it, felt it was a good thing for the community and a good way for Corenso to participate," Janke said. "So he committed our company to do a mural." When Rosenquivst took another position out of the country, interest in the project continued. A small committee of interested Corenso employees helped with mural ideas and researched company history. "The company is known as Corenso, but some people still think of us historically as the old Paperboard Products Division," Janke said, referring to the company's roots with the former Consolidated Paper Co. "One thing that's been really kind of neat about putting the ideas and thoughts together is we've learned how rich a history there is in the buildings and locations," he said. "Having that sense of history going back well over a 100 years has lent a certain richness to what has now become Corenso North America." The other mural depicts the early days of railroading. The Public Arts Committee helped sponsor the mural and got others to join the funding. The illustrations of trains are taken from photographs dating back to 1871. The mural will be mounted at the end of the Mead Witter building on West Grand Avenue. "I think it's so awesome that we are finally getting this started as a community, and I see it as just a little step in the big giant step that's going to come next for our community," Olson said. She believes a mix of coffee shops, art galleries and River Walk are among downtown amenities that will draw people to the community. Olson was one of several sponsors who were allowed a preliminary glimpse of the mural earlier this week. " It was exhilarating to go to Susan Sampson's gallery and see the murals in process," she said. "It's really neat to kind of be in on the ground floor with that." Murals at Paul Gross Jewelers and McMillan Memorial Library were unveiled in 2005. Customers are impressed with Sampson's detailing in the art at Paul Gross Jewelers, said Robin Koeshall, store owner. The mural features a large diamond and images of founders Maxine Smith and Paul Gross. It also depicts a photo of Tessa Poppy, an employee's daughter, when she was about 1 year old, and reproductions of Koeshall's grandparents. "I think it's a wonderful asset to the community," Koeshall said. "I think the more that go up, and the more people can see the variety of things that (Sampson) can do, hopefully it will inspired more people to do some." Janke agreed. "You wonder what other types of stories there are in businesses in the community that could be told through a mural and through this mural project," he said.
		Copyright © 2005, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome