contributed photo Minnesota artist Jordyn Brennan stands next to her completed mural at McGregor’s Furniture store. The Marshalltown Arts and Cultural Alliance has many more murals planned.

The Marshall County Arts and Culture Alliance has been busy lately, spreading color and vibrancy across Marshalltown . . . and the organization is nowhere near done. There is more artwork to come.

Two mural projects are taking place downtown and another is planned for the 13th Street District on the north wall of the Chop Shop.

“That one we’re partnering with Rotary,” Arts and Culture Alliance Director Amber Danielson said.

Details on what that mural will look like do not appear to be finalized.

Danielson said the alliance is partnering with the Marshalltown Development Foundation for a mural on the south wall of Thompson True Value, 106 S. Center St. That mural location was hand selected by the Marshalltown Development Foundation for specific reasons such as high visibility and the entrance to the downtown.

Danielson said a direct commission was done for that project and Des Moines artist Jimmy Navarro was selected.

“He is currently in the process of creating the design and we are anticipating that being painted sometime in September,” she said.

Just up the street and around the corner from Thompson True Value a mural is planned for the south wall of the Tremont Building, 22 W. Main St. Danielson said they are in the process of finalizing the artists for that piece. The Tremont art will be the biggest one done yet and does not carry a specific theme.

“It will evoke some really awesome feelings when people experience it in person. It is by far going to be our largest scale mural,” Danielson said.

In addition to murals on the side of buildings, there is a sidewalk poetry project in place through a partnership with the Marshalltown Public Art Committee and the City of Marshalltown. Iowa poet, Akwi Nji, has been commissioned to work on the pocket park, between the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and City Hall.

Nji will have conversations with residents in the community and those will help facilitate what the poems will be, which will tell the story of Marshalltown.

Danielson said the alliance looks at putting up art all over the city, not in just certain neighborhoods.

“We really feel like arts and culture specifically through murals, adds so much vibrancy, creates an opportunity for more community pride, beautification and really just increases quality of life. We’re excited about putting lots of murals throughout our entire communities, certainly downtown, but we’re really looking throughout our entire community and even looking at opportunities to sprinkle some throughout neighborhoods in our community,” Danielson said.

She said any wall presents an opportunity for a mural, and some have already been used. New murals have been unveiled around town, the most recent is located at McGregor’s Furniture Store, 111 W. Main St., by Minnesota artist Jordyn Brennan.

“That mural really celebrates McGregor’s history and celebrates aspects of what makes Iowa beautiful,” Danielson said.

The Arts and Culture Alliance partnered with the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown, 1921 Taylor Ave, on a mural on the inside of the building, which was done by Julie Bousum. For that artwork, Danielson said they wanted to only search for Marshall County artists.

“That piece was really celebrating the outdoors and also giving an opportunity for a photo op, or people who will be potentially adopting pets,” Danielson said.

The Edward Jones Building on South First Avenue, also had a mural painted on one of its exterior walls, done by Des Moines artist Rebecca Wagner.

“That really is just a floral design, just really bringing vibrancy and colors to that area,” Danielson said.

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Contact Sam Stuve at 641-753-6611 or sstuve@timesrepublican.com