At the Bend of the Redwood
History Mural
Located at the Corner of Third and Main Streets in Marshall, MN
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About the Mural
The mural has been painted on special canvas with artist acrylic paint. The artwork canvas has been mounted on paneling previously installed on the brick and then sealed with a protective topcoat. As the mural was applied to the panels, the negative space between the panels show the existing brick.
The mosaic panels were designed and cut from stained glass, mounted on panels, and grouted. The words in each panel are reverse painted to show through the glass mosaic.
"Shimmering Rows Golden Prairie Light"
Featured in the mural is a special design of stained glass made especially for this mural. Inspired by a poem written by Minnesota poet Marge Barrett, these words seem especially fitting for our rural community on our best weather days! Shimmering Rows Golden Prairie Light remind us of Marshall's rich history and the beautiful natural backdrop that continues to nurture and define Marshall today.
The mosaic panels were designed and cut from stained glass, mounted on panels, and grouted. The words in each panel are reverse painted to show through the glass mosaic.
"Shimmering Rows Golden Prairie Light"
Featured in the mural is a special design of stained glass made especially for this mural. Inspired by a poem written by Minnesota poet Marge Barrett, these words seem especially fitting for our rural community on our best weather days! Shimmering Rows Golden Prairie Light remind us of Marshall's rich history and the beautiful natural backdrop that continues to nurture and define Marshall today.
About the Artist
Josh Sarantitis graduated from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio with a degree in Fine Arts, Installation Art. He also studied with the Arts Student League of New York. Josh has continued since that time to create public and private murals throughout the United States, France, Germany, and Spain. His work includes numerous murals in San Francisco, Tucson, Chicago, and Philadelphia, where his impact is significant with 16 murals created for the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. Over the years, Josh has also served as a visiting lecturer across the United States.
Josh was assisted in this project by artist Greta McLain of St. Paul. Greta is a graduate of the University of California, Davis and is currently working on her MFA at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She and Sarantitis have collaborated on six community art projects. Spending a semester in Mexico City, she discovered her love of cooperative community art and the strong line, color, and passion of Mexican murals.
Josh was assisted in this project by artist Greta McLain of St. Paul. Greta is a graduate of the University of California, Davis and is currently working on her MFA at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She and Sarantitis have collaborated on six community art projects. Spending a semester in Mexico City, she discovered her love of cooperative community art and the strong line, color, and passion of Mexican murals.
Inspiration in Nature and History
Nestled in the bend of the Redwood River, Marshall's multifaceted commercial history comes to life. Starting with wild prairie flowers, the viewer's eye moves to wheat stalks and then fields, illustrating Marshall's agricultural origins. The first Marshall grain elevators lay the industrial framework for Marshall's commercial potential before transforming into a rich honeycomb.
Referring to some of the contemporary honey farming of today, honeybees bring us full circle as they look to the prairie flowers for pollen and inspiration. The walls of eggs (stones) makes reference to the egg drying plant prominent during WWII. Finally, unifying the whole composition, the Redwood River flows through and around the entire wall, speaking to the ebbs and flows of life, and Marshall's unique identity.
Referring to some of the contemporary honey farming of today, honeybees bring us full circle as they look to the prairie flowers for pollen and inspiration. The walls of eggs (stones) makes reference to the egg drying plant prominent during WWII. Finally, unifying the whole composition, the Redwood River flows through and around the entire wall, speaking to the ebbs and flows of life, and Marshall's unique identity.
Marshall's Unique History
The history of a city over the course of 138 years contains any number of stories, personalities, and facts that make a place what it is. The concept of this representation of Marshall's history was to center on the consistent story of turning local resources into enhanced products and sending them out to the nation and the world. The artist's design has incorporated images that reflect Marshall's past and present.
1872-1914
Marshall was sited on a flood-prone bend of the Redwood River and founded by CH Whitney, an entrepreneur from New York. The eight foot tal prairie grass and flowers became a plowed field that produced wheat. Grain elevators that served two rail lines sent out flax, barley, oats, and wheat. A Russian Jewish Immigrant, Louis Wiener began a scrap iron and rag picker business and grew it into a major food processing business, Marshall Foods.
1915-1950
Following World War II was a time of growth for the community. Ice packed chickens from two poultry dressing plants were shipped nationwide by Marshall Produce. The first and largest egg drying plant in America produced powdered eggs for the Armed Forces during WWII. Marshall Milling is converted into dairy and poultry production by Swift and Company, and today Turkey Valley continues to process turkeys.
1951-Present
Workers continue to come and go from Marshall even as the city continues to grow. Other distant immigrants from Mexico, Vietnam, and Somalia all come looking for the same better life in Marshall. As our state university opens in the late 60s, more resources and diversity are available to the community. Marv Schwan's innovative idea to deliver ice cream and other dairy products to homes becomes the national and international Schwan Food Company. Honey is produced and marketed nationwide. Corn and soybeans begin to replace small grain production with processing plants developing to accommodate these changes. Livestock feed and supplements are sold internationally by RALCO. A cooperative begun by farmers becomes a major ADM corn milling plant. With the advent of computers and electronic technology, related businesses grow to support the needs of the community and the region.
1872-1914
Marshall was sited on a flood-prone bend of the Redwood River and founded by CH Whitney, an entrepreneur from New York. The eight foot tal prairie grass and flowers became a plowed field that produced wheat. Grain elevators that served two rail lines sent out flax, barley, oats, and wheat. A Russian Jewish Immigrant, Louis Wiener began a scrap iron and rag picker business and grew it into a major food processing business, Marshall Foods.
1915-1950
Following World War II was a time of growth for the community. Ice packed chickens from two poultry dressing plants were shipped nationwide by Marshall Produce. The first and largest egg drying plant in America produced powdered eggs for the Armed Forces during WWII. Marshall Milling is converted into dairy and poultry production by Swift and Company, and today Turkey Valley continues to process turkeys.
1951-Present
Workers continue to come and go from Marshall even as the city continues to grow. Other distant immigrants from Mexico, Vietnam, and Somalia all come looking for the same better life in Marshall. As our state university opens in the late 60s, more resources and diversity are available to the community. Marv Schwan's innovative idea to deliver ice cream and other dairy products to homes becomes the national and international Schwan Food Company. Honey is produced and marketed nationwide. Corn and soybeans begin to replace small grain production with processing plants developing to accommodate these changes. Livestock feed and supplements are sold internationally by RALCO. A cooperative begun by farmers becomes a major ADM corn milling plant. With the advent of computers and electronic technology, related businesses grow to support the needs of the community and the region.
