9/1/2009:
A tall lanky man stands in the Hotel Kaddatz in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Working in complete silence, the artist wields his paintbrush and brings to life vibrant scenes from everyday life: a proud family surveying their farm, wide eyed cows grazing on bucolic lush land, vibrant blue skies above blazing gold sunflowers, trains passing by country grain elevators, and city folk dining at outdoor cafes while musicians and spectators add to the downtown atmosphere.
Artist Scott Gunvaldson was commissioned by the city of Fargo as part of an ongoing public arts program. With the theme "Fargo Commerce" on his mind, he started work.
Gunvaldson said, "I brainstormed on the ways money exchanges hands in the city. The most obvious was farming and the selling and processing of agricultural products." After eight months of sketching, revisions, and painting, Gunvaldson completed his task - a 45-foot mural for the Fargo Skywalk. The mural was transported from Fergus Falls and mounted in the Skywalk, wallpaper-style, in September of 2005. Located approximately 500 feet from the Prairie Public television and radio studios, the mural overlooks Broadway Street, with commuters and downtowners passing by underneath.
The mural reads like a Who's Who in Gunvaldson's life. To quote the artist, "Both of my daughters are in the painting - my oldest daughter is the most prominent figure in the technology section. My youngest daughter is sitting at a table with her friends in the entertainment/arts section. Many of her friends are in other sections of the mural as is a representation of my parents. A couple of my close musician friends are portrayed as musicians in the entertainment/arts section." By painting family and friends into the lengthy mural, Gunvaldson truly made it a labor of love.
Raised in Fergus Falls, Gunvaldson's art reflects his roots in rural Minnesota, and his strong sense of community. Rich blues, greens and bright earthy-tones - colors reflected from farm lands and prairie skies - are found in his murals and numerous works of art.
The next time you find yourself in Fargo some weekday afternoon, make a detour downtown to Broadway and the Fargo Skywalk. Whether you hail from city or country, Scott Gunvaldson's mural-depicting life in these northern plains-is truly worth the trip.
Dakota Datebook written by Jill Whitcomb
Sources:
personal emails and phone calls from Scott Gunvaldson
MNartists.org-
(Scott Gunvaldson)