Downtown Mural Art Walking Tour
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Description
These are the murals created through funding from NeighborWorks Great Falls and then ArtsFest Montana.
1. Dragonfly West Wall Murals
In September 2018, NeighborWorks Great Falls engaged the services of internationally renowned mural artist Cameron Moberg to create a series of murals in downtown Great Falls that reflect the history and culture of the community. Together with artist Sheree Nelson, the duo created four murals at this location. Nelson also created the 5th panel as part of the new ArtsFest MONTANA in 2019. In response to the success of this project, the community is continuing to secure the services of artists to create new murals throughout the community.
2. First Alley South and 5th Street Murals
Just behind the Enbar building on the west side of 5th Street South, you will find the Bison mural in the alley, on the north wall created by Cameron Moberg during Arts Fest MONTANA in 2019. Moberg has been the principal artist for many of the murals created from 2018 to the present. Artsfest MONTANA is sponsored by the Great Falls Business Improvement District, with many collaborating property owners and funders. ArtsFest MONTANA celebrates downtown Great Falls history and arts in many ways. On the south wall, across from the "Bison" mural, is the "See Be Build A New City" mural created by New City Church in 2019. Just a few more feet west in the alley is Straight Dancer. Jack “Senta” Wingo, @artworkbySenta, has been creating artwork since he could hold a pencil, but this was his first large scale piece. Senta joined ArtsFest MONTANA from Oklahoma, he is enrolled in the Cherokee nation. Then cross 5th Street to the east to find four murals created as part of the Artsfest MONTANA in 2020. Starting at 5th Street headed east, the south side of the alley is the beautiful “Hand of God", a Sistine Chapel-like depiction of energy flowing between two hands, by Cameron Moberg. On the north side of the alley, find a series of murals created by multiple artists as a part of the artist training that is held during ArtsFest MONTANA, led by Cameron Moberg, and sponsored by the Great Falls Business Improvement District and NeighborWorks Great Falls. Cameron Moberg’s “Wolf” was installed during ArtFest in 2019, as a demonstration for the students who then began installation of their practice pieces in what has become known as the “Electric City ArtWalk”. Local Great Falls artist, Sheree Nelson, installed her first solo piece using the spray can method, “Sunshine” was installed during ArtsFest MONTANA 2019. On the north side of the alley, from 5th Street, the artist Wes (@wes7svn) has created a stain glass effect mural, entitled "Ram”, also created during ArtsFest MONTANA in 2020. On the east side of that building you can find another hand, called "Love Sign", created by Tommy (@life_is_layers) during ArtsFest MONTANA in 2020.
3. 406 Mural
One of the many goals of ArtsFest MONTANA is to educate artists in the craft of street art. It is a medium by which artists are able to create large-scale pieces in a very short time frame. ArtsFest MONTANA offers an educational workshop to anyone interested, the workshop is usually held during the first Friday when ArtsFest launches. Attendees learn the history of street art from Cameron Moberg and then venture outside to experience the medium themselves. This piece, “406” was created by the attendees at the ArtsFest MONTANA Artist Workshop held on Friday, August 12, 2022. While the attendees were experiencing their first attempt at street art, artists from around the world were beginning creation of their pieces on multiple buildings throughout Downtown Great Falls.
4. Meadowlark
Cameron Moberg created this mural of Montana's state bird, "Meadowlark, as part of NeighborWorks Great Falls Project Reinvest in 2018. The mural was catalyst for more than two dozen murals he either painted or helped curate in the ensuing years.
5. Pennington Building Murals
Five murals were created in 2021 during ArtsFest MONTANA. Located on the rear of the Pennington building at #8 5th St No, across the alley from the Stockman Bank drive thru, the murals display an astonishing array of subjects and styles. Go to the alley behind the address to see the murals in full color. ArtFest is produced annually by the Great Falls Business Improvement District, in collaboration with artists and building owners.Continue west on the alley to the Macaw mural at the read of Kaufman's Store. The artist Fasm hails from Modesto, California. This was his 3rd time joining us for ArtsFest MONTANA, installing this magnificent Macaw during ArtsFest MONTANA 2022. Fasm has many pieces depicting realistic animals throughout downtown Great Falls. Fasm can be found at www.fasmcreative.com.
6. Electric City Community Mural
During Artsfest MONTANA in 2020, with support from NeighborWorks Great Falls and a grant from the American Association of Retired Persons, residents and community members were brought together to create this bright and colorful community mural, "Electric City." The artists involved in ArtsFest MONTANA 2020 each created a portion of the mural, and the community was invited to participate. Individuals ranging in age from 2 to 85 assisting in the installation of the community mural. The artists involved were Sheree Nelson, Fasm, Mister Toledo (mister_toledo), Leaf Argotti (@leafargotti), Wes, Tommy, Pawn and Cameron Moberg. The mural's title refers to a nickname for Great Falls, which refers to the massive electric generation created by the five nearby hydroelectric dams on the Missouri River. It also reflects on the fact that the copper that was smelted at the Boston and Montana and then Anaconda Smelter in Black Eagle created the wiring to literally wire the United States.
7. Flowers and Fluid Movement
Local Great Falls artist Sheree Nelson, @sartnleson, joined us for her 4th ArtsFest MONTANA mural festival. Located on the back of 614 Central Ave, this may be one of Sheree’s largest pieces yet. Funded by a grant from the Montana Arts Council. Sheree didn’t shy away from the massive blank walls she faced; she completed this beautiful, flowery mural in five days! Ricky Watts created his Fluid Movement Artsfest MONTANA mural in 2021, in back of 618 Central Ave. He flirted with multiple painting styles for a number of years before developing his current abstract style of colors and movement. This came about in 2012, as a deconstruction of the letter shapes he was producing on canvas at the time. It was a lightbulb moment for Ricky and he put everything else on hold to follow the path of this new-formed style.Today, Ricky’s colorful large-scale murals and intricate paintings on canvas can be found throughout the United States.
8. Charlie Russell Black and White Mural
The Charlie Russell Mural is one of three black and white murals in Great Falls, all honoring community leaders. The mural was created by Andrew Fowler and Jim DeStaffany. Charles M. Russell is one of the foremost Western artists of the 20th century and is honored here for making Great Falls his home for many years. You can see Russell's work and that of other western artists at the C. M. Russell Museum at 400 13th Street North.
9. Paris Gibson Black and White Mural
The Paris Gibson Mural is located on the south wall of the CHJW Law firm building. Paris Gibson was the founder and long-time community leader in Great Falls. Next to the mural is a "ghost" sign from the old days when the buidling was advertising Owl Cigars.
10. Speaking Socially Murals
Continue waliking down the alley to the Speaking Socially building at 509 1st Avenue North. You will be delighted by murals created by multiple artists, many themed around Mother Nature. Start in the parking lot just east of the building and continue around to the back and to the west side. "Leaves" was created by New York artist Jenna Morello (@jennamorello) as part of ArtsFest MONTANA in 2019. Sponsored by the Great Falls Improvement District, with many collaborating partners and property owners. "Tiger", "Woman" and "River" were drawn by Fasm, Mister Toledo and Leaf Argotti, respectively, during ArtsFest MONTANA in 2020. During ArtsFest MONTANA 2022, Cameron Moberg installed “Home” and Canadian artist, Bacon (@vizsla_bacon), installed flowers on the back garage door.
11. Miss Blackfeet Nation/Buffalo-Elk Murals
Located on the back of the 525 building is the lifelike depiction of Miss Blackfeet Nation. Alia Kipp-Heavyrunner allowed artist @Louis.StillSmoking.Art to create this mural using her image. She served as Miss Blackfeet from 2019 to 2022. Louis Still Smoking is a Montana based artist who represents the Blackfeet Nation. Louis resides in Browning. Alongside Miss Blackfeet you will see images of a buffalo and an elk. These pieces were installed by @JohnIsaiahPepion, also of the Blackfeet Nation. John is best known for his ledger art. Ledger art is an art tradition developed as a result of the scarcity of buffalo hides. Plains people were forced to adapt by making artwork on ledger paper from accounting books. John is one artist in a long line of artists, art has been in his family for hundreds of years.
12. Sip and Dip Murals
The nearby Sip and Dip Lounge, complete with tropical mermaids, inspired these colorful murals, bringing the viewer right to the sea. Be sure to stop at the Sip and Dip Lounge, located inside the O'Haire Inn next door across the alley for a tropical drink and a look at the real-life mermaids, appearing most evenings along with live music. The "Toucan" mural, by Cameron Moberg, illustrates the precision of a larger-than-life mural artist and was painted specifically to align with the Sip and Dip's tropical theme. As you walk around the building, you will see "Anteater" and "Seahorse" painted by Bamcat (@allisonbamcat) during Artsfest MONTANA in 2020.
13. Mountain Lions and Prayer Meeting
Mountain Lions: @vizsla_bacon was the first to wrap up a mural during ArtsFest MONTANA 2022. Bacon shared that he’s been creating murals since he was a young teen, with over 30 years of experience it’s no wonder he created this amazing piece so quickly. Little did the artist know that Great Falls has had a mountain lion visit right in this area not so very long ago. A fitting tribute to these beautiful animals! Prayer Meeting: Just a few doors up, @Royyaldog is a graffiti writer and artist from Seoul, Korea created "{rauer Meeting". He is best known for his photorealistic murals of African American women in traditional Korean hanbock dresses and iconic rappers. His paintings carry a message of global harmony and have been recognized for multiculturalism. His work can be seen around the world. Royyal Dog currently resides in Los Angeles. This piece, “Prayer Meeting” was installed during ArtsFest MONTANA 2022.
14. Alma Smith Jacobs Black and White Mural
On the south wall of the Great Falls Public Library, Alma Smith Jacobs, a community leader, civil rights activist and librarian, is depicted in a large-scale mural. Completed by Andrew Fowler and Jim Destaffany in 2017, the mural honors Jacobs substantial contributions to the Great Falls Community. Alma Smith Jacobs served as the head librarian of the Great Falls Public Library for almost twenty years before becoming the Montana state librarian in 1973. Both achievements were historic firsts for an African American woman. Throughout her life, Jacobs demonstrated a passion for education and for community building and a commitment to working for racial justice in Montana.
15. Woman/Fox/Kellergeist Murals
On the east wall of the building at 101 Central, you will see a large mural entitled "Woman/Fox'“. This mural was created by Ryan "Pawn" (@pawnpaint) during ArtsFest MONTANA 2020. Look across the parking lot to see “Kellergeist" on the west wall of the Kellergeist Building. This mural was painted by Darien Fleming (@dafemingo) during ArtsFest MONTANA 2021. Kellergeist is roughly translated “ghost in the basement" in English.
16. Eyes
Argentinian based muralist, @Cobreart, has said that he loves to paint the eyes that he loves to see. These are the eyes of his girlfriend. He stated, “It’s so easy to get lost in her eyes, because I love her eyes…What I like to paint the most is what I like to see the most.” The detail in this mural is exquisite, it’s as if these eyes follow you.
