Mankato — Twin Rivers Council for the Arts is proud to announce the completion of the CityArt in the Alley Community Mural, a vibrant new public artwork commissioned by CityArt, a program of Twin Rivers, as part of CityArt in the Alley, a creative placemaking initiative presented by Gene Biewen and Noel Van Tol.

Created by local artists Dana Sikkila and Dinah Langsjoen, the mural, entitled Sounds of North Mankato, celebrates the arts, creativity and community spirit of North Mankato while creating a lasting public art destination in the heart of Lower North Mankato.

The mural was generously underwritten by The Marian Anderson Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation, whose support made the project possible. Twin Rivers also extends its appreciation to NaKato Bar & Grill for providing the mural site and for its continued partnership in bringing public art to the community.

Selected through a public Call to Artists, Sikkila and Langsjoen were commissioned to create a mural inspired by the arts in North Mankato, the city’s creative culture and the important role the arts play in strengthening community identity and economic vitality. Their completed work now serves as a vibrant expression of those themes and a welcoming visual landmark along Belgrade Avenue.

“Public art has the power to create a sense of place, spark conversation and bring people together,” said Stacey Straka, CityArt Committee Chair. “This mural is a wonderful example of what can happen when artists, community partners, donors and local businesses come together with a shared vision. We’re grateful to everyone who helped make this project possible and are excited to see this artwork become part of North Mankato’s story for years to come.”

The completed mural is located at NaKato Bar & Grill, 253 Belgrade Avenue, North Mankato, where residents and visitors are encouraged to stop by and experience one of the newest additions to Greater Mankato’s growing collection of public art.

For more information about CityArt and its public art initiatives, visit www.cityartmankato.com or www.twinriversarts.org.