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Mural art underway in downtown Traer

The Traer Mural Project located just east of the Traer Public Library pictured on Sept. 8 ready for color. PHOTO COLLAGE COURTESY OF TRAER SESQUICENTENNIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

Inspiration is the soil that brings dreams to life.

And inspiration is what brought a small group of Traer citizens, wanting to give back to their community, together to add something beautiful and uplifting to downtown Traer in the form of an artistic mural.

The Traer Mural Project Committee came about after noticing other communities with similar mural projects and realizing the benefit of art and creativity in a community. The Traer Mural Project Committee – comprised of Dawn Breakenridge, Michelle Podhajsky, Tracey Hulme, and Carri Holst – believes that murals will add inspiration to bare walls on Main Street buildings, appeal to all ages, be a source of pride to local residents, and a draw for visitors. We want it to be fun, interactive, inspirational, and to stir up social media “selfies.”

With the anticipation of Traer’s upcoming Sesquicentennial in 2023, the Mural Project Committee got underway 18 months ago by contacting Waverly, Iowa mural artist, Dan Hatala, who has painted wall murals in many Iowa communities. Hatala was brought on board and provided us with creative, interactive, and appealing ideas for all ages. Proposed building owners were then consulted, the City Council was contacted, and grant writing was underway.

After several meetings and rounds of proposed drawings, Hatala’s ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ image met our project criteria and was selected. It gives people a sense of imagination and wonder; it conveys that we value our children; education, reading, and writing; our hometown values; and our small-town upbringing. It shows that we are forward-thinking, willing to invest in our downtown, and create thoughtful spaces to draw more folks to visit Traer. And as an added bonus, the mural will even be interactive! A step will be added to the mural to encourage people to step up and put themselves into the art for portraits and “selfies”.

A rendering of the mural currently being drawn and painted by mural artist Dan Hatala near the library in downtown Traer as part of the community’s 150th-anniversary celebration in 2023. IMAGE COURTESY OF TRAER MURAL PROJECT COMMITTEE

Hatala’s work on the mural started on September 6, so stop by and watch his progress on the library’s east side. It is expected to take two to three weeks and we genuinely hope you like it! Follow the mural progress online at www.traer.com/artmuralproject and on the Traer Sesquicentennial Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/Traer150.

But we’re not done yet, the Traer Mural Project Committee has raised all funds for this first mural and we plan to create a second mural on the west wall next to the library. Funding for the second mural will be secured through grants and private donations – more information coming soon on how you can donate. Our goal is to not only enhance the beauty of our community but draw more people downtown Traer. Stay tuned for the image reveal on this second mural. Both murals will be dedicated to the community as part of the Sesquicentennial activities in 2023.

The Traer Mural Project Committee would like to thank Denny Berger (building owner), the Traer City Council, and the Traer Community Foundation for their enthusiasm, encouragement, and support of this project.

Mural artist Dan Hatala begins work on the Traer Mural Project – an image of Jack and the Beanstalk – on the evening of Tuesday, September 6 in downtown Traer. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE PODHAJSKY

The Traer Mural Project located just east of the Traer Public Library pictured on Sept. 8 ready for color. PHOTO COURTESY HATALA ILLUSTRATION FACEBOOK PAGE

Mural artist Dan Hatala works on the Traer Mural Project on Friday, September 9 in downtown Traer. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE PODHAJSKY