‘Heart Berry’ Partners with Cloquet Community to Paint a Mural

CLOQUET, Minn.– The city of Cloquet is about to get a lot more colorful.

Because the community is banding together to help paint a mural.

The mural itself was designed by artist and owner of ‘Heart Berry’ Sarah Agaton Howes

It will be a permanent piece in the Pinehurst Park, and it’ll feature Ojibwe motifs.

They wasted no time beginning the project. The final design was approved by the city last week.

The Cloquet community is helping paint the mural, with two paint nights set up.

The organizer told FOX 21; the message of the mural will be more than meets the eye.

“It’s part of a bigger project to get people moving, get people thinking about you know, like where are the trails and Cloquet and Fond du Lac for biking and walking. And also, we’re going to create a set of signage to really make people aware of pedestrians and bikes. And so, this specific part is a mural that we’re putting inside the arc of the historic bandshell. Which most of us grew up seeing all of the time,” explained Agaton Howes.

And having this opportunity to revitalize the bandshell means the world to her.

“The art I do is Ojibwe art. And so, to really put Ojibwe art into like a really prominent place in Cloquet makes me feel really happy and really excited. I think when we really institutionalize and cultural art and Ojibwe art, that really shows how important it is for everyone. And so, everyone can enjoy it, but it can also be like this is an important part of our community,” beamed Agaton Howes.

The first public painting takes place tonight, with another one set up for March 24th.

There is also an overwhelming response from the community to put together this mural.

The piece is expected to be finished around May or June.