KPS Receives Grant from North Dakota Council on the Arts
Local Mural Artist Leads “Art Talks” with KPS Students
January 2018
Close to two years ago, Kulm Public School decided to commission a mural driven by local input and created by Kulm artist and KPS alumna Krista Vogel Lundgren. KPS was awarded a $2,500 grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts in June 2017, and a timeline was established for Lundgren to proceed.
From the beginning, the school has prioritized input on the mural from a variety of groups. KPS invited input from to the Kulm community and alumni via The Messenger and flyers placed at businesses in Kulm to discover what people felt should be included in a Kulm mural. Students were encouraged to submit sketches or written ideas as well. Shortly after, a representative group of 20 community members, teachers, students and alumni met together with Lundgren to discuss and synthesize the feedback received.
The mural is already drawing a lot of attention from students and staff. Watching the work in-process is not only interesting, but also a valuable teaching tool for students. Currently no onsite art classes are available at KPS, and interested students must enroll in ITV (live streamed) art classes. Lundgren took her first art class at KPS using ITV as well and has been able to accomplish much with her talents.
On January 30, all Kulm Public School students attended small group “Art Talk” sessions with Lundgren from 9:00-1:00. Students gathered at the mural to hear Lundgren explain how she began her career as an artist and the process for creating a mural so large. Lundgren then offered students the chance to ask any questions they had.
Students arrived interested and with questions already on their minds. They were attentive and engaged as Lundgren explained themes, colors, and the art process. When Lundgren asked them, “What represents Kulm most to you in this mural?”, answers came quickly: farming, church, hunting, sports, the water tower.
Seventh grader Faith Anderson had a personal perspective she shared with the group. “You know what I noticed right away?,” said Anderson, smiling, “The wheelchair.” Anderson pointed to a person painted in the center of the mural alongside other people that represent the community support of Kulm.
Lundgren replied, “How does that make you feel?”
“Pretty comfortable,” answered Anderson, who has needed a wheelchair since birth.
The mural is located in the school commons area and is accessible to the public whenever the school is open. On February 27, the school will host an official viewing event to showcase the finished mural. Lundgren will do a presentation at 6:00 pm, and community members are invited to view the mural at any time during the evening. Alongside the mural, the school will showcase personal reflections on the mural written by Kulm students, and the public will have an opportunity to offer their thoughts and feedback as well.
It is the school’s hope that the finished mural will strengthen both community and school identity by giving creative expression to our shared values and experiences as well as the differences that set us apart—those things that make Kulm unique and beautiful, like the artwork itself.
January 2018
Close to two years ago, Kulm Public School decided to commission a mural driven by local input and created by Kulm artist and KPS alumna Krista Vogel Lundgren. KPS was awarded a $2,500 grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts in June 2017, and a timeline was established for Lundgren to proceed.
From the beginning, the school has prioritized input on the mural from a variety of groups. KPS invited input from to the Kulm community and alumni via The Messenger and flyers placed at businesses in Kulm to discover what people felt should be included in a Kulm mural. Students were encouraged to submit sketches or written ideas as well. Shortly after, a representative group of 20 community members, teachers, students and alumni met together with Lundgren to discuss and synthesize the feedback received.
The mural is already drawing a lot of attention from students and staff. Watching the work in-process is not only interesting, but also a valuable teaching tool for students. Currently no onsite art classes are available at KPS, and interested students must enroll in ITV (live streamed) art classes. Lundgren took her first art class at KPS using ITV as well and has been able to accomplish much with her talents.
On January 30, all Kulm Public School students attended small group “Art Talk” sessions with Lundgren from 9:00-1:00. Students gathered at the mural to hear Lundgren explain how she began her career as an artist and the process for creating a mural so large. Lundgren then offered students the chance to ask any questions they had.
Students arrived interested and with questions already on their minds. They were attentive and engaged as Lundgren explained themes, colors, and the art process. When Lundgren asked them, “What represents Kulm most to you in this mural?”, answers came quickly: farming, church, hunting, sports, the water tower.
Seventh grader Faith Anderson had a personal perspective she shared with the group. “You know what I noticed right away?,” said Anderson, smiling, “The wheelchair.” Anderson pointed to a person painted in the center of the mural alongside other people that represent the community support of Kulm.
Lundgren replied, “How does that make you feel?”
“Pretty comfortable,” answered Anderson, who has needed a wheelchair since birth.
The mural is located in the school commons area and is accessible to the public whenever the school is open. On February 27, the school will host an official viewing event to showcase the finished mural. Lundgren will do a presentation at 6:00 pm, and community members are invited to view the mural at any time during the evening. Alongside the mural, the school will showcase personal reflections on the mural written by Kulm students, and the public will have an opportunity to offer their thoughts and feedback as well.
It is the school’s hope that the finished mural will strengthen both community and school identity by giving creative expression to our shared values and experiences as well as the differences that set us apart—those things that make Kulm unique and beautiful, like the artwork itself.
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This project is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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