A vibrant 30-foot by 20-foot mural is taking shape on the side of a downtown St. Cloud building, bringing a splash of color and community spirit to the heart of the city. Artist Tara Aiken of Minnetonka has been commissioned to create the massive public art installation on the future Metz Co. store building located at the corner of West St. Germain Street and 7th Avenue North.
Aiken drew inspiration from traditional postcard murals commonly seen in cities across America, aiming to honor St. Cloud's rich history and distinctive downtown architecture while creating what she calls a "Welcome to St. Cloud Downtown Mural." The artist, who has extensive experience with large-scale art projects including street painting, describes this as the largest piece she has ever undertaken. "It had to be big to honor the size of the building," Aiken explained about the ambitious scale of the project.
The mural project is expected to take two to three weeks to complete, depending on weather conditions, with organizers hoping to finish by October 1st. As word spreads about the artwork, Aiken has noticed increased foot and vehicle traffic in the area, with passersby driving by to honk and cheer in support while she works under the hot sun. The goal is for the completed mural to become a popular photo destination for both locals and visitors exploring downtown St. Cloud.
Visit Greater St. Cloud serves as the overall project manager, while the Downtown Alliance has been actively involved in the design process alongside the building owner who contributed to the final creation. The project receives funding from multiple sources including O'Brien's Dry Goods, Metz Co., Great River Children's Museum, and the Legacy Foundation. Additional funding comes from MHC through money allocated from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
The project has strong personal connections for Aiken, whose husband is a St. Cloud native who graduated from Cathedral High School and St. John's University. She has enlisted her mother-in-law to help with the mural work, making it truly a family affair. Aiken looks forward to enjoying the completed artwork during future visits to the city.
Beyond her large-scale public art projects, Aiken has gained recognition in recent years for her unique collaboration with Minnesota Twins players. Her relationship with the baseball team began when Carlos Correa reached out last year to commission art on two pairs of his cleats. This year, she has created cleat art on 10 pairs of Byron Buxton's shoes, including his famous Skittles-themed pair that garnered significant attention. Other Twins players including Royce Lewis and Bailey Ober have also commissioned custom cleat designs from Aiken.
The custom cleat artwork provides Major League Baseball players with a creative outlet to express their personalities on the field, particularly during special events like Players Weekend when uniform restrictions are relaxed. This specialized art form has become an increasingly popular way for professional athletes to showcase individual style while maintaining their competitive edge on the diamond.
