It seems that nothing worth having comes easy or without some effort. A community mural being created near Big Ole Park is an example of that. For years, advocates in the art community have been trying to gain interest in creating community art, specifically an art mural. Sandy Susag and Mimi Seykora are a few of the leaders of that charge, but they are certainly not alone. In order to create such a sizable work of art, the group needed a space that could handle a project of this size, the funding to back it, and community volunteers willing to paint it. The last part is the easy part. In the first couple days the project was opened up for volunteer artists, dozens of groups, co-workers and individuals showed up and helped to paint the first three rows. A few more intricate sections of the mural that contain people, will be painted by artist Kristin Allen of New London. She created the design that is being pieced together on the wall.

The other components of the project involve the space and the funds. Jo Hvezda of Real Estate by Jo donated the wall of a building on her property on the corner of 2nd Avenue East and Broadway Street. It faces Big Ole Park, on the north side of the building; a near perfect location. The funding was brought in thanks to the efforts of Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Tara Bitzan. Through a Blandin Foundation grant, she was able to help pay for the project.

Click on the You Tube video story below for more on the mural.

The public can again help paint on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 27 and June 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Friday, June 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. Dates and times are weather permitting.