The Arts & Culture Commission Awards Artist Anna Johnson Funds to Produce Midtown Mural

The Arts and Culture Commission awarded artist Anna Johnson public funds to produce the Midtown Mural located on the southside of the strip mall that houses Bernie's and Luna's. Titled "The Moon Also Rises," the mural's design features a moon-lit lake bordered by traditional floral motifs to bridge the world the artist lives in and the culture she came from.

As an artist, Anna Johnson has a colorful and inspiring artistic style, her work also conveys a sense of pride for her community and heritage. Much of the imagery Johnson uses comes directly from her Chippewa culture and incorporates many different animals and traditional designs. In other mixed-media and collage works, she employs simple textures and natural items, such as birch bark and different fabrics.

Originally from Bismarck, Johnson is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa Indians; most of her family lives in the Turtle Mountains in Belcourt, ND. The natural beauty of North Dakota is a constant source of inspiration and influences her work.

Johnson says of her mural, "I designed the mural as a nighttime landscape with a full moon as a nod to Luna. The Ojibwe/Cree floral designs come from traditional beadwork designs used by my tribe."

"I have a great love of my neighborhood; I live two blocks from the mural location and wanted to contribute to making it a more beautiful part of town. I like to bring my art to people who might not go to a museum or art gallery."

While this isn't the first mural for Anna, she was the local artist chosen to collaborate on the 'Greetings From Fargo' mural found on Roberts Street and First Avenue, this is the largest mural she's worked on alone.

Johnson collaborated with her friend and business owner, Nikki Berglund, to imagine a mural, together they applied for public art funding through the City of Fargo Art and Culture Commission.

Joe Williams, a storyboard artist, works at the Plains Art Museum as the Director of Community Education and Director of Native American Programs, plus serves on Fargo's Arts and Culture Commission. Williams chaired the selection committee for the public art allocation.

"Public art projects can help to leverage private support for cultural, creative, and arts development. Fargo's Arts and Culture commission funds work that is inclusive and reflective of our increasing cultural diversity. The arts and culture assets of a community are important elements of economic development and can lead to the creation of creative, arts, or cultural districts, like Midtown."

While the Arts and Culture Commission funding supports the artist, Bernie's Wines and Liquors provided the painting supplies and scaffolding needed to install the mural.

Business owner, Nikki Berglund says, "I see [Midtown Business District] as the University corridor from 13th Ave down to about 32nd Ave. The people who live in this area love this area. I would love to see more local business, more art, more love for this diverse part of town."

"This neighborhood and the Midtown Business District is ripe for new opportunities and a fresh look, and this mural could really spark that change. In the past, our neighborhood has proven to be very supportive of anything that positively affects the area."

Berglund is a long-time supporter of the arts and public art. She notes, "Art adds color and personality to business districts and I think also encourages buy-in from the community. I have dreamed of a mural on the side of Bernie's for many years and the fact that it is coming through is so exciting."

Earlier this spring, the Arts and Culture Commission and the City Commission approved a Call for Public Art Projects and selection process. In a 5-0 vote, the Fargo City Commission approved public art funding for the Midtown Mural featuring artist Anna Johnson.

By funding this project, the Fargo Arts and Culture Commission (ACC) realizes its mission to integrate diverse, free and accessible public art and cultural resources into the city. The ACC is committed to highlight and expand culture and arts in collaboration with citizens, artists, culture-bearers, organizers, business partners and city leaders. With the goal of fostering Fargo to become an art and culture hub by executing the ACC Public Art Master Plan (2017) to transform neighborhoods, parks and business areas into meaningful spaces for citizens.

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