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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth Communications Office
Mayor Roger J. Reinert
411 West First Street • Duluth, Minnesota 55802 • www.duluthmn.gov
411 West First Street • Duluth, Minnesota 55802 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information, please call 218-730-5309
DATE: 6/10/2011
SUBJECT: Library mural highlights local and national authors
BY: Pakou Ly, Public Information Coordinator
SUBJECT: Library mural highlights local and national authors
BY: Pakou Ly, Public Information Coordinator
Library mural highlights local and national authors
[Duluth, MN] - If you’ve approached the downtown Duluth Public Library from the east sometime during the past month, you’ve probably noticed the 23.5 foot tall mural being painted on the library plaza over the past several weeks. Scott Murphy, a local muralist, has been creating a gigantic bookshelf on the back of the large central pillar on the plaza. Now complete, the mural titled “Books on the Plaza” was dedicated today by Mayor Don Ness. Also in attendance were State Representative Mary Murphy, members of the Duluth City Council, Arrowhead Library System staff, local authors whose works are included in the mural, and artist Scott Murphy.
“Selecting the books to be included in the mural was by far the hardest part!” said Renee Zurn, the librarian who spearheaded the project. “We had many books we wanted to feature and didn’t even finalize the titles until the last four books were being painted.” Criteria for the books depicted in the mural included showing the range of the library’s collections, decorative spines and books with local interest and significance. Members of the public, library staff and the artist all offered suggestions and opinions about the books to be included.
The mural project was funded by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund. The Duluth Public Library is one of four northeastern Minnesota libraries to receive funding for large art projects; the other libraries are in Hoyt Lakes, Babbitt and Calumet.
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