A Community Affair: The Roseville Mural Project

In any year, a community-driven outdoor event would be a welcome addition to our social calendar.  But this year especially, when so many of us have been forced indoors, we couldn’t be more excited about Downtown Roseville’s Mini Mural Competition taking place next month which will involve many local talents. As we look forward to this event, 5 new murals are currently being painted by a group of wonderful artists!

For centuries, public art has been a way to bring communities together and create gathering spaces for residents and visitors alike. Now in its second year, this public art display is facilitated by Blue Line Arts, a mainstay on Vernon Street and just one of the lively store fronts we are lucky to have Downtown. The main goal of the Roseville Mural Project is to bring new public art of high artistic quality and enduring value to the City of Roseville. 

The murals will become permanent fixtures in the Downtown Roseville District. This year’s new mural locations are The Monk’s Cellar, Roseville Cyclery, The Place, Acton Academy, and Johnson Pool.   While in the area, you can also see the completed artwork from the previous year’s artists located at Project Go, Lucy’s Hair Salon, Bill Smith Photography, the parking garage at 405 Vernon, and the building on 501 Vernon (formerly Abbey Carpet). A Veteran’s Mosaic Mural was also created in the lobby of Lohse Apartments by women veterans and a mural at the Blue Line Art’s alley by the youth camp.

The artwork in the upcoming Mini Mural Competition will be inspired by this year’s theme, #WeAreRoseville, a community initiative to support and uplift local residents and businesses during the pandemic. This amazing group of creative, vibrant artists will spray paint their murals on temporary walls in Vernon Street Town Square.  The public is invited to watch the projects come to life Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25*.  After the artists have put the finishing touches on their murals, the projects will be juried by City of Roseville Mayor John Allard. Come early or stay late to enjoy the shops, restaurants and other businesses that have patiently and creatively weathered the past several months. 

In the mean time, check out the Mural Map walking tour here: https://www.bluelinearts.org/roseville-mural-project to come see the art for yourself! Please follow social distancing guidelines and wear face coverings in public.

*This event has been rescheduled from September due to poor air quality.

Featured artwork: "Roses are Blue" by Ali Futrell (Located at Project Go on 801 Vernon St)