Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Ironwood — A new group plans to further spruce up Ironwood by adding murals.
The Ironwood City Commission on Monday heard a presentation from Ivan Hellen, representing the Gogebic Range Murals and Attractions Mission committee.
“Local artists have shown an interest already,” Hellen said. He added, “Ironwood’s on a high right now,” following hosting the Smithsonian exhibit and history conference.
Some of the ideas he expressed for possible murals on buildings include logging and the railroad industry.
“We’re only asking for the city’s blessing,” Hellen said.
The goals of the committee are to “invigorate the community through public art and preserve and restore the history of the community.”
Committee members believe more murals, such as the popular downtown Miners Mural, would create economic stimulus for the area by bringing more people to Ironwood.
Hellen said he doesn’t believe the mural project will be done as large as the scope of Ashland’s efforts, but he said the committee is willing to look into all possibilities.
Other members of the committee include Paul Kostelnik and Tom Kangas, members of the Friends of the Miners Memorial Heritage Park; Sandy Sharp, from the Ironwood Area Historical Society and Downtown Arts Place, and John Ostrom, a local historian who has moved back to Ironwood after a 32-year career in radio in California.
City Commissioner Kim Corcoran said she looks forward to the committee coming up with a “who, what, where and when” proposal concerning the mural plans by spring.
The committee can be reached at [email protected] or 906-364-1296.
