Chelsea Gleich with the Union Silos commissioning group said artist Guido van Helten concluded his work at the end of September. He entertained the idea of touch-ups or new elements but after consideration, he informed the group recently that the work was, indeed, finalized.

“It looks beautiful,” Gleich said. “It’s better than what we imagined.”

She noted the images portray legacy, hard work, grit, resilience and a sense of community in scenes that include agriculture, the oil industry, family and youth.

“It’s subtle but beautiful and you’re able to kind of interpret for yourself what you want to see in the images,” Gleich said.

Van Helten is recognized internationally for his large-scale mural installations and street art. The Minot mural represents the North Dakota piece of his project to create a public art piece in each state. The Minot piece was uniquely created in that van Helten used rope access to reach the higher portions of the elevator canvas when a lift and scaffolding no longer provided suitable reach.

Tim Baumann with the commissioning group had learned about van Helten following the creation of his Minnesota mural in Mankato, setting in motion an effort to bring the artist to Minot.

“We actually had to apply with him,” Gleich said. “We were so lucky that he chose us, and we get to have this piece. It’s a great stop on the mural tour of the Midwest. You can go to Mankato, to Minot and then you can go to Faulkton, South Dakota, too.”

With the completion of the Minot mural, van Helten has moved on to his next project, but the Union Silos group has invited him to return next year to hold an art show featuring the community photos he took as he worked on the theme and design for his mural. A book featuring those photos also is in the works as another next phase of the project.

Gleich said the Union Silos commissioning group continues to seek to raise the final $50,000 of the $350,000 fund drive for Union Silos. Any extra funds raised will be used to produce the photo books and site signage to document the project.

A woman and child create an eye-catching image on the south side of the Union Silos public art project created by Guido van Helten.

Gleich said the committee appreciates the support shown for the project.

“Now we just need that final push to get us all the way to meet our final goals, and then we can accomplish those extra things to keep the excitement going and commemorate the project,” she said.

Donations are tax deductible through the Minot Area Council of the Arts.

“We are overjoyed with how it turned out and really excited to see how it continues to put Minot on the map and draw people here. We’ve had people already coming to visit, specifically to see the silos,” Gleich said, adding the public has responded positively to the project.

“The scale is so massive,” she said. “The photorealistic imagery and just the beautiful texture, it changes the landscape of our entire community and gives us that piece to celebrate. So, it’s been really amazing to get the feedback from the community that recognizes his skill and what an amazing gift this really is to Minot for now and for years to come.”

An aerial view shows Guide van Helten’s completed public art project, Union Silos, in downtown Minot.