MDF Celebrates the Completion of Lillian Nelson Mural on Leaf + Quiet Building
MISSOULA DOWNTOWN FOUNDATION CELEBRATES THE COMPLETION OF LILLIAN NELSON MURAL ON WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28 AT LEAF + QUIET (235 N 1st St W)
The public is invited to celebrate the completion of Joy Blooms on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Leaf + Quiet building at 235 N 1st St W. The celebration starts at 5pm and includes light refreshments, with Lillian Nelson speaking about the inspiration behind the art.
Funded in part by the Missoula Downtown Foundation’s Arts & Culture Impact Grants Program, Joy Blooms covers roughly 750 square feet of the southeast corner of the building with native Montana wildflowers and pollinators. The artwork depicts various flora, including Bitterroot, Lupine, Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Arnica, Yarrow, Wild Rose, Glacier Lily, and fauna, including a bat, field mouse, bee, swallowtail butterfly, snail, caterpillar, and moth. The mural was started by Nelson in mid-August and completed in early October.
“Our hope with this project was to create a work of art that reminds Missoula’s residents that the Northside of town is a wonderful part of town and worthy of beautification,” said owner Jennie Yonce. “We hope it will be a great first step to bringing more life, art, and culture to a mostly overlooked area, and help strengthen its residents and spread the love of downtown culture to its neighbors across the tracks.”
The project is funded by the MDF and Leaf + Quiet owner Jennie Yonce. This is the second mural project funded by the Missoula Downtown Foundation this year. The first mural, Camas Dig & Bake, was completed at the Montana Natural History Center and celebrated earlier this month.
For more information about the Joy Blooms celebration or the Foundation’s Arts & Culture Impact Grants, please reach out to the Downtown Missoula Partnership via phone at 406-543-4238 or email [email protected].