ST. PAUL, Minn. — A wall-sized work of art is getting a major overhaul that has been overdue for decades.
The mural of St. Paul, “Hunger Knows No Color,” is being restored by the three original painters.
Anyone who has driven down Robert Street, just south of the Mississippi, in the past 39 years has seen it.
“It’s really about the whole community, a community that’s hungry and trying to prevent hunger in Minnesota,” said Armando Gutierrez G., one of the original muralists. “If we can prevent strife and help humanity, that’s what we’re trying to say through this mural.”
Gutierrez G., John Acosta and Richard Schletty painted the mural in 1985, when the building was still a food bank.
Now all three have returned to restore and repaint the mural, as it was created by decades of exposure to the elements.
Hunger has no color
“It’s an honor and a privilege to do this,” said Gutierrez G. “Not many artists come back to their work.”
“I watched it deteriorate and it hurt to see it fall apart,” Acosta said.
The artists have depicted people from the neighbourhood as well as their own family members in an original way.
“That’s the beauty of murals,” said Gutierrez G. “They become part of a community that’s broader than just looking at a social media page for 15 seconds or something.”
Acosta says the mural is special because it tells a story and a good message.
The building is now home to Captain Ken’s Foods, a food manufacturing company, and the owners have watched the men work with great enthusiasm over the past two months.
“It’s coming more and more to life every day,” said Mike Traxler, one of the owners of Captain Ken. “It’s pretty incredible, the detail and how things come to life.”
According to Acosta, the theme of people interacting and helping each other, just as it was in 1985, is also important in 2024.
David Schuman
