A New Canvas for Kingfield
By Drew Kerr, Southwest Journal
When the sound barrier went up along I-35W two years ago, it quickly became a magnet for graffiti.  Today, the wall is pocketed with patches of dark brown, off-color signs that crews have painted over tags in several areas.
Now neighborhood leaders in Kingfield are taking a different approach they hope will curb the graffiti for good: creating a community mural they believe vandals will respect enough to leave untouched.
The mural will be installed around the entrance to the pedestrian bridge spanning the interstate, just west of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center. Read the rest.
Kingfield Clean-up!
Tuesday May 15*, 6:30-8 PM
Join your neighborhood CPaS Members as they work to create a cleaner neighborhood!
Gather with your neighbors at the 40th Street Gateway, where the pedestrian bridge crosses 35W, at Stevens Avenue to enjoy lemonade and cookies and launch a neighborhood clean-up.
Activities will include:
- Graffiti clean-up
- Litter pick-up
- Gateway Garden weeding (along the 35W soundwall)
- Viewing of the new Gateway Mural (being painted now, and to be hung early summer 2012)
- Treats and conversations!
Please wear gloves and bring a trash bag. Those on bike will be provided with a map to remove graffiti further from the 40th Street Gateway site.
Hosted by CPaS (KFNA’s Crime and Safety Prevention Committee.) CPAS meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month, May-October dates occur in the community. Want to host a CPAS Block Party? Call us!
Questions? Contact or call 612.823.5980.
*Rain date: Tuesday May 22
Calling all painters, those with experience and those without!
KFNA started the 40th Street Gateway mural last weekend and had so much fun we are going to do it again this weekend! All painting at this point is done indoors at Dr. Martin Luther King Park, 4055 Nicollet Avenue South. When the mural is completed it will be hung on the soundwall of 35W as a Gateway into, and out of Kingfield Neighborhood!
The concept design can be viewed here, along with a brief verbal description of the mural’s symbolism. The lead artists are Greta McLain and Silvia Ibanez. All ages and abilities are welcome–we hope you will come paint with us!
Dates and Times are: Friday 5/4, 6-8pm and Sat. 5/5, 1-3pm
We will also be painting Friday 5/18, 6-8pm and Sat. 5/19, 1-3pm
Come once, come to them all!
Feel free to spread the word to friends and invite others to attend! Questions? Contact KFNA at !
Gateway Mural Creation Workshops
April 27, 6-8 PM & April 28, 1-3 PM
MLK Park (indoors)
Addtional Weekend painting dates will be coming in May too!
Thanks to a graffiti prevention grant from the City of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling, the Kingfield Neighborhood will be seeing a new mural begin on the sound wall of 40th Street and Stevens Avenue. The mural will be painted and then installed on the section just north of the pedestrian bridge and will serve as a gateway into the neighborhood. Kingfield is excited to welcome lead artists Greta McLain and Silvia Ibáñz to our community!
A series of painting workshops will be held inside Dr. Martin Luther King Park Rec Center this spring, with some teen-focused dates and other dates open to the larger community. The first dates are: Teen painting workshops, April 27, 6-8 PM and Community painting workshops, April 28, 1-3 PM. You do not need to RSVP—just plan to attend!
Meet the artists and review the mural design at the Kingfield Annual Meeting on Monday April 16 at 6:30 PM, AND at the Earth Day Clean-up on Saturday April 21, 11-12 PM. Come get inspired to create art! An unveiling party will be scheduled for later in the summer—stay tuned to the Kingfield eNews for details! If you aren’t on the eNews mailing list, sign up at www.kingfield.org