Taste Of Phillips: October 28-29. Mural Dedication. October 29 at 11:00am at Andersen School between 26th and 27th Streets on Andersen Lane, and will be part of St. Paul”'s Annual “A Taste of Phillips” Art Festival. Local artists will display their work at St. Paul”'s, beginning with a reception and poetry/spoken word/music night, Friday, October 30 at 7:00 pm. Saturday”'s activities include an art scavenger hunt and hands-on activities, in addition to the dedication. Â
For the past 16 months, St. Paul”'s Lutheran on 28th Street and 15th Avenue has been teaching mosaic and mural arts, through its Semilla project.  You may have seen the beautiful mosaic planters popping up at various locations in the community. St. Paul”'s Artist-in-Residence, Greta McLain, is an accomplished muralist and mosaic artist, having taught at South High, Windom, Ramsey and El Colegio, and worked on murals in Philadelphia, Memphis, Buenos Aires and Paris. She worked on the mosaic pillars at Seward Coop, the inside mural of Plaza Verde and with St. Paul”'s youth at the mural on Kaplan brothers.
“The Semilla project is growing ”“its sprouting up all over Phillips, and beyond, activating artists all over town! Semilla means seed, and we have seen the seeds of growth both in artistic skills and in building a stronger community. The Andersen mural was a collaboration between art classes spring & summer classes, engaging students throughout the process. They were able to see the mural grow seed by seed.
They saw their school transformed into a destination””where people will come to be uplifted!”
Semilla workshops take place every Wednesday night at St. Paul”'s, and also have been given at the 15th Ave Block Club, Waite House, Banyan Foundation, and St. Paul”'s Home, a 53-unit low-income senior housing project. Semilla was present at the Midtown Phillips and Bridging Festivals, and has taught mosaics to college students and professors from Minnesota to Texas.
Pr. Patrick Cabello Hansel says, “You can literally see the growth in a child or adult”'s eyes as they work cooperatively with others to make beautiful art. The wonder of mosaic is that it take broken pieces””even bits of shattered plates and bottles, and transforms it into something
The Andersen mural transforms the entryway for over 1100 students.  In addition to the students, the parents”' group, visitors from other cities and states, and the Young Leaders from St. Paul”'s worked on the installation. To date, the youngest person involved has been 3, and the oldest 90””but the people of Semilla are ready to grow that in either direction!
The mural dedication will take place Saturday, October 29 at 11:00 am at Andersen, and will be part of St. Paul”'s annual “A Taste of Phillips” Art Festival. Local artists will display their work at St. Paul”'s, beginning with a reception and poetry/spoken word/music night, Friday, October 30 at 7:00 pm. Saturday”'s activities include an art scavenger hunt and hands-on activities, in addition to the dedication. And on Sunday, October 30, St. Paul”'s will kick off its 125th anniversary year with a bilingual service at 11:00 am.
For more information, contact St. Pauls”' at stpaulscreate@aol.com or 612-724-3862, or Look for us on Face Book: “Semilla Project” & “Young Leaders Program at St. Paul”'s Church”
Funding for Semilla is provided in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
