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N. Mpls Building Wrapped In Photos For FLOW Art Crawl

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - People passing by the intersection of Broadway and Dupont avenues in north Minneapolis won't miss it.

The rundown building that's been boarded up for a decade is now covered from top to bottom in a collage of 32 colorful and artistic photographs.

Charles Caldwell is a local artist, and one of several people who work in the area and is featured in the mural.

"It's my first time seeing it in...person after having my photo taken," Caldwell said. "I think it's great."

It was put up in advance of the annual FLOW Art Crawl, and it's the largest piece of artwork ever featured in the event.

FLOW Artistic Director Dudley Voigt says the event's emphasis is on the community.

"The bigger message is there are great things happening here every single day, and they're happening in the arts, and they're happening in the businesses, they're happening in organizations and they're happening because of people like the ones on the building," Voigt said.

She says the other goal is to highlight the building.

"Suddenly what feels blighted or closed becomes open and interactive," she said.

Voigt's hoping a business owner or developer will see potential here. Jake Armour sees it. His photography studio isn't too far from the site.

Armour took all of the photographs featured on the building and pieced them together for free.

"My rewards are multiplying as we speak," Armour said.

He's relishing in the positive feedback. And like all of the others who played a part in this project, they're proud of it and proud of their community.

"The wonderful expression of 'We love north Minneapolis,' and this is a view of it," Caldwell said.

This project was a combined effort between the city, organizers of the FLOW Art Crawl and the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition.

The mural will stay there until someone buys the building and fixes it up.

The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition did something similar before in that area. It worked, and they're hoping this will work too.

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