Murals on Main projects bring beauty and lift spirits with art

One of the five murals is this one that is painted onto the south side of Cory Budnick State Farm building. 

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

The artists and the works that were left behind will have a lasting mark on Rogers City.

Organizers on the Murals on Main Festival committee were making it clear last week that the first, and the first of its kind in Rogers City, was most certainly not the last.    

“It has been an awesome week,” Murals on Main Festival committee member Tim Pritchard said Saturday night at the sponsor appreciation dinner. “For a first-year festival, I feel like it went over remarkably smooth. 

“Honestly, we could have not gotten a better group of artists. I definitely have made five new, awesome friends.”

The artists were Irene Lopez, Heinzel building (across from Tradewinds Bakery); Kevin Burdick, Rogers City Home Furnishings; Anna Charney, Seconds on Third; Blaine Fontana, Cory Budnick State Farm; and local artist Rachel Klein, city wellhouse building (across from The Purple Martin Inn). 

All of the artists sat at the same table at the UpNorth 23 Restaurant & Lounge and spoke to those in attendance, but none of the artists were as excited about his or her experience than Fontana.

“The legion of volunteers you had,” said Fontana. “Our food, we have not seen the back of our fridge…I think I can speak for the team (artists), of the dozens of mural festivals I have had the pleasure of doing around the world, this is the most organized, most heartfelt, it was the most phenomenal experience.”

Fontana painted the child at the beach with the sun in the background on the Cory Budnick State Farm building.

“This is just the start,” added Pritchard. “In a month and a half, we will be having our first 2025 Murals on Main Festival committee meeting.”

Committee chairperson Katy Carignan talked about the importance of the murals.

“One is the economic stimulus this festival and having world class murals in Rogers City has, and will bring us. I will be asking local businesses to track their income during Murals on Main and to compare it to last year at this time or a typical June week,” said Carignan. “The other thing is the community building and psychological impact these murals have and will have.”

Carignan said she had numerous community members express appreciation that the works were created.  

“They are filled with hope and joy,” she said. “They also feel our little town is moving in the right direction. One person I spoke to shared how she struggles with depression and these murals feel like a gift. 

“We had a diverse group of people who came out for this festival, they spoke together, laughed together and volunteered together. In our fragmented world this is a blessing. In addition, it shows our young residents that big things are possible.” 

At the dinner, Pritchard praised the city of Rogers City’s assistance in making it a success, especially the department of public works, who met every need.