A workshop participant adds details to a 2018 mural by Luis Valle of Miami. On the right, “Bird Dog” by the New York artist Jari “WERC” Alvarez.
Writer: Kylie Petty
Photos: Ronald W. Tigges – Digital Dubuque
Voices Productions is making its mark in Dubuque. The local arts collective was established in 2006 to amp up the city’s public art and launched a mural project 10 years later, in 2016. Since then, nearly 50 murals have popped up across the city as part of the group’s mission to make Dubuque more culturally dynamic.
What started as a grassroots initiative to bring art into the public domain has blossomed into a massive artistic statement. And it seems to be working.
David Farley, a Dubuque native who moved away many years ago, returned for the first time in 25 years and documented the trip in the Wall Street Journal. “I was shocked by what I found,” he wrote. “The once-derelict downtown neighborhood buzzes with energy. Thanks to enterprising locals and more than a few newcomers, the city has transformed into an ideal long-weekend destination.
Travelers looking to step away from the usual escapes will find much to love. But so will anyone looking to see how a largely abandoned industrial hub can reinvent itself.”
He included a shout-out to Voices Productions and their murals. “Across downtown and the Millwork District you’ll find vibrant pieces that protest book bans, depict early settler Julien Dubuque and portray the river fish of the Mississippi.”
Sam Mulgrew, who leads the Voices board, said it’s all about “showcasing artists and artistic expression.” With help from local, regional and national artists, the project has changed the downtown experience for pedestrians, commuters and visitors alike. Everyone can take in the beauty, free of charge, Mulgrew said. “All you have to do is be downtown.”
Some murals are easy to spot in prominent places, while others are tucked into alleyways. So if you go for a walk, you might just spot a colorful surprise.
Ryan “ARCY” Christenson has been making art professionally for about 15 years, traveling the country to create large-scale commissions, including two murals in Dubuque. One portrays a bison charging from the past into the future. “We were just trying to show the change that Dubuque has seen over its history,” he said.
“Charging Bison” by ARCY
He uses his artwork to tell stories, advocate for causes and simply create beauty. “Public art is a great way to connect visually,” he said. “It’s nice to be able to add some vibrant color to a city and help people to feel connected to their home.”
Public art also inspires others to get creative. Christenson said children have told him his work has made them want to become artists themselves. “Any opportunity for public art allows for other artists to feel confident,” he said.
Corban Lundborg, another muralist, is also a filmmaker and Air Force veteran. After he returned from active duty overseas, he appreciated the opportunity to make art in Dubuque.
Lundborg said the mural project has transformed Dubuque spaces into “living, breathing works of art” where artists are seen, supported and celebrated. “Voices Productions was the first creative community that truly believed in me,” he added. “Their support during that season was foundational.”
Now he wants to pay it forward. “Through my artwork,” he said, “I hope to encourage the Dubuque community to slow down, reflect and engage with the deeper questions about life, meaning and purpose.”
Flowers and pocket watches cover a 2018 mural called “Redemption” by a Maryland artist named Gaia.
An octopus dominates “The Fate of the Santa Clara,” which Miles Turner of Wisconsin painted in 2019.
New York artists Jari “WERC” Alvarez and Gera “GERALUZ” Lozano teamed up in 2018 to create “America Needs a Hug,” left, and “Metamorphosis,” across the street.
Corban Lundborg of Atlanta featured his wife’s face in the 2016 mural “Moto-X.”
Explore the art
Find a map of the Dubuque murals at voicesproductions.org.
