Stillwater alley becomes an art gallery for colorful wall murals

The transformation of Union Alley in downtown Stillwater started during the pandemic.

Business owners searching for novel ways to stay open and adhere to strict COVID-19 restrictions started cleaning up the stinky, dirty stretch between the 100 block of North Main and North Second streets. Locals called it "trash alley" because it was lined with garbage cans and dumpsters.

"It was a throw-away part of our beautiful city," said Sara Jespersen, who helped spearhead the effort to clean it up. "It was something to be hidden, an easy place to throw trash."

Jespersen and other business owners mobilized and came up with a plan to relocate all the garbage receptacles, recycling bins and grease-storage areas to the south end of the alley. They strung lights, set up outdoor dining tables and built an axe-throwing pit.

Now the alley is undergoing a second transformation – and is getting a new name.

Union Art Alley features a stretch of one- and two-story art murals done by professional regional artists, including "Spring in the Valley" by Taylor Berman; "Mother Winter" by Adam Turner; "Iron Horse" by Deneena Hughes and "Garden Party" by Joseph Taylor. A ribbon cutting for the massive art project is 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

"The idea is that we’re very historic up front, very polished, very Normal Rockwell, but back here, it's a vibrant, lively art scene that doesn't have to have that same polish," she said. "I think it's really important as a community that you have both."

Jespersen, the owner of the Lumberjack, the axe-throwing bar just west of the alley, said people have talked about cleaning up the alley for years.

"People have always said, ‘Oh, this has so much potential. It could be so beautiful,’" she said. "This is not my genius idea. They’ve probably thought that for 50 years, but now is the time."

Jespersen worked with ArtReach St. Croix, Union Art Alley's fiscal sponsor, to raise money for the $35,000 project, which centers on "joy in gathering."

"Art is in the soul of our community," Jespersen said. "We want it to become a destination for photos, expression, and colorful enjoyment. This may have started as a simple clean up, but we want it to become a social movement in our community, where artists are free to express themselves and work to spread the messages of our day to each other. It's a little place with expansive art."

The plan is for the works of art to change every few years. "We’ll change up the art and bring in a vibrant new vibe," she said. "It will always have a theme."

One restriction: none of the historic red-brick buildings can be painted over. "But the cinder blocks are fair game," Jespersen said.

Mayor Ted Kozlowski said the alley – "the sketchiest place in downtown Stillwater" – has gone from being a "giant liability to a huge asset."

"People had been asking the city to clean it up, but there's only so much the city could do without a pretty significant change in behavior and a reason to change it," he said. "It was really hard to convince people to act differently, and that's where Sara really shined."

Watching the murals go up over the past few weeks has been amazing, he said.

"It's breathtaking," Kozlowski said. "It went from being the dumpiest place in downtown Stillwater to being the coolest little hidden gem. They’ve turned it into this Italian alleyway. It's like being in Paris or Venice. There are details in the buildings I’ve never noticed before."

Jen Murphy, an independent stylist at Uptown Curl, loves the new artwork "Garden Party" behind her building. The mural, created by Joseph Taylor, is a dimensional landscape made from recycled skateboards and other found wood.

"Garden Party" by Joseph Taylor, one of the murals created in the Union Art Alley in downtown Stillwater. (Courtesy of the artist)

"Iron Horse" by Deneena Hughes, one of the murals created in the Union Art Alley in downtown Stillwater. (Courtesy of the artist)

"Spring in the Valley" by Taylor Berman, one of the murals created in the Union Art Alley in downtown Stillwater. (Courtesy of the artist)

"Mother Winter" by Adam Turner, one of the murals created in the Union Art Alley in downtown Stillwater. (Courtesy of the artist)

"It just brightens up the whole alleyway," said Murphy, who lives in St. Paul. "It's the main route for taking the garbage out. When we’re doing a dirty job, it's nice to have something pretty to look at."

The artwork, which features large ladybugs and an 11-foot sunflower, had to be created around the building's lattice work, fencing and chicken wire.

"When I saw this structure, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this is going to be impossible unless we get someone who is super creative,’" Jespersen said. "It wasn't in great condition, but it kind of bode well for an outdoor garden. It is a fun way to experience art in a more 3D experience and using reclaimed wood. When you’re sitting here having a drink you feel like you’re in an enchanted garden."

"I hope this catches on," she said. "The world we live in is so crazy and there's so much negativity, it's nice to have something pretty and positive."

Jespersen credits the business owners in the area for believing in the vision and trusting in the process.

"We had to get everyone to agree that it was the better thing," she said. "We had to let go of all of our individual garbage contracts and whatnot and share responsibility for keeping it clean. … It's been a process, but it's gotten better every year."

"Momentum begets momentum," she said. "Once we had a few people on board, it was, ‘OK, this is happening.’ I can't wait to see what happens next."

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