Connections Murals
Public Art Project
Who lived in Grinnell a century ago? How has Grinnell changed since the early 20th century…and stayed the same?
The oldest living Grinnellian is Edith Renfrow Smith, 110 years old in 2024! She graduated from Grinnell High School and was the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College in 1937.
As we welcome Ms. Renfrow Smith to town to celebrate Grinnell College’s new residence hall named in her honor, the Grinnell Area Arts Council is undertaking a project to explore Grinnell’s rich history through public art.
In collaboration with Iowa artist Isaac Campbell, the Arts Council invites the community to participate in the installation of wheat paste murals all around Grinnell between September 18 and 28, 2024. If you’d like to participate, please contact us at info@grinnellarts.org or 236-3203.
The murals will celebrate Grinnellians who lived during the Renfrow family’s years in Grinnell a century ago! Make connections to the present through glimpses into Grinnell’s past…
THE GRINNELL CONNECTIONS MURALS
Click on the photo for location and more information:
A project of the Grinnell Area Arts Council.
A special thank you to the Grinnell building owners hosting murals.
Thank you to Monique Shore for her collaboration and support of this project.
Many thanks to all those who have researched and compiled Grinnell history, from whom information for these murals was collected, including Lynn Cavanaugh, Dan Kaiser, Harley McIlrath, Veronica Ruse, Monique Shore and Team Renfrow at Grinnell College. For a deeper dive into Miss Edith’s story, visit Team Renfrow’s site.
Support for this project is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority, as well as by Grinnell College, the City of Grinnell, Friends of Drake Community Library, Drake Community Library and Grin Cupola.
