There's no denying that when a global pandemic such as COVID-19 begins to infiltrate communities, it does much more than lock people indoors. The quarantine limited social interaction, preventing countless events, community-run programs, and shows from happening. Mantorville was no exception to this, but one couple chose to defy the social restrictions of the time with Larger than Life- the open art exhibition in Riverside Park that showcased the community's creativity in a safe and uplifting way. Though they started small, the enlarged art pieces were far from it, helping to attract drivers who would have been kept in their cars to take a stop and enjoy the exhibits. Since then, Larger Than Life has become southeastern Minnesota's largest outdoor art display, featuring dozens of paintings across mediums of photography, acrylic, oil, watercolor, pen, and pencil. The founders, Brian and Mary Jo, will continue the tradition on Saturday, June 28th, by showcasing the work of 27 local artists and one sculptor alongside vendors, live music, and delicious food.
Just as the event has come a long way, the people responsible for its widespread success have also equally progressed. As a long-time resident of Mantorville, Brian Hindal's interest always lay in finding a way for his community to grow, whether through attracting tourists or encouraging new businesses to settle. A part of his responsibility as the chair of Mantorville's Economic Development Association is to achieve this exact task, using his lifelong passion for photography to spur community development. Since his decision to join a photography club in high school, everything seemed to click, including the degree he pursued in college to further develop his skills. The following 35 years consisted of building up a part-time business while professionally working as a patient photographer for the Mayo Clinic. His creative side showed when he was allowed to work at the print shop, creating a wide range of artwork that the clinic still displays today. Doing so has significantly deepened his appreciation of the art form.
Several of Brian's artistic interests coincide with Mary Jo's, who found Mantorville's small-town atmosphere and rich historic charm too alluring to pass up. Although photography was a passion, she felt under-experienced in taking images from unique perspectives. After the two met on a classic car ride in 2019, Brian's assistance in developing these skills pushed her to move to Mantorville and marry at the town's historic Greek Revival House four years later. Through her remote commercial banking job and Brian's connection with Mayo, the two could freely pursue the arts in their free time. Beyond the acrylics and watercolors she experimented with in high school, Mary Jo found significant interest in the many perspectives of digital photography. Each new position and angle of a picture seemed to tell a slightly different story, and this mindset ultimately led to the idea behind Larger than Life.
Brian and Mary Jo: "When we first thought of displaying art in a large format, our natural thought was to use some of our own photography. The next challenge was figuring out who else could contribute, especially given the pandemic's physical and social restrictions. Despite these hurdles, the idea of publicly sharing art for residents and visitors energized us. We could picture people driving into Mantorville and being surprised and hopefully inspired by these large, vibrant images throughout the park."
Whereas other events closed their doors during the pandemic, Larger than Life began as a reaction to it. To combat the isolation caused by Mantorville's lack of festivals and public activities, the two brainstormed ways to unite the community without risking sickness. Their musings led to the beginning of Larger Than Life: Riverside Park's very own outdoor art exhibit, grand enough to represent the creativity and connectedness of Mantorville. By digitally enlarging a variety of art mediums into high-resolution files, they could print chosen artwork onto durable materials held up by giant metal easels throughout the park. Being right in the middle of nature, this unique, open-air experience allowed visitors to take in the scenery throughout July and August. Whether by viewing the images from vehicles or a socially distanced walk, this first event was a massive success, allowing them to use art to connect all parts of the community.
"After these pieces are taken down on September 1st, they don't just disappear. We move them to buildings around Mantorville and other spots in Dodge County, where they stay on display as part of a two-year rotation. The artwork returns to the original artist after this two-year cycle. It's a great way to keep art visible and appreciated all year round."
Despite the overwhelmingly positive response, Larger than Life's first year had its share of hurdles. Finding artists to participate and securing funding created the biggest challenge, requiring local fundraisers and marketing efforts to pull together. Thankfully, its initial success drew the attention of the Southeast Minnesota Arts Council, which provided grants from its second year up to 2024. Now lacking their critical support for display and material costs, the event has returned to outreach and various funding methods to keep it running. With the generous help of the community and sponsors, Brian and Mary can step into their sixth year of Larger Than Life with several new activities. Alongside the official unveiling of the artwork on June 28th at 10:00 a.m., visitors can also look forward to the event's first art fair full of handmade goods, creative projects, and delicious food between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Added with the live music beginning shortly after, this entirely free event is one for the calendars.
"It's not just photography anymore; we have pieces in acrylics, oils, watercolors, pen and ink, pencil, collage, digital art, and even sculpture. As the project grew, we started to appreciate the various mediums other artists use to express themselves. The sheer talent in our community and its surrounding areas has blown us away. It's incredible to see what people are creating, and we love that this event gives them a platform to share it."
Since its simple roots and first diminutive display, Larger than Life has grown into southeastern Minnesota's grandest outdoor art exhibit. Four artists, eight pieces, and six years later, the current event celebrates Mantorville's incredible creative skills with nearly thirty contributors, paintings, and a sculpture. To Brian and Mary, the most inspiring thing has been watching the exhibit and community support grow year after year. Regardless of how much work it is to assemble, the people's shared enthusiasm for creativity has validated every ounce of their effort. When people see these displays for themselves on June 28th, Brian and Mary hope that onlookers feel inspired to support artists or even create their own art. Regardless of what you do, it's hard to deny the unexplainable magic that occurs when communities gather together. Through conversations, shared laughs, and solemn reflections, events like these bring regular occurrences into larger-than-life happenings.
