{"id":91171,"date":"2025-03-08T08:18:36","date_gmt":"2025-03-08T15:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/?p=91171"},"modified":"2025-03-24T15:12:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T22:12:05","slug":"logans-downtown-murals-a-canvas-for-community-and-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/logans-downtown-murals-a-canvas-for-community-and-controversy\/","title":{"rendered":"Logan’s Downtown Murals: A Canvas for Community and Controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A new mural by Larry Winborg, on the side of Flats Luxury Suites (22 E. Center Street) in Logan, Utah, joins several other murals that are part of a public art boom in the city. The mural replaces “Baby Steps,” a mural created by the same artist in 2015.<\/p><\/div>\n

In 2015, Logan, Utah\u2019s Planning Commission granted conditional approval for a series of murals on a historic downtown building at 22 E. Center Street. The murals, mounted on a durable material designed to resemble paint, would change out periodically. While the project had strong support from the local business community, some raised concerns about preserving the area\u2019s historic aesthetic. As city officials pointed out, they could regulate the size and upkeep of the murals but not the style and content.<\/h4>\n

\u201cWhile we are in favor of the beautification of downtown, many wall murals can be akin to graffiti,\u201d read one letter to the commission from Allen-Hall Mortuary (hjnews.com<\/a>).\u00a0 Others were displeased with some of the few murals already in Logan’s downtown. \u201cI hope that the proposed murals are better than the art we see the city allowing heretofore,\u201d a commenter to the same story wrote. “I do not understand at all the bulls in tutus painted with M&Ms or other nonsensical scenes on them or the kindergarten level of art seen on the north wall of Angie’s Restaurant.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Public art\u2019s perennial conundrum is that you’ll never please everyone.<\/h4>\n

Larry and Jeremy Winborg were selected to create the mural. Though well-respected local artists known for their traditional styles, their selection still stirred debate. \u201cThe Winborgs are very talented, but they have plenty of pieces to choose from without resorting to showcasing their religious works in a downtown mural,\u201d posted one commenter.<\/h4>\n

The Winborg’s first mural was anodyne enough that it didn\u2019t cause any trouble. \u201cBaby Steps\u201d depicted a pioneer-era father and mother encouraging their child\u2019s first steps. Despite the original plan to rotate the murals on a regular basis, this original mural remained on the side of The Flats Luxury Suites for years. By the time it was replaced in late 2024 by another mural by the Winborgs, it had been joined by more several other murals throughout the city.<\/h4>\n
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In 2014, Matthew Vance, a business administration and marketing student at Utah State University, spearheaded a community-driven mural project on the side of Angie\u2019s Restaurant in Logan, Utah (690 N. Main Street). The resulting 12-by-50-foot mural, themed \u201cPeople, Places, and Times of Cache Valley,\u201d reflects the area\u2019s iconic landmarks and culture. The mural features the work of 12 artists, ranging in age from 12 to nearly 60. Image by Dylan Ison.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Salt Lake City artists Matt Monsoon and Brooklyn Ottens painted this mural on the Ice Rink Building at Merlin Olsen Park (280 E Center Street) in July 2022, as part of the city’s new Logan City Park Mural Program. Image by Shawn Rossiter.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Allentown, Pennsylvania artist Matt Halm was commissioned to paint this large-scale community mural on the North Tunnel at Logan’s Merlin Olsen Park (280 E Center Street) in 2022. The mural depicts several local landmarks. Image by Shawn Rossiter.<\/p><\/div>\n