Youngsters create mural at downtown business

Art teacher Ariane Kokes of Minneapolis worked with a group of youngsters in painting a wall mural and the picnic tables outside the Farmhouse Market in New Prague Friday, July 7.

Kokes, who teaches art in Columbia Heights and also has an art business in St. Anthony, is a friend of Farmhouse Market owner Kendra Rasmusson, and also has family in the New Prague Area. “We both started our businesses about the same time, and we’ve been supporting each other,” Kokes said. Her business involves teaching small groups of youngsters about collaborative art, doing art classes for children and families.

The mural, on the east wall of the business at 120 Main Street W, shows a farm scene. Six students worked on the mural, with direction from Kokes.

The session had originally been scheduled for June, but weather postponed it until July. The youngsters spent about five hours working on the project. Kokes said she will return to New Prague in the near future to put some finishing touches on the project.