New Springfield mural brings the ‘Rose City’ back to life

A crowd gathers for the dedication ceremony of the Rose City Mural by Mariah Kaminsky and Project Jericho Tuesday evening in downtown Springfield. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

A crowd gathers for the dedication ceremony of the Rose City Mural by Mariah Kaminsky and Project Jericho Tuesday evening in downtown Springfield. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

After nearly 300 hours of work, the Rose City Mural in Springfield was dedicated Tuesday evening.

The mural brings blooming flowers to the side of the Starrett and Fried building at 10 East Main St. The mural is 12 feet high and 73 feet across.

Mural artist, Mariah Kaminsky, and 22 Project Jericho students worked together to finish the mural in 20 days.

“We could not have made the deadline without all of the help,” Kaminsky said. “I was able to keep on schedule because of all the amazing help.”

PHOTOS: The Rose City Mural in Springfield

Springfield was known as the Rose City from the late 19th Century through the Great Depression for nurturing around 20 million flowers a year.

“We have been on a mission for the past 6 months to bring the history of the Rose City back to life,” said Lauren Houser, Director of Project Jericho.

Houser found a collection of seed catalogs and the idea grew from there.

Kaminsky studied the seed catalogs and began drawing the mural. She then designed a paint by number to guide the Project Jericho students during the painting process.

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With 28.5 gallons of primer and paint, Project Jericho was able to accomplish their goal of bringing the Rose City back to life.

“For us it is special because we’re showing the power that the arts have to bring people together and to bring joy,” Houser said.

The community has shown support for the mural throughout the drawing and painting process by stopping to check on the mural’s progress themselves.

“It’s our duty at Project Jericho to do things that continue to make this town so vibrant and rich in culture,” Houser said. “So grateful to have such a supportive community.”


Facts and figures

876 square feet

200 hours Mariah Kaminsky spent on the mural

87 hours Project Jericho kids spent painting

32 roses drawn from floral catalog covers

28.5 gallons of primer and paint

20 days to prim, draw, paint, and varnish

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