Three-story mural in downtown La Crosse gets green light from city

A big piece of art is a ‘go’ for downtown La Crosse.

The city’s Board of Public Works on Monday gave the green light to a three-story abstract mural called “Helping Hands” painted on part of the north side of the Main St. parking ramp.

It’s by far the biggest work La Crosse artist Landon Sheely will have tackled and one on a stage he hasn’t been on before.

“Normally get to just finish a product and tell people it’s there,” he said. “This is just out in the open so I can’t hide. I can’t be happy with it before people look at it. They’re going to be watching as I do it. Yeah, I’m intimidated by the process a bit.

Arts Board money leftover from last year’s budget will pay for the mural. It has $4,800 to spend. Members told WIZM they expect to spend much less.

As for the mural itself, it depicts three abstract styled people holding each other up. The design, says Sheely, somewhat defined by the space he has to work with.

“It’s this tall, narrow structure,” he said. “I knew I wanted multiple characters sort of helping each other, somehow. And when I looked at the wall, it just made perfect sense that they’re helping each other climb up this three-story building.

“It’s just a community inclusion from the ground up, helping each other.”