Julia M. Becker
Ninth Street Community Mural Project, 2009

Panoramic view of entire mural

On the east-facing wall of the Great Falls Gymnastics Academy on Ninth Street, between First and Second Avenues North in Great Falls. Julia completed this 15 by 68 foot mural in April through August of 2009, with assistance from a collaborative group of Painting students from the University of Great Falls, friends, family and community members. View detail images below!
UGF Painting Students (all painted figures, and some helped with other areas):
Kellie Grandone, Bronson Gustafson, Alexia Hoe, Savannah Horak, Sherann Johnson, Dana Lomas, Jessie Olson, and Jessica Wyatt.
And other contributors:
Greg Madson, Christi Madson, Lars Madson, Brenda Wrigley, Daniel Biehl, Mary Papoulis, Randy, Debbie, - and others who stopped by and helped get the paint on the wall.
Thank you to the people who came by to encourage us, who brought lemonade, ice cream, coffee.
Thanks to the road construction guys who helped move the scaffolding numerous times and shared laughter and excitement.
Thanks to all the people who wandered by smiling and making positive comments.
Thank you to Greg and Christie Madson whose offered their wall for a community project and trusted me from the start to do it. I am so grateful for the affinity we shared about the project from the first time we sat down together and throughout the process. They were wonderfully grateful and accommodating throughout the entire process to all participants.
Thank you to all the generous donors from the Great Falls community including:
ProBuild, Ace Hardware, the Johnson Brothers, Columbia Paints, Daniel Biehl, Rachel Kaiser Designs, Kmart, Dave’s Interior Painting, University of Great Falls, Tony and Collette Longin, Preston, Neighborworks, Sams Club, Sherwin-Williams, Forsyth Paint, Home Depot, and Walmart.

View of entire mural


Detail of mural

figure with raised arms by Jessie Olson,
bear by Savannah Horak



Detail of mural


Detail of mural

sea turtle among the contributions of Alexia Hoe



Detail of mural

figure in wheelchair by Al Hoe



Detail of mural

figure in blue dress with green hair by Dana Lomas



Detail of mural

exotic dancing figure by Sherann Johnson



Detail of mural


Detail of mural


Detail of mural


Detail of mural

handstanding figure is a collaboration by Julia and Al



Detail of mural

red-shirted figure flashing peace sign by Jessica Wyatt



Detail of mural


Detail of mural

grouping of dancers below and to the left of the moon by Kellie Grandone



Detail of mural

Julia applies the last few strokes, completing the mural.



Detail of mural

venerable pair of tourists in cornfield also by Kellie Grandone



Detail of mural