September 13-14, 2024

MapleWood Townhomes, Winona, MN

“Community Builds” are youth-oriented, community-supported, public-nonprofit public arts programs from the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM). Each year, MMAM collaborates with a community impact oriented organization to pursue a public arts project that provides youth in our communities authentic and meaningful arts experiences that are created of / by and / for the community.  

In 2023, connected to the museum’s annual theme Flora and Fauna - a year-long suite of integrated exhibitions and programs that explore the human relationship to the flora and fauna of our mysterious and brilliant underwater world -  MMAM collaborated with Winona Housing and Redevelopment Authority, The Joy Labs, and community liaison Katherine Sublett, to create a public mural on an old volleyball court at Maplewood Town Homes. The mural was completed over a course of four days with more than 65 participants.    

In 2024, MMAM will continue this project to deepen our relationship with the same community partners.  The Joy Labs will guide and lead neighborhood participants through the design of two small murals “in the paint” under each basketball goal.