Chamber ambassadors observe the new mural.


Erin Rappleye reads her artist’s statement to the crowd. Photos by Sally Y. Hart

An art project that took more than a year to complete is officially finished and available for public viewing. A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday for the two-story tall mural on the back of the Washington Public Library. The mural was created and painted by Erin Rappleye, a recent graduate of the University of Iowa’s Master of Fine Arts program. In her artist’s statement, she names the mural Bungaku No Katamari which translates to clump of literature. The mural showcases downtown Washington with Dr. Seuss’s truffula trees, a hungry caterpillar, and a ruby slipper. For photos from the event visit KCII Radio’s Facebook page.