COVID-19 was in full effect. Communities were on lockdown. Social interaction was practically nonexistent. At a time when art shows and community events were being cancelled everywhere, Larger Than Life founders Brian and Mary Jo Hindal asked themselves a burning question: how can we stay in touch? Giving people a chance to connect during the height of a global pandemic was no easy task, especially considering Brian’s solution. With the help of his wife and two other local photographers, he enlarged their photographs onto giant 4x8 foot weatherproof panels to be displayed all throughout Riverside Park. These larger-than-life displays sparked the event’s name and the attention of Mantorville residents, who drove or walked through the park at a safe social distance. As the pandemic’s shackles fell off in subsequent years, Larger Than Life only grew in size and community involvement. Now, they approach their seventh year with an unveiling set for 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, in Riverside Park, Mantorville.
Brian and Mary Jo Hindal: “The response from the community [the first year] was incredible, and people immediately began asking if we would do it again. What started as a small photography display has grown into one of the largest outdoor art exhibits in outstate Minnesota. Last year, we featured 28 artists. This year, we’re proud to showcase 37 talented artists from southeast Minnesota.”
Receiving such a positive response during lockdown gave the two all the evidence they needed to expand for next year. Inviting even more artists in 2021 introduced the event to the greater Triton area and new mediums—oil, acrylic painting, watercolor, pencil, and colored pencils among them. In time, artists began reaching out to bring their pen and ink, collage, woodburning, and sculpture pieces into the roster. After a judging panel sifts through the submissions based on artistic quality and available funding, the selected prints are displayed all throughout Mantorville’s Riverside Park from June to August. When the exhibit winds down in September, the artwork moves to locations all around town to be displayed until the next year’s lineup. Artwork from 2025 lives around Mantorville Square Antiques, County Seat Cafe, Finds on Fifth, Mantorville Art Guild, the Mantorville Restoration House, Mantorville Chocolate Shoppe, the fence of the Brewery Ruins, in the alley by Riverside Park, and Trail Creek Coffee Roasters in Kasson.
“One of the most exciting moments for artists is the unveiling event each June, when they see their work transformed to a true ‘larger than life’ scale for the very first time. Artists often notice details they never saw before—brush strokes, pencil marks, collage textures, and tiny photographic elements suddenly become bold and dramatic on the oversized displays.”
Starting this unveiling last year fostered significant excitement among the artists, who had previously only seen the small version of their work. The two claimed “you could feel goosebumps” as people gasped and saw their images so dramatically enlarged. Alongside bringing back this unveiling at 11 a.m., Larger Than Life will be introducing an all-new artist raffle to raise money and find these pieces permanent homes. Purchasing a $1 raffle ticket gives participants the chance to win artwork donated from the artists—even without being present. To those who aren’t lucky enough to take a piece of Larger Than Life with them, expect plenty of festivities during the art fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Following the unveiling, Orchid Jane will kick off with live music at noon, providing “good ear candy” as people enjoy the food vendors, meet local artists, and purchase original pieces. Student artist Natalyn Ulwelling shares about the incredible platform she and other artists have received from the event.
"Larger Than Life is a great way to put my artwork out there for people to see. It helps the impact I try to make with my work reach more people. I like to have a darker feel to my artwork while maintaining a real, deeper meaning to it, and I think my piece in this year's exhibit is the perfect way to depict emotions.”
Among the dozens of other talented artists on this year’s lineup, Carrie Pompeii has harnessed the emotional connection of these enlarged displays for a few years now. To tap into the deep feelings and vivid memories effective artwork can evoke, she plays with materials outside of her comfort zone of acrylics. Inspiration often spills into her multimedia pieces and the creative process of her lifelong journey with art. Despite having lived in Mantorville for over 20 years, she only took the leap to share her work in the last five, using platforms like Larger Than Life as a catalyst. The event’s once-lofty dream has allowed local creators “a voice and a space to share our work, drawing our community closer together through a shared artistic experience.” Reflecting on these last six years, founders Brian and Mary Jo Hindal are incredibly proud to have put these artists and their creative potential on full display. By showcasing local talent and inspiring artists to grow, they’ve given Minnesotans of all kinds—young and old, amateur and pro—a chance to see the priceless beauty, meaning, and impact of their own creativity.
“We encourage photographers to see the world through a different lens, painters to experiment with new techniques or subjects, and sketch artists to explore new styles, textures, and shading. When artists have the opportunity to share their work publicly—especially on a larger-than-life scale—and receive positive reactions from the community, it often gives them the confidence to push beyond what they thought they could create.”
Brian and Mary Jo Hindal know it better than most: larger-than-life faith brings larger-than-life works.
