Story and photos by Don Steen.
The Santa Claus Museum & Village got a new splash of color last week as a new mural of Jolly Old Saint Nicholas came to life on the east wall of the museum building. Artist Elizabeth Wertman of Blonde Brush began work in the early morning hours last Tuesday, August 16 and wrapped up work the next day. The finished product stands 12 feet tall, not quite as large as the famous granite statue across the way, but quite a bit more colorful and eye-catching.
“The mural will provide a fantastic instagrammable opportunity and a wonderful way to enhance the appearance of the museum’s exterior roadside wall,” said Museum Director Kathleen Crews. “And, we are pleased to be able to support a talented local artist.”
The project is the result of a generous Indiana Public Art Activation Grant funded by the Indiana Destination Development Corporation. Crews said the grant opportunity was a perfect fit for one of her primary goals, that being to improve the roadside aesthetic of the museum and village. The new mural on the exterior of the Santa Claus Museum is a visual tribute to the holiday icon himself.
Wertman was selected for the task after a recommendation from the area’s art scene.
“I found Elizabeth by asking around for talented and local artists,” said Crews. “Someone mentioned that she specializes in murals, so I contacted her and it was a perfect fit!”
Guests are now welcome to grab photos with both the solemn granite Santa on the hill and his smaller, but more colorful companion.
There is no entrance fee for guests to tour the museum, browse the gift shop, visit the 22-foot Santa Claus statue, enter the 1880 Santa Claus Church and children are always welcome to write letters to Santa in the historic Santa Claus Post Office. The Santa Claus Museum & Village is a not-for-profit organization which seeks to preserve the history of the town of Santa Claus and perpetuate the tradition of answering thousands of children’s letters to Santa.
For information about the mural or the Santa Claus Museum & Village, call (812) 544-2434.
