Artist Maren Conrad Creates New Sac Mural for 150th Anniversary of Railroad

Kitty talks with Maren Conrad, the renowned artist creating the latest mural in Sacramento. The Historic Elks Tower, located on the corner of 11th and J Streets in Downtown will become home to Sacramento’s latest street art project – a mural painted on its south facing façade. The project is being led by non-profit organization Wide Open Walls, best known for their week-long mural festival held each August, where artists from around the world showcase their talents on structures throughout the Sacramento region.

“Our annual festival is really the culmination of projects that we’re committed to working on throughout the year to beautify our city, like this work with the Elks Tower,” says David Sobon, noted Sacramento area auctioneer and founder of Wide Open Walls. “We’re so excited for this opportunity to transform a city landmark.”

Wide Open Walls is partnering with Union Pacific Community Ties Giving Program to secure funding for the project, which will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 2019. As such, the mural will pay tribute to the laborers who built the system - depicting primarily Chinese immigrants. The mural will recognize the crucial role these men played, and more accurately reflect their diversity.

“The Transcontinental Railroad represents one of the great feats of American ingenuity and innovation,” says Francisco Castillo, Jr., Senior Director of Public Affairs for Union Pacific Railroad. “We’re proud to be working with Wide Open Walls to honor the men who made the railroad possible while adding to the beauty of the Sacramento cityscape.”

The mural will be painted by Maren Conrad, one of Northern California’s most notable visual artists and a Sacramento resident.The California State Senate recognized Conrad as one of the state’s most prominent artists, featuring her work in the California State Senate

2015-2016 Fine Art Collection. Conrad's work has also received broad media coverage in USA Today, The San Francisco Chronicle, Forbes, the Associated Press and San Francisco Magazine's Power Issue. She was also the first featured artist in Golf & Lifestyle Magazine.

Conrad and her team will start immediately on the project. An unveiling of the mural will be part of a press conference on May 13, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the Historic Elks Tower located at 921 11thStreet, Sacramento, California 95814.

For more information about Union Pacific, its history and the company's Transcontinental Railroad completion celebrations, go towww.up.com.

The Wide Open Walls annual festival is set for August 8-18, 2019. More information can be found athttps://www.wideopenwalls.com.