If you’re driving downtown from I-480 on an overcast day, you might be surprised to find that a patch of blue sky catches your eye.

A collaborative effort of artists in the Creighton community, combined with a hot summer’s worth of design and painting, renders itself in a simple but vibrant mural that occupies a warehouse at the intersection of Florence Blvd and Cuming.

At the frontline of the mural’s creative efforts is Creighton design professor and muralist Betni Kalk, who says she was approached about the project in an attempt to make the drive from the highway to downtown more colorful and welcoming.

“It ended up being a Creighton-owned building,” Kalk said. “The students were asked to design it while keeping Creighton and the general public in mind regarding imagery and meaning.”

The mural’s design is courtesy of Creighton graphic design alum Daniel Thiessen, who graduated last May. Although two dozen other participants submitted designs for consideration, the committee of designated artists and designers, affiliated with the North Downtown Neighborhood Alliance, chose Thiessen’s work for the warehouse’s beautification efforts. Kalk and Thiessen together collaborated to modify and deliver Thiessen’s artistic vision.

“When I design murals for clients, it’s to hear aspects of what they would like to see, and then make the result better than they imagined,” Kalk said.

Kalk is no stranger to murals. Her artistic repertoire also includes graphic design and painting, although Kalk says she doesn’t restrict herself to any particular medium of art.

“The fun of art is constantly trying new methods,” she said. “I particularly enjoy murals because they involve both painting and design as well as being in public for everyone to enjoy.”

Kalk grew up in New Guinea without a television to provide what could be considered standard kid entertainment—instead, she turned to exploring the rainforest and drawing to pass the time. Her great-grandfather’s belief in her artistic abilities ultimately drove her to pursue art throughout the rest of her childhood and adult life.

“Art-making evolves as a person ages and changes. It’s never boring,” Kalk said about the artistic process. “It can be collaborative or solitary. Depending on what an artist feels like making or tackling, it can either soothe anxiety, be meditative, cause stress, push one’s boundaries or bring comfort.”

Kalk also worked on interior murals for the Nelson Mandela Elementary School this summer. As for future plans, she is currently working on another mural located at 33rd and Parker on the old American Legion building. Over the holiday break, she plans on traveling to Brisbane to collaborate on a separate mural.

Several professors, students and other community members combined efforts to create this simplistic but colorful mural, painted on the side of a warehouse at the intersection of Florence and Cuming. Professor Betni Kalk helped to create the project. 

Kelly Cunningham, The Creightonian