Hetland Christmas murals

Every Christmas Concordia College in Moorhead Minnesota does a program of choral music. For years, they have performed that program against the backdrop of a 20 x 60-foot painted Christmas mural reflecting that year's theme. For at least 13 of those years David Hetland designed stunning murals for those concerts, then supervised the volunteers who painted them.

"Star of Wonder" - the theme in 2000.

A book - On Our Way Rejoicing - gives us a behind-the-scenes look at these concerts, including the mural-making process. Here is a page from the book.

"The Lord is My Shepherd" is the mural from 2004.

Go here to see more Hetland murals.

He also designed and created stained glass and mosaics.

David Hetland died in 2006. (Maybe we'll see more of his amazing artistry beyond the pearly gates.)

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10-01-09 Update:

It seems that the Hetland website is no longer working, thus the many stale links above. There are other places online that have thumbnails of Mr. Hetland's murals. Here is a short video of him, talking about his role in the mural projects along with a mural slide show. 

Mysterious monster

Nha-a-tik - Ogopogo - 2003
2704 Highway 6, west-facing wall





Lake Okanagan's famous and mysterious monster has been around a long time. Sightings go back to the 1860s.

This bold, green mural has to be my favorite of all the Vernon murals. Isn't it imaginative and just plain fun?

With this monster mural we've come to the end of the Vernon mural series. I hope you've enjoyed them. Kudos to Vernon for giving us such wonderful street art!

The latest wheels

Indian Motorcycle - 2003
2904 - 30th Ave., west-facing wall



This mural features a Megaw Motor Company ad for Indian Motorcycles. Their all-chain drive was an improvement over the usual belt-driving motorbike of the day.

Rustic street

Dr. Reinhard's House and Office - 2000
2909 - 30th Ave, west-facing wall



This street scene pictures the home of Vernon's third doctor, Dr. Reinhard. It was both his home and the medical clinic.

(It was tricky to photograph though, because of the narrow space between it and the building beside it. It will always be viewed at an angle because of this, never straight on - unless it can be seen the windows of the neighboring building.)

Love that lake

Okanagan Lake - 2003
3101 - 29th Ave., east-facing wall

Beautiful Okanagan Lake is featured in this mural that looks like a page out of someone's scrapbook. The sailboat pictured is the only one with two masts available in pioneer times. (And wouldn't you just like to take a bite out of one of those juicy looking apples?)

Well-read

Office of the Daily News - 2000
2807 - 32nd St. west-facing wall



The Vernon News was the Okanagan's first newspaper. As well as local and world news, it had a weekly column of news about community life.

Steamy clean

Vernon's Steam Laundry - 2000
2807 - 32nd St. south-facing wall.



Opened in 1908 by Mr. Cecil Johnston, Vernon's first commercial laundry promised prompt and satisfactory service.

Rich load

Creamery Truck - 2000
3111 Coldstream Ave. - north-facing wall.



This mural celebrates the era of the Vernon Creamery, opened in 1920 by H. W. Knight. This truck traveled the country roads, picking up cream from local dairies.

City of Vernon

City of Vernon - 2000
2902 - 32nd Street, south-facing wall



Eldon Seymour and Jim Duddle bought plans from a magazine, then worked 10 months to construct this open cockpit monoplane. The 40 HP engine could reach speeds of 90 MPH.

Bicycle mania

Bicycling - 1999
3300 - 30th Ave., east-facing wall





This mural celebrates bicycling. It was said one had to be possessed of an iron will to resist the cycle temptations on display at the many dealers in town.

Trompe L'oiel Museum

Museum Without Walls - 2000
3301 Coldstream Ave., west-facing wall




This Trompe L'oiel mural shows a little boy looking through a broken wall into a museum. The "museum" mural shows women working in an orchard during W.W.II. The painting is so realistic, there are even parking stops painted into it.

Family Life

The Fisher Family - 2000
3300 Coldstream Avenue



In this dual mural the Fisher children are fishing the Shuswap River on the left,



while Wally Fisher and son Herb have just done some logging on the right.

A tribute to pioneer women

This mural is a tribute to pioneer women. Catherine Schubert, the mural's subject, was the first white woman to travel overland from eastern Canada to B.C. Her trip is especially remarkable because she was five months pregnant when she started out with her husband and three youngsters.

Catherine Schubert (2002)
Located at 3505 - 30th Avenue

Steam Boat of the Okanagan

Captain Shorts, High Admiral of the Okanagan Ocean, began a rowboat service with a boat named after his mother, Ruth Short.

Captain Shorts and the Crew of the S. S. Penticton - 1999

Captain Shorts eventually developed a steam-powered vessel.



The crew of Captain Shorts' steam boat - the S. S. Penticton.

Life on the Ranch

Located at 3213 30th Avenue, this mural celebrates the young men that came to the valley in the 1860s to 1890s to live the cowboy way of life on the cattle ranches. The best riders and ropers were the Okanagan First Nation Cowboys.

Cowboys - 2002

Celebrating Aboriginal Peoples

This mural, "Okanagan Indian Band" is at 3219 31st Avenue - west-facing wall

It depicts the culture of the Okanagan First Nation's people. Notice the eagle and the wolf which are very much a part of lake legends. Some of the people in the mural are chief Pierre Louis and his wife Catherine, as well as Tommy Gregoire, an accomplished rodeo rider.

Okanagan Indian Band - 2001

Kalamalka Lake

I've been holidaying, thus the almost month-long absence. And I have been collecting more murals!

But before we get to those, let's finish Vernon. Today, the mural at 3300 34th Avenue North. This mural celebrates Vernon's beautiful Kalmalka Lake. It was based on a hand-tinted photograph by George Meers and captures the lake's greenish-blue hue. Included are a detail of the brush work and the head artist's signature.

Kalamalka Lake (2002)

Remember war - part 2

The south-facing wall at 3203 - 32nd Street is a continuation of the grand 300-foot mural that shows Vernon's participation in both WWI and WWII.

World Wars - South Wall (2001)

by Michelle Loughery & the company of artists

Remembering war - part 1

The west and south-facing walls at 3203 - 32nd Street display a truly spectacular 300-foot mural. The images show Vernon's participation in both WWI and WWII and depict the various armed forces. This is the west-facing wall

World Wars - West Wall (2001)

by Michelle Loughery & the company of artists