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Umbrella Arts planning to put murals on Kann building
Umbrella Arts
Representations of the four murals depicting the different seasons. None will have the words printed on them. These designs are available to view at businesses and establishments throughout the city.

By Steve Van Kooten

People have started using the term "glow up" to refer to an improvement in appearance, and Guttenberg residents should expect to see one in the next month or so.

Kann Manufacturing, which owns a distinctive building on Regent Street, will be getting four murals placed on its walls, with each one representing the four seasons, with the help of Umbrella Arts.

According to Sue Osterhaus, who is a member of Umbrella Arts, the nonprofit organization has taken on the project as part of its efforts to support artistic pursuits in the local community and to help improve the town's profile.

"It'll help beautify the building a little," she said. "I think a lot of people, including Kann, want to see something nice put up on the building."

In April 2025, a group came to Umbrella Arts with the idea to do something artistic with the Kann building.

"We love Kann Manufacturing," said Osterhaus. "They've been approached a few other times about painting murals on their building."

Rather than paint directly onto the walls of the building, Umbrella elected to screen print 8-foot-by-25-foot murals on canvas, frame them, and have them placed on the side—sort of like hanging a picture in your home on a much larger scale. ThInk Custom, based in Elkader, will produce the printed murals.

The murals are designed to be taken down and hung up again, so when Kann does work on their building, the murals can remain a part of their public face.

Osterhaus said Kann was enthused with the idea and even helped provide photos that inspired some of the picturesque scenes that will adorn their building.

Each of the murals costs about $3,500. So far, Umbrella has raised approximately $6,200 of the $15,000 needed for the project, with more commitments in the offing. The organization received a grant from Foundation of Cornerstone Communities for $5,000 for the project and has put in about $1,200 itself.

To make a charitable donation, mail checks to Umbrella Arts at P.O. Box 751 Guttenberg, Iowa, 52052. Make sure to write "murals" in the memo.