The west side wall of the Bob Walls Memorial Union Hall is becoming more colorful as local artist Bruce Trask begins work on his latest mural.

Although only in its beginning stages, the focus of Trask’s third mural within a year, is to highlight the many union trades that have worked and continue to work in the community.

“It is looking how I thought it would,” Trask said of his preliminary work. “Right now, I’m basically filling in the crevasses.”

International Falls was granted $6,000 by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council to hire Trask to create the mural.

Falls Mayor Shawn Mason has said that the addition of murals within the city is a part of the city’s “fight on blight” campaign and intended to beautify the area.

The mural will include a river boat carrying men and women travelers, which Trask told The Journal represents people who came to the International Falls area.

Trask will also use figures to illustrate a home setting representing those who have and still do live in this area.

Trask describes “the fruits of labor” he is also working into the painting. He will create a man pushing a log through a buzz saw to represent production, men and women farming, a logger, a man and a woman with a shovel, a man harvesting ice, a fisherman with nets, figures panning for gold, a man and woman ricing and miners.

“It (the mural) is meant to be a work of art rather than a documentary,” he said.

Trask noted that he will use imperfections in the wall as if they are a part of his work of art.

“There is a lot of damage in the wall, but I try to work with it instead of fighting it,” he said with a laugh.

The mural has already taken on a noticeable image, however, Trask points out he is only in the beginning stages using outlines and muted colors.

“I’m pleased with how things are going so far,” he said. “The color adjustments are flowing nicely.”

He said he is paying attention to color so that the mural will be eye-catching from those visiting the nearby Smokey Bear Park. He said his goal is to make the mural “colorful and attractive.”

“It’ll hopefully be something to look at,” he said. “I have the entire summer to work towards that.”