It took Cal and Allena McNichols about four years of planning and fundraising before one drop of paint touched the north side of the thirty-foot-tall wall on the building housing Trollslända Toy Store. Twenty gallons of paint and plenty of elbow grease later, the Lindsborg couple has nearly completed the Viking mural.
“We may be out there a bit more to handle little technical things and touch ups but for the most part, it’s done,” Cal said. The pair are planning a small ceremony in the coming weeks to thank the community and officially mark the completion of the their fifth mural project in Kansas, including the Viking longboat mural in Lindsborg’s Swensson Park.
The Viking design was approved several years ago by Lesa and late husband Merle Larson, the building’s owners. The previous mural, depicting tall, dancing silhouettes was enjoyed by many over the years, but the Larsons were ready for a change for the community and so the mural was decided on. “I think Merle would love it. It’s so bright and fresh,” she said. The Viking peers down at us little folk from the second story, allowing us a chance to pose in the palm of his hand, at ground level.
The project was powered by generous grants from the Smoky Valley Community Foundation, KCAIC Mural and Public Art Grant, the Lindsborg Art Council, and several private donations.
Visit our YouTube channel to see the playlist we’ve created for you: The Arts in Lindsborg, highlighting some of the latest of many murals in Little Sweden.
