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Grants propel Tunnel Vision art project

by Daily Inter Lake
| July 7, 2021 12:00 AM

Rails to Trails of Northwest Montana has received grants from AARP Montana and Discover Kalispell to expand its Tunnel Vision 2021 project, an effort to paint murals on the tunnels along Kalispell's multi-use paved trail system.

The grants will be used to complete artistic designs on the interior walls of three pedestrian tunnels — one located between Kidsports and Flathead Valley Community College, another behind the My Place Hotel under the U.S. 93 bypass and the third near the lower entrance to Lone Pine State Park.

AARP Montana contributed $4,000 to the project, and Discover Kalispell awarded a $1,200 matching "visitor development grant." Both will enable Rails to Trails and the KALICO Art Center to pay experienced mural artists for the second phase of the project, then invite community members of all ages to help paint sections of the murals.

Rails to Trails called the project "paint by number on steroids."

Phase 1 of Tunnel Vision will kick off July 21 when four professional artists will begin painting on the entrances of the tunnels at Kidsports and Glacier High High behind My Place Hotel. The work is expected to be completed by July 28.

The Lone Pine tunnel will be painted in summer 2022 after the Foys Lake interchange construction on the bypass is complete.

Members of the public can stop by and observe the progress of the murals. Artists likely will be painting during the days and evenings, depending on the weather.

Rails to Trails said it's within $3,500 of its fundraising goal for Tunnel Vision 2021.

More information can be found at railstotrailsofnwmt.com.