Back in March, Downtown Milwaukee announced an open call for the Gateway Mural Project. It was an initiative to bring a bit of color and action to the west-facing facade of 622 W. Wisconsin Ave., on the northeast corner of James Lovell Street and Wisconsin. A few months later, Milwaukee artist Emma Daisy Gertel was chosen to create the 80-feet-wide-by-50-feet-high mural.

“My artistic concept is to create a bright, colorful garden of flora to enliven the space and create a sense of wonder, vibrancy, beauty and hope that is representative of the revitalization and renewal efforts of Westown,” Gertel said in a press release. “Plant life improves mood and there is nothing more welcoming to visitors than fresh flowers.”

Now, a few weeks after giving you an in-progress preview, we present 16 pictures of the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 4,000 square-foot mural. Gertel was on hand, of course, along with flowers from Bluebird, donuts and coffee from Dunkin’, and a guy with a drone. Fun!

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Co-Founder and Editor

Matt Wild weighs between 140 and 145 pounds. He lives on Milwaukee's east side.