A legacy painted across generations

An idea that started three years ago has turned into a prominent mural giving thousands of motorists along Interstate 35 each day a glimpse into the historic music company that began in Owatonna eight decades ago.

Wenger commissioned Minnesota artist Adam Turman, who is known for celebrating Minnesota’s people, places and culture, to create a mural. He worked with a team from Wenger to create a mural that is more than public art. It’s a visual timeline of the company’s history, purpose and enduring impact on education, performance and community.

“It’s my biggest job ever,” said Turman, whose studio is in St. Louis Park. “It’s massive. It’s a big statement piece. I love how it turned out.”

Making a big statement is exactly what Wenger Corporation set out to do, according to Whitney Bauer Winkels, communications manager for Wenger. With the company celebrating its 80^th anniversary, the timing of the mural that went up a few months ago worked out perfectly.

“Music is a universal language, and that’s what we are all a part of at Wenger,” Bauer Winkels said. “We are not only in the arts, but we are bringing the arts to life, and it’s a stance that we are believers in,” she added.

She said the real challenge was trying to figure out what they could get across in the three seconds it takes motorists to drive by Wenger’s headquarters along I-35. The mural is 320 by 30 foot. “There’s a lot of paint on the side of the building,” Bauer Winkels said, noting Turman began the project at the end of May and had it completed within two months.

Turman said he deployed a crew of five people, including his daughter, to work on the project over a six-week period. They found it challenging to say the least because of the building’s surface, which is corrugated concrete.

“It’s a challenge to paint on. We had to strap portable sprayers on our hips because there were so many different surfaces,” Turman explained. They used the highest quality exterior paint along with a protective coating over the top to “protect it from the harsh elements and direct sunlight,” he said.  

While the painting took place over six weeks, Turman said he had been working with Wenger for three years previously to develop the concept and design for the mural.

“For those who drive by every day, we hope they catch little pieces of art every time they go by,” Bauer Winkels said. “We hope to put a smile on people’s faces.”

Bauer Winkels said that history serves as both the beginning and the end of the mural. At the northern end, Harry Wenger’s hands are shown conducting with his baton—a symbolic reminder that every innovation at Wenger began with a teacher’s desire to help student succeed.

Hidden within the artwork are subtle tributes to the company’s history, including the iconic Wenger circle “W” incorporated into Harry’s cufflinks and musical notes from “There’s Music,” a song commissioned by Wenger Corp. in 2024 to celebrate the lifelong impact music education has on children. Above the scene, Turman painted the Northern Lights as a tribute to Minnesota and Wenger’s hometown roots.

The mural then moves through the many environments where Wenger’s purpose comes to life. A young violinist, performing the company’s enduring commitment to music education and the classrooms where countless artistic journeys begin.

The story continues onto the stage, where a vocalist performs before an audience with a Wenger Diva Acoustical Shell framing the performance. It celebrates Wenger’s role in helping schools and performance venues create exceptional experiences for performers and audiences alike through front-of-house performance solutions.

Nearby, an experienced guitarist reminds viewers that music is lifelong. Whether in a classroom, rehearsal hall, concert venue or living room, the joy of performance continues well beyond school, a reflection of Wenger’s belief that great performances enrich lives at every age.

As the mural transitions backstage, the spotlight shifts to the people audiences rarely see. Technical theatre professionals represent craftsmanship and innovation behind J.R. Clancy, Texas Scenic Company and Creative Conners, honoring the rigging, automation and stage technologies that make every production possible. While performers take center stage, these professional are the ones who quite literally make the curtain rise.

The story then expands beyond the performing arts into athletics. A football player symbolizes Wenger’s commitment to K-12 schools, colleges and universities through athletic equipment storage, locker room solutions and facilities that help teams prepare for success both on and off the field. Just as performers need spaces designed for excellence, athletes depend on environments that support preparation, teamwork and achievement.

The mural concludes with a marching band sousaphone player, a fitting bookend to Wenger’s original version.

Bauer Winkels said the mural is more than a work of public art along I-35. “It tells the story of a company whose purpose has remained remarkably consistent since 1946: to enrich lives by enabling and inspiring great performances,” she said.

Turman’s favorite part of the mural is the singing lady in the middle of it. “She is a big statement piece of the whole mural,” he said. He also enjoyed the violin girl as well as Harry’s hands, which are supposed to replicate a portrait of him.

“We wanted to have a musical journey throughout the mural,” Turman said referring to Harry’s hands. “Harry is conducting in an abstract way.”

Bauer Winkels said the purpose extends beyond products. It lives in Wenger’s employees, its commitment to the Owatonna community and across a number of family brands.

“Through Adam’s unmistakable artistic style, the mural transforms Wenger’s history into a vibrant public landmark, one that celebrates the people, performances and possibilities that have connected the company to communities around the world for nearly 80 years,” said Bauer Winkels.

Turman noted the entire wall is not filled, hinting that Wenger could do more with it in the future.

“It’s cool how artwork can bring people together,” Turman said. “It’s the greatest dopamine in the world. I love my job.”

Prior to founding the historic music company in 1946, Wenger served as music director for Owatonna Schools.  As an educator, he is credited with looking for ways to improve the experience for musicians. Among his earliest inventions were a conductor’s baton and the Sousaphone Chair, designed to better support young musicians during rehearsals. The chair became Wenger’s first commercial product.

Wenger plans a grand reveal of the mural during its anniversary celebration later this fall.

Bauer Winkels said she is not aware of any other murals of this magnitude located along the I-35 corridor from Minnesota to Texas.

“It’s one of the most selfless acts that a building owner can do for the community,” she said. “Most buildings are just paint, but this is a selfless act of art. It’s nice to showcase this not only for Wenger, but also for Owatonna.”

Currently, Wenger employs 700 workers at four facilities, including Owatonna, New York, Rhode Island and Texas.