Spirit of Pella is hosting an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the non-profit organization’s first mural. The event will be held on Thursday, June 8 at 10 am in front of the new mural on the Brew Coffeehouse located at 626 Franklin Street as special guests Mayor Don DeWaard, Dutch Expert Milly Vande Kieft, and Muralist Hannah Heschke share a few remarks about the painting.

“We are so pleased to reveal Spirit of Pella’s first mural that honors our heritage and tells a story of Pella’s history,” said Christi Vander Voort who chairs the Spirit of Pella Steering Committee.

The mural design is inspired by Dutch folk art painting from the small farming village of Staphorst, in the province of Overijssel, The Netherlands. Dating back to the early 1900s, Stipwerk, or dotwork, is done with the heads of different sized nails. The nail heads are dipped in paint and then pressed on to the fabric. The process is repeated until the desired patterns are formed which is most often symmetrical and geometric or floral.

The colorful mural was designed and painted by local artist Hannah Heschke, who was born and raised in Pella. Heschke currently uses her creative skills in the Worship Arts Department at Third Church and her commissioned works can be seen in Downtown Pella stores, Blush and Little Wardrobe.