How Mara feels about the rain:

#@*# rain! It's a "keep the coffee coming" day!

Finally the rain let up and the guys went back to work. Unfortunately within a couple of hours the rain started again and everyone rushed to get the tarps back up.

Thursday morning the rain is still pouring but it looks like it will let us soon!

Rain, Rain, Go Away.....

No work on the wall today as it is raining off and on.

Tuesday, April 28: Monday was a rainy day so the pressure is on today to get as much done as possible before the rain starts again.

Brick tender, Tyler Kuhn, was really hopping today making sure the masons had a steady supply of mortar.
By noon most of the buildings depicted in the mural were completed. It is incredible to see all the detail and be able to recognize the local landmarks.
By late afternoon Mara lingered alone to finish the fine details. Will tomorrow be the day the plane begins to take shape?

Friday, April 24, 2009: The weather is beautiful and the bricks and mortar seem to be flying. Scaffolding is now in place on the south corner of the wall. Catharine and Mara called in two of the original sculpting volunteers to assist in working the mortar.

April 22, 2009 - Work ended early on Wednesday due to running out of mortar color. Even so, the wall is beginning to really take shape.

Catharine & Mara Arrive!

April 21, 2009 Catharine & Mara have arrived in Concordia to oversee the installation of the Whole Wall Project. They will spend the next few weeks working very closely with the masons. It is very important the mortar does not interfere with the flow of the carvings while still providing stability. Catharine & Mara will be working on the mortar and assist in brick placement. The masons appreciate the "extra eyes" to insure that each brick is placed correctly. This is one giant puzzle that no one wants to have to change after the mortar is dry!

April 16, 2009 - The Wall is really taking shape.

April 14, 2009 ended the day with huge shoes. On lookers were sure they had to be the shoes of a giant. Many visited the Museum Annex to view the drawing of the Whole Wall and were amazed to see the shoes actually belong to a woman.

Seeing the bricks lined up on the pallets is amazing. Each one is marked and numbered so the masons know where they are to be placed. Even then, it must be difficult to know the bottom from the top.

The Work Begins

On Monday, April 13 the foundation was set and the first actual bricks were set. At the end of the day the backside of the building (off the alley) was shaping up.

On April 10, 2009 the first load of sand and concrete arrived.

The Installation Preparation

On Tuesday, April 7, 2009 the rain let up and the City of Concordia installed the snow fence around the building and parking lot. The forklift and some of the bricks arrived. The excitement began to build.