Mural Information

The murals were made possible through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation awarded Baroda with an Art Builds Community Grant. Through art and agri-tourism, Baroda is once again a thriving community.

Pomona Mural

In Greek mythology, Pomona was the ancient Roman goddess of orchards and fruit trees. Baroda was going to be named after Pomona because of all of the fruit orchards in the area, but there was already a Pomona, Michigan. The name Baroda was then selected, which is named after Baroda, India. 

   This mural is mounted on the southwest corner of the Baroda City Mill.  Click here to see the mural as it progressed from a blank canvas.

This mural was created by Amber Heaton, 18, of Bridgman and is a 2010 graduate of Bridgman High School and will be attending Kendall College School of Design this fall.

Amber’s Artist Statement is as follows: 

    Art, to me, is everything. It is the cerulean sky and its warm sun, it’s the tiny blossoms painting the ground, or the distant glittering cosmos; the world grants you so many options to draw inspiration from. Currently, my art is discovering its stylized self through my education. The fall semester of 2011 I will be attending Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids. I am studying illustration while remaining open to supplementary mediums. I hope to someday become a professional artist while staying true to what being an artist means.

    I view the Baroda Harvest Feast mural as an opportunity for me to improve. I focused on creating a colorful environment that used only shading to create dimensions. I wanted to paint a world that displayed the beauty of local nature. The role of the girl, Pomona, is to provide an iconic figure to the luscious harvest of Baroda. A juicy apple, peach, and grapes flow through her hair while she watches over her landscape. Seasons span across the scene and delicious wine flows over the land. I appreciate the chance to compose a painting that holds such a naturally beautiful meaning.

Harvest Feast Mural

Southwest Michigan has a unique climate that enhances the growing season for all types of fruits, vegetables and other crops. In celebration of the rich agricultural history of Baroda, a four-panel mural was created to highlight different agricultural crops found in this area. Baroda has a long-standing history of being a farming community and is gaining more fame as being the gateway to the wineries found in this area.

   This mural is mounted on the northwest corner of the Baroda City Mill.  Click here to see the mural as it progressed from a blank canvas.

This four panel mural was created by students and faculty from the Andrews University Art Department. Each panel is representative of various agricultural aspects in our region.

The murals were designed by faculty member Rhonda Root and painted by:

        1 mural (grapes, bottles) Leila Celestin and Brian Manley

        2 mural (tractor, field) Ariana Cunningham and Kari Friestad

        3 mural (corn, wheat) Kari Friestad

        4 mural (apples, peaches) Bo-Eun Kim and Kari Friestad

     We, the faculty and students in the Department of Art & Design at Andrews University, appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your community through the creation of these four murals. Baroda is located in a beautiful area of Southwest Michigan. We enjoyed painting imagery that celebrates Baroda and its place in the region. The artists involved in this project come from around the US (Texas, Washington state, Boston, and the East Coast) and various parts of the world (Haiti, Korea and Africa). Though we are a diverse group it was easy to relate to the local beauty and hospitality found in Baroda, Michigan. Thank you.