C.R. RAGBRAI Mural Includes Poignant Added Touch [PHOTO]

Celebrating Cedar Rapids' continued commitment to being a bike-friendly city as well as the 50th anniversary of RAGBRAI and the 120th anniversary of our historic downtown bike shop, Hall Bicycle, work has been completed on the latest mural project designed to beautify the downtown district.

We told you at the beginning of the project that renowned midwest mural artist CERA was performing the project. KCRG's Scott Saville got a first-hand look at the process from start to finish, and it's amazing.

Muralist Janson Rapisarda told KCRG:

I create the design on my computer. A lot of digital drawing and then I will translate that to the wall via projector,” Rapisarda said on his process. “I will take my spray paint and sketch it out with the projector and then after that, it’s kind of filling it in color

As mentioned in our previous article, Jesse Thoeming of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance stated the wider goal of the project:

we want to have the best RAGBRAI tribute in all of the state be located right here in downtown, and what better place than on the side of Hall Bicycle, an iconic fixture in our city

Amid Rapisarda's work on the mural, the project took on new meaning with the death of former Hall Bicycle employee Scott Devore, who was killed in a car accident. As an additional touch in honor of Devore, you can see if you look closely, the words "Scooter Forever" painted on the mural.

Next time you are downtown stop by Hall Bicycle Company to check out this fantastic mural in person at 419 2nd Ave. SE. It faces the downtown bike trail along 4th Street.