Minnesota Artist to Commemorate Shakopee in Pen and Ink Montage

It’s art for posterity. 

Coming in early 2012, Shakopee will be the latest in a list of communities across the nation, from Colorado Springs, CO, to Wheeling, WV, and dozens of places in between, to receive a pen and ink commemorative montage created by artist Bruce Loeschen. 

Together with a sampling of Shakopee’s current businesses, the historic montage will include old local landmarks and notable figures from the community like early settlers and the founders of Shakopee.

A Seasoned Artist

Austin, Minnesota-based Loeschen has been creating city montages since 1979 when he crafted his first one for an Austin art fair advertisement. When more people seemed interested in the advertisement than the event itself, Loeschen thought he might be on to something. He created two more city montages in 1980, and four in 1981, and the popularity of the pieces continued to grow exponentially from there. 

“It’s gotten much more detailed and complicated over the years, but it’s become my signature style,” Loeschen said. 

Recently, Loeschen has created montages for Minnesota cities including Mankato, Rochester, Northfield, Winona and Red Wing. While all of his city montages share Loeschen’s distinct and detailed style, each is unique, with the character and architecture of the city artistically illustrated.

Now represented by Community Creations, Loeschen said the most difficult part of creating the artworks is what he calls “the jigsaw,” or determining just how all of the many separate elements will come together to make the final piece. 

“I really used to enjoy jigsaw puzzles,” Loeschen said. “I haven’t touched one in 30 years.” 

Past and Present Preserved Together

Al Nickerson of Community Creations and project representative for Shakopee’s commemorative montage calls the work, “a keepsake – a piece of history and art together.” 

After the work is completed, 1,000 posters will be printed, with 400 going to the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, 300 going to the  and 300 to the . From there, the individual organizations will choose how and when to distribute the prints. Nickerson said some prints will likely be made available to the public for $15 to $20 a piece.  

The original artwork will be done by Loeschen first with pencil and then pen on a 30” by 24” piece of paper. The reproductions will be reduced in size by about 20 percent, which Loeschen said sharpens the lines. 

And what happens to the original artwork?

It stays with Loeschen. 

“I keep teasing my daughter that that’s her inheritance,” Loeschen said.

Funds for the project come from participating existing businesses – they pay a fee to be part of it as 'sponsors' and are also included in the montage. 

So far, approximately 15 existing businesses in Shakopee have signed on to the project. is one of those businesses.

“I think it’s just good to be involved in the community any way we can," Culvers owner Owner David Cizek said about being part of the project.

Al Nickerson said he will continue to talk with businesses over the next seven weeks, so the number of businesses will likely grow.  

“It’s a good way to showcase the community,” Nickerson said.