Staff photo by Fritz Busch Randy Horejsi of Fuel Graphics Company of New Ulm hangs community collage photos on the Center Street side of The Thimble Box building, 2 S. Minnesota St. Thursday. The New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce hosts a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new art installation at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3. The public is invited. The event will be live streamed on the Chamber Facebook page.

NEW ULM — Hanging of a 30 feet by 10 feet community collage continued Thursday in the Center Street side of The Thimble Box building, 2 S. Minnesota St.

The public is invited to a ribbon cutting celebrating the new art installation at 9 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 3. A light reception with lemonade, coffee and treats follow in the Chamber of Commerce.

New Ulm Chamber President/CEO Sarah Warmka said motivation behind the community collage project is a way to make community members feel connected.

“Social isolation and mental health is such a problem. We want people to feel connected to the community and each other, so we did the project,” said Warmka.

The Downtown Action Team, a Heart of New Ulm committee and the New Ulm Chamber partnered with art photographer Josh Madson to do the community collage project.

A photo shoot was held last spring. More than more than 400 individuals and groups from all walks of life, ranging in age from three months old to age 100. Photos were taken of people by themselves, with their spouse or loved ones.

The purpose of the project was to capture a snapshot of New Ulm, celebrating the heritage of all community members. The photos were curated into a 30′ x 10′ collage.

Madson said documentary film footage taken of the photography and community collage will be sent to the Twin Cities Film Festival.