At the corner of Orr and Ash streets, a north-facing brick wall is preparing to become something more than part of the city’s industrial past. This spring, the side of the Balsamo Warehouse will transform into a 100-foot mural celebrating Columbia’s artistic legacy, civic history, and the enduring connection between service and community. Commissioned by Veterans United Foundation (VUF) and created by local artist David Spear, the project marks a milestone moment for both the foundation and the North Village Arts District.
Unlike traditional monuments, this installation is meant to live in the everyday rhythm of the city — looming over the new North Village Park, visible to residents, visitors, and passersby alike. It is VUF’s 20th and final art installation, closing a decade-long chapter of employee-led community giving.
An Employee-Driven Vision
Erika Pryor, foundation manager of VUF, said the project grew directly from within the organization. The foundation operates through an employee-led model of giving, with team members contributing a portion of their paychecks. Donations that are matched by the company and employee-elected committees help guide where funding goes.
The idea for supporting the North Village Arts District emerged during the foundation’s 10-year anniversary campaign in 2021, when employees nominated and voted on nonprofit projects they believed would make a meaningful local impact.
“Support for the North Village Arts District came directly from that employee-driven process,” Pryor said, noting that the campaign funded nearly 100 nonprofit initiatives nationwide as part of a $10 million commitment.
Behind that process is a broader mission: to enhance the lives of veterans, military families, communities, and the employees who support them by investing in programs that address unmet needs and create lasting impact. VUF’s work spans mental health, housing stability, emergency assistance, education, and community enrichment — often stepping in where resources are limited.
“This installation holds special significance as the final piece in a series of 20 art installations supported by Veterans United Foundation,” Pryor explained. “Together, these projects represent a lasting investment in community enrichment and a celebration of 10 years of employee-led giving.”
A Message Rooted in Place and History
The foundation’s hope is that the mural will serve as both celebration and storytelling device.
“The mural is a celebration of the arts and of the North Village Arts District itself,” Pryor said, emphasizing its role in honoring both the district’s historical roots and its evolution into a creative hub. Created by Spear, an artist deeply connected to the area, the piece will highlight “the people, places, and stories that have shaped Columbia and the North Village Arts District,” weaving together past and present.
That blend of history and forward momentum mirrors how the foundation approaches its funding decisions. Pryor noted that VUF works closely with community partners to ensure projects reflect real needs and complement existing efforts, rather than duplicating services.
“We rely on employee input and trusted local organizations to guide where funding can make a meaningful, lasting difference,” she said. “The goal is to strengthen what’s already happening in the community.”
From the foundation’s perspective, the location is as meaningful as the artwork itself. Pryor described the North Village Arts District as “the crossroads of art, history, and public space in Columbia.” With North Village Park opening directly across Ash Street, the mural will act as a visual anchor, helping define the park experience while reinforcing the district’s role as a cultural gateway to downtown.
Lisa Bartlett, a board member of the North Village Arts District, has been part of the committee overseeing art installations throughout the district. Bartlett explained that while the committee once included about eight people, it has narrowed as projects near completion.
“These decisions have already been made; we’re just following through with the projects,” she said. Bartlett also acknowledged the late Kenny Greene as a major contributor, alongside Tootie Burns, Lois Kay, and herself, who are now carrying out the final three installations.
Artist selection has evolved over time. “Now our process consists of each person bringing an artist they’ve found and really liked,” Bartlett said. “If they fit with our project and budget, we pursue that avenue.”
Bartlett confirmed that the mural will be completed this spring on the side of the Balsamo Warehouse.
“It will celebrate the arts in Columbia,” she added, noting that music, fine art, theater, dance, and literature will all be represented. The unveiling will include live music and art activities, reinforcing the mural’s role as a community gathering point. She described the mural as “a placeholder for past, present, and future events.” She hopes it conveys “a sense of culture and belonging” and helps people recognize the strength of Columbia’s artistic community — especially given its prominent position overlooking North Village Park.
For Spear, the mural is both a creative challenge and a responsibility. He described the work as “historically researched and an artistic transformation” that draws on Columbia’s architectural heritage, notable figures, and collective personality.
Pryor noted that the piece also intentionally honors veterans’ voices. Elements such as Memorial Union — Columbia’s most prominent tribute to those who served — appear in the composition, alongside references to sculpted soldier and sailor figures and to Columbia native Jane Froman, whose USO work during World War II symbolizes resilience and perseverance.
A Living Legacy
Rather than standing apart as a formal monument, the mural is designed to exist within daily life — encountered on walks through the park, during community events, or in quiet moments of reflection. In that way, it expresses a broader philosophy shared by Veterans United Foundation and the North Village Arts District alike: that service, creativity, and remembrance are most powerful when woven into shared public spaces.
The mural also reflects who makes the foundation’s work possible. Veterans United Foundation’s largest benefactors are VU employees and the company itself. Together they have fostered a culture of giving that began years before the foundation formally existed, when employees first pooled resources to support the Heart of Missouri United Way. That early effort laid the groundwork for what has since become a nationwide model of employee-led philanthropy.
As the final installation in VUF’s decade-long art initiative, the mural does not signal an ending so much as a transition. It leaves behind a visible reminder that honoring veterans, celebrating the arts, and strengthening community can happen all at once — on a brick wall, in open daylight, where the city continues to move around it.
