Soudan Lab Mural and Artist Joseph Gianetti

Artist Joseph Giannetti was commissioned to create an image which would symbolize the ongoing work at the Soudan Laboratory. This mural enhances the tour (taken by 50,000 people annually) of the laboratory.  The mural contains elements symbolizing the formation and expansion of the Universe, the history of neutrinos and the scientists who have been involved in the search to understand them. The mural also celebrates the Soudan Mine and the generations of Minnesota miners who provided iron ore as an essential ingredient of American industry.

The image was developed digitally, and was then transferred onto a rectangle on the cavern wall measuring 25 feet by 60 feet. Over the course of several months, the painting required 25 gallons of primer and 50 gallons of paint. The extreme texture of the wall added othe difficulty of the project.