One small town has been making a big deal about art. Larger Than Life, a nonprofit based in Mantorville, Minnesota, is dedicated to displaying art publicly in a large format. The project was created by Brian and Mary Jo Hindal in 2020 during the pandemic.
“Our goal was to offer a safe, uplifting activity during a very isolating time. We hoped families, kids and seniors could all benefit from a reason to get out and connect with something beautiful,” says Mary Jo.
Mary Jo serves as vice president of Larger than Life alongside her cofounder and the group’s president, Brian, who is also her husband. “We wanted to bring art to the community in a safe way, so we printed large-format pieces and displayed them in the park, making it possible for people to enjoy the art even from their cars,” explains Brian.
Mary Jo calls herself a “hobbyist photographer” but says she’s always loved capturing images that feel “a little unexpected” and has learned a lot from other photographers like Brian. He got interested in photography by working on his high school yearbook. Eventually, he made photography his career, including working as a medical photographer.
“At first, we only imagined photography as the featured art form,” says Mary Jo. “The idea behind Larger Than Life was to take everyday visuals and enlarge them for a whole new experience.” The project faced some challenges to get started. “The biggest hurdles were figuring out who would submit work, how to produce durable 4-by-8 (-foot) panels, how to build display easels, and how to fund it all,” says Brian.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin
In the first year, Larger Than Life featured the works of four artists. This year, the public outdoor exhibit features 30 artists including 14 first-time participants. Artists who have participated in the project range in age from 16 to 86. Their art, enlarged and duplicated on vinyl, is displayed in Mantorville’s Riverside Park.
The exhibit this year displays a diverse selection of vibrant images including a painting depicting a Phoenix and a lighthouse made from stained glass. There are also photographs of everything from a buffalo to a closeup of a sunflower.
Layne Noser is an artist who first learned about the Larger Than Life exhibit three years ago. He says his love of art grew from drawing cartoon characters as a child, but he now creates in many mediums including charcoal, oil paint, collage and digital design. This year, Noser created a charcoal and pencil drawing of a tiger that he scanned into his computer to colorize. “The original drawing was a gift for my brother, I think around 2016,” says Noser.
The vivid orange and white of Noser’s “Tiger” really stands out against the green background of Riverside Park. “I sent Brian and Mary Jo three files of my art, and they set up judges to vote on which one they preferred,” says Noser. “Then my chosen piece was printed on weather-proof vinyl and applied to an aluminum and plexiglass sheet.”
This year, some young artists have been able to participate in Larger Than Life. “For the first time, we have three incredibly talented student artists from Hayfield High School,” says Mary Jo. “What began as a photography-only show now includes a wide range of mediums from painting and drawing to digital art, stained glass and sculpture.”
As the Larger Than Life project has continued to grow each year, Brian and Mary Jo have found ways to improve the large displays. “We upgraded our displays — from wooden easels to sturdy, double-sided steel ones,” says Brian. “That change alone doubled our display capacity and made the setup more weather-resistant.” This year, the exhibit also launched with an art fair that included live music, live art demonstrations and food.
One of the unique aspects of having art enlarged is that it offers new perspectives. “The scale allows viewers to see incredible detail, even from a car,” says Mary Jo, “but walking through the park reveals even more — textures and elements you might not notice in a smaller version.”
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin
The current Larger Than Life exhibit is available for viewing during Mantorville’s Riverside Park hours from dawn to dusk until Sept. 1. While there is no admission, donations, which can be made near the parking lot, are welcome.
After Sept. 1, the larger format works are moved to find homes at businesses and other locations around the community. “Extending the exhibit into the community gives artists even more exposure, sometimes for years,” says Brian. “With so many artists this year, we’re expanding into new spaces across Dodge County,” ads Mary Jo. “This is now the largest outdoor art exhibit in Southern Minnesota.”
Artists hoping to have their art included in the next Larger Than Life exhibit can email
or visit the project’s website at
. The group sends out an application with submission guidelines, and artists can send up to three images for consideration by a panel of judges.
“This project is our passion,” says Brian. “We hope everyone has a chance to visit and experience it. There’s always someone in the park enjoying the exhibit.”
From an artist’s perspective, the exhibit provides a valuable opportunity. “I think public art is very important,” says Noser. “Public art reaches an audience that might not visit an art museum or gallery. It could potentially inspire another artist or inspire someone to become an artist, and just simply brightening someone’s day makes it worth it.”
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin
Learn more about the Larger Than Life exhibit at
The 2025 Larger Than Life exhibit is available for viewing from dawn to dusk at Riverside Park in Mantorville, located at 320 Main St., Mantorville, Minnesota.
