Jeremy Ratliff
Editor
Local artist Bailey Iwen recently completed a barn quilt-style painting of the formal Normal School Teacher’s College, which is now permanently on display at the Normal Park concession stand. The artwork was a coordinated effort between Iwen and Mrs. Helen Wallace, a 1962 graduate of Normal School. The piece originated with a 4’x4′ section of plywood. Iwen recreated the image of the school, from a 1973 painting completed by Wallace’s late husband Don Sturm. As Iwen explains, the workpiece took approximately 10 hours to complete. Daughter of Doug and Pam Iwen of Merrill, Bailey is a 2019 graduate of Merrill High School. After completing her first year of college at UW-Stevens Point’s Wausau campus, Bailey will be attending UW-Stout this fall as an Art Education major.
Normal School Teacher’s College, which once stood at what is now Normal Park, was established in 1907 and operated until 1967.
Mrs. Wallace and Ms. Iwen would like to thank ACE Hardware of Merrill for donating the paint for the project as well as Dick Vandre and Joe Thomaschefsky for their assistance in mounting the painting.