Dream of 3-D mural honoring American workers nearer reality

WINSTED, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut artist's dream to honor American workers with a massive 5-stories-high mural that ties in contributions from thousands of children across the country is moving closer to reality.

Ellen Griesedieck (GREE'-zah-dihk) and her American Mural Project were awarded a $1 million matching state grant to help transform two old mill buildings in Winsted into a visitors center and gallery space to house a 3-D mural, 120-feet-long and 10-feet-wide. Bids are due in August and construction could take about a year.

Once completed, it's expected to be the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world.

Since Griesedieck envisioned the project 15 years ago, she has held workshops with 10,000 students across the country. She's gotten support from the late actor Paul Newman and tennis pro Andre Agassi.