OWATONNA, Minn. – October 1, 2026 – Wenger Corporation is celebrating its 80th anniversary with the completion of a vibrant new mural at its Owatonna headquarters, honoring eight decades of innovation, performance and community impact.
Created by renowned Minnesota artist Adam Turman, the approximately 30-foot-high and more than 300-foot-wide composition spans over 9,000 square feet on the side of Wenger’s headquarters adjacent to Interstate 35. Completed this summer, the mural is Turman’s largest work to date and incorporates more than 80 colors.
“Adam has beautifully transformed our company’s mission of enriching lives by enabling and inspiring great performances into a remarkable public artwork,” said Dave Thomas, President and CEO of Wenger Corporation. “The mural honors our roots in music education and our evolution to also support performing arts venues, musicians and athletic facilities. It celebrates the customers, employees and partners who have shaped Wenger’s proud history while looking ahead to new ideas and opportunities that will carry us forward.”
Thomas added, “We're proud that Wenger's story began right here in Owatonna 80 years ago. This mural celebrates the community, employees, customers and partners who have been part of that journey and helped make Wenger what it is today. It honors not only the performers, musicians and athletes who inspire us, but also the educators, directors, technicians, coaches and facility professionals who help create the spaces and experiences that bring great performances to life every day.”
The expansive composition traces Wenger’s story back to founder Harry Wenger, a music educator in Owatonna Public Schools in the 1940s whose passion for helping students inspired the company’s first innovations. The mural showcases Wenger's growth from a local educator's idea into a global company supporting music education, performing arts and athletic facilities around the world. The conducting hands and baton represent those beginnings, while the sousaphone player at the opposite end of the artwork recalls the Sousaphone Chair, Wenger’s first product that helped launch the company in 1946. The northern lights spanning the entire background honor Wenger’s Minnesota identity and longstanding ties to the Owatonna community.
Across the artwork, musicians of different ages represent the varied people and environments served by Wenger brands. A young violinist and her Classic 50 music stand reflect the classrooms where musical journeys often begin.
A vocalist framed by a Diva® acoustical shell highlights the company’s contributions to performance environments, while an adult guitarist practicing at home represents Lutefish, Wenger’s direct-to-musician brand, and reflects how the joy of making music can enrich lives far beyond the classroom and stage.
Other scenes recognize the broader range of people Wenger supports. A backstage theater professional represents the rigging, automation and stage technologies provided by J.R. Clancy, Texas Scenic Company and Creative Conners. A football player symbolizes GearBoss® solutions for athletic equipment storage, locker rooms and team facilities.
Together, the imagery reflects how Wenger’s original mission has expanded across music education, performing arts and athletics while remaining rooted in helping people perform at their best.
Additional details reward a closer look, including the company’s vintage “Circle W” logo on Harry Wenger’s cufflinks and musical notes from “There’s Music,” a song by composer Jeff Benjamin that Wenger commissioned in 2024 to recognize the lifelong impact of music education.
Turman commented, “This has been one of the most fantastic and rewarding projects of my career. I’m especially proud of how the mural came together despite the challenges of its large scale and painting on textured concrete.”
The completed artwork gives Wenger’s story a bold public presence along Interstate 35 and creates a lasting new landmark for the Owatonna community. It celebrates the company’s history while capturing the creative energy and innovative mindset that will continue shaping its future.
About Wenger Corporation
For 80 years, Wenger Corporation has enriched lives by enabling and inspiring great performances. Wenger’s portfolio – including Wenger, J.R. Clancy, GearBoss, Creative Conners, Lutefish, and Texas Scenic – provides high-quality solutions for music education, performing arts venues, athletic facilities, and musicians. For more information, call +1.507.455.4100 or visit www.wengercorp.com.
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