Rochester children create downtown art project - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- The streets of Rochester have a bit more color thanks to the work of a local artist and his young apprentices.  Artist Bobby Marines, the Rochester Art Center and Downtown Rochester Alliance have collaborated on an art project that will be displayed in an abandoned store front.

The artwork is modeled after Rochester's own city skyline.  More than 20 elementary school students from the Rochester Art Center's Total Arts Day Camp spent time this summer recreating local buildings using cardboard cut outs and paint.  The two-day workshop, run by Marines, was intended to teach the children art and how to work collectively as a group.

"At first, they wanted to just own their specific building or their specific piece," Marines said.  "But after a couple of rounds they just all completely started to work together -- I think the piece resembled interaction about working together."

Marine's work can be seen throughout the city.  He recently collaborated with high school students on a mural at the Rosie Bell Performing Arts theatre.  His other works include the painted electrical boxes outside Rochester Civic Theatre.