Rural Health Department gets new mural

Ismael Rodriguez, a 44-year-old known around Jewell County as Mae, worked with the Jewell County Health 365 Coalition to create an uplifting mural that can be seen on the south side of the Rural Health Department building just off Highway 36 in Mankato. The mural took Rodriguez approximately two weeks to complete because of rainy weather.

As the middle child of five children, three brothers and a sister, Rodriguez was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico. His family is artistic and worked in furniture manufacturing while Rodriguez was growing up.

Rodriguez's talent was apparent at the age of three when he started drawing. Throughout elementary school, Rodriguez took art classes. In 2003, Rodriguez graduated from the University of Guadalajara with a bachelor's degree in graphic design.

Rodriguez has resided in Mankato for four years and his primary job is painting business windows and murals around Jewell County. Some of Rodriguez's other artistic works can be seen on the window of Ortman Insurance and the window of the building between Mankato Plumbing and Hidden Treasures Quilt Shop. The mural on the Rural Health Department is Rodriguez's first mural. Prices of Rodriguez's work vary depending on size, complexity and materials needed.