Road to Remedy
Casey Opstad captures the rhythm of life across North Dakota.
Seasons, a 31-panel mural by artist Casey Opstad, ’00, takes Altru Hospital visitors on a contemplative drive along North Dakota Highway 2.
It begins with the first light of spring in Grand Forks and ending in the stillness of winter in Williston.
“It’s the idea of the seasons of life,” Casey said. “Real-life things happen in the hospital setting. I wanted to bring happiness, joy, or some sort of solace. It should be about contemplation.”
Each panel of the Grand Forks hospital’s art installation captures a scene — aspen groves, backyard gardens, Native American symbols, oil rigs, and hockey rinks — that evokes a place and time. For Casey, the images reflect personal memories from drives to holiday gatherings, weddings, and funerals.
Casey Opstad’s 31-panel mural, Seasons, takes Altru Hospital visitors on a contemplative drive along North Dakota Highway 2.
Painting the Familiar
Early in the process, Casey headed west from Grand Forks on Highway 2, photographing the passing landscape, revisiting memories of visits to his grandfather’s home in Minot and the shared experience of winter driving in North Dakota. “Everyone has stories — sitting in the backseat while your parents drive, scraping windshields in high school, and running out early to start the defrost in college,” he said. “It’s life in North Dakota.”
As the project grew, so did the team. Casey collaborated with his partner Abby Monock and fellow Minneapolis art school alum David Rathman. He reached out to his friend and fellow UND alum Walter Piehl, ’66, ’87, who helped refine the mural’s western trajectory.
Walter suggested ending at Fort Union, on the Montana border, and emphasized the need for Native American representation. At his recommendation, Casey brought in Dyana Decoteau-Dyess, a Chippewa artist and Minot State University student.
“Dyana painted a scene from Fort Union with native symbols and blueberries. It’s about healing — she incorporated her history into that piece,” Casey said.
Casey said the mural unfolded organically. Emergency lights that line the hallway required breaks between panels, but the pieces, uniform in height and varied in length, maintained a visual rhythm. “Physically, there’s continuity,” he said. “I was concerned it wouldn’t hold together, but in the end, the individual pieces are strong.”
Casey, pictured with Chad Caya, ’94, returned to Grand Forks this summer to restore a downtown mural. Chad, owner of Caya Painting, and Casey have teamed up as the “C&C Mural Factory,” painting several murals across the city since 2020, starting with the wheatfield at Rhombus Guys Brewing Co.
A Little Magic
The way “Seasons” came together reminded Casey of lessons he learned at UND. He doesn’t
think conceptually about his art. “I see as I make,” Casey said. “It was all about
getting in there, learning how to do things, and then doing it.”
Now based in New York, Casey still feels a strong connection to Grand Forks, where
he’s painted several murals. “They’ve always supported me there,” he said.
After graduation, he worked a series of jobs before returning to school at the Minneapolis
College of Art and Design.
His big break came when tech training company General Assembly hired him to draw a
chalk portrait of Steve Jobs — a gig that turned into a two-year-long tour sketching
scenes in several cities. He has since completed commissions for PayPal, Venmo, Kenneth
Cole, and New York University, among others.
“Abracadabra” is the word Casey’s girlfriend Abby used to describe Casey’s style and the finished “Seasons” project. “The mural evolved into what it needed to be. I let the piece change as it had to,” he said.
The end result: perspective. “When people are at the hospital, they realize the little things don’t matter,” Casey said.
UND Artists on Display
Ten additional alumni contributed to the art at Altru, showcasing North Dakota’s spirit through paint, texture, and perspective.
Todd Hebert, ’96: Three Bubbles and a Snowman. A UND associate professor of art & design and internationally recognized artist. His work explores the interplay of light, atmosphere, and everyday objects.
Haley Brothers, ’25: Serpent’s Valley. A painter who believes even a hint of color can transform a space. Her work features vibrant hues and imaginative settings.
Michael Conlan, ’14: Tree Row Configurations. An interdisciplinary visual artist, curator, and educator. He uses sculpture, photography, and mixed media to explore the concept of place.
Senta (Brookshire) Grzadzielewski, ’18: The Secret World of Reeves Drive. A self-taught artist who discovered her love of painting during the pandemic. Her work is a tribute and a love letter to the region.
Paul Gronhovd, ’90: Prairie Ambassadors, Summer Sky, Road Less Traveled, Dahlen Esker. A photographer and printmaker with experience in traditional darkroom processes and contemporary digital practice. He spent 30 years working at UND’s EERC and received the 2025 Grand Forks Mayor’s Choice Artist Award.
Jessie Thorson, ’05: North Dakota Birds on Trees. An artist whose love of animals and the Grand Forks community shines through in her work. Her graphic design background brings an interdisciplinary lens to her art.
Jolene Mikkelson, ’98: Untitled Quilt. A retired occupational therapist who transformed her lifelong love of sewing into an art quilting practice. Her quilts evoke the warmth of home.
Adam Kemp, ’89, in collaboration with Hanna Saagge Kemp: Lincoln Park. Born in a village northeast of London but now identifies as at least half North Dakotan. As a sculptor and educator, he’s known for his eclectic, community-centered approach.
Kelly Thompson, ’85: Power of Peace. A painter who captures the beauty of the Red River Valley. His use of wood and canvas emphasizes the vastness of North Dakota’s rural landscapes.
Hillary Kempenich, ’18: Radiant Harmony: The Spirit’s Medicine. An award-winning artist and cultural advocate. Deeply rooted in Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa heritage, her work celebrates cultural identity and calls for social change.
