The Cargill Tower Project

The Cargill Feed Tower in Harrisonburg, Virginia stands as one of the most iconic industrial structures in the region — a massive concrete giant visible from miles away. In the early 2000s, artists James August Warsing Jr. and Greg Ballou of Ballou Studios envisioned a project unlike anything the city had ever seen: a $2 million full‑tower mural featuring a monumental Tree of Life wrapping around all four sides of the structure.

The proposal was more than a mural — it was a city‑scale artistic landmark. The project would have employed over 200 artists, transforming the tower into a beacon of creativity, culture, and unity. The Tree of Life design symbolized growth, diversity, and the interconnectedness of the community. Its scale and visibility would have made it one of the largest public artworks in the state of Virginia.

The vision was bold, ambitious, and decades ahead of its time — a testament to TJ’s lifelong commitment to elevating public art and creating opportunities for fellow artists. Though the project was never realized, its concept remains one of the most powerful artistic proposals ever presented in Harrisonburg.

Project Video

This video presentation showcases the scale, intention, and artistic vision behind the Cargill Tower Project — a dream that, even unrealized, continues to inspire conversations about public art and the transformative power of creativity.

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