MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The UP200 Sled Dog Race brings a lot of excitement into downtown Marquette. The banners (pictured below) are a widely-known piece of merchandise associated with the race. What might not be as well-known is that the banners were all painted by hand.
The unsung hero and the former artist behind all the banners around town, Carl Mayer, grew up in Lake Linden.
Mayer said he’s always had a knack for the arts. When it came time for studying other classes, he soon found his real passion was creation.
“It was music and drawing all the time that I wanted to do, and math– my cousin’s aunt was the math teacher of algebra and geometry– I think she wanted to disown me,” Mayer said.
“With this upbringing, I realized how people were so necessary to make a community run,” continued Mayer.
Mayer developed a hearing impairment from a young age. Throughout his education, he learned to lip read quite well. Mayer taught art for many years at Marquette Senior High School.
“I found for me that if somebody would show me as well as talk to me and give me examples the learning came much quicker. After you show and talk a bit back and forth the individual picks up a brush and starts painting, drawing whatever it is, because how do you best learn, but by doing,” said Mayer.
On the back of this sled dog booklet, picturing the Siberian Husky Balto, who led a team of sled dogs in the 1925 serum run to Nome. On the back of the pamphlet, Mayer is also given some recognition: “Mayer played an integral part in the UP200 mandate run since its inception in 1990.”
Mayer has since retired from painting the UP200 banners but is still creating canvas memories for U.P. communities.
“Everybody wants encouragement if it’s honestly given. That’s the key word– honestly given,” said Mayer.
