Art class completes murals

Photo by Susan Holland Austin Moon and Tyler Halpin were two of the Art II students who painted an early-day train engine for the mural depicting Gravette area history. A baseball player and a U.S. Air Force plane reflect the lives of prominent persons who called Gravette home. For the full story and more photos, see Page 6A.
Photo by Susan Holland Austin Moon and Tyler Halpin were two of the Art II students who painted an early-day train engine for the mural depicting Gravette area history. A baseball player and a U.S. Air Force plane reflect the lives of prominent persons who called Gravette home. For the full story and more photos, see Page 6A.

GRAVETTE -- Students in Mollie Hendricks' art classes have recently completed several panels for a mural depicting the city of Gravette. About 50 students in Hendricks' two Art II classes have been working on the project for about two months. The students, 10th through 12th graders, began work on the murals in mid-December.

The murals will soon be weatherproofed and sealed by Lions Club members and will be mounted on the front wall at the Mid-Continent Concrete plant in about two months. Target date for the mural installation is Saturday, April 4. An unveiling and dedication ceremony is being planned for later this spring.

The mural project, sponsored by the Gravette Lions Club, has been in the works for about a year. At a public meeting at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center in January of 2014, Lion Ken Foxx presented the idea of a "Heroes' Wall" to the community. The idea was to create a mural depicting life in Gravette, showing some of its noted residents, past and present, and install it at the south entrance of the city to greet motorists as they entered. Foxx showed slides of murals in several area cities which have used this means to successfully record their history and advertise their attractions.

Kyle Gober and Keith Soper, of Mid-Continent Concrete, were present at the initial meeting and agreed to having the artwork hang on the front wall of their business. They gave a donation to help fund the mural and confirmed their endorsement of the project. Donations have also been received from Arvest Bank, Teasley Drug, Ken Foxx and Associates and the Kiwanis Club to support the activity. Beacon Baptist Church has supported the activity by providing space to seal the murals.

The Lions Club purchased wooden panels and paint for the mural and art students were recruited to do the work. The young artists have used eight to 10 gallons of paint and created 16 four-by-six-foot panels showing scenes in and around Gravette.

The Gravette water tower, with its "Heart of Hometown America" motto, and the Gravette football field, with a Gravette Lion running across the LDC logo, are depicted. A farmer standing in his field, with a red barn, tractor and several hay bales in the background, represent the area's agricultural heritage. An early-day train represents an important part of Gravette's history. And a baseball player, an astronaut and an Air Force plane recall noted persons who called Gravette home. A large "Welcome to Gravette" sign anchors the center of the mural.

General News on 02/11/2015