Thanks

I want to take a moment, here at the end of the project and say thanks. This has truly been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Never have I seen so much cooperation, eagerness, and appreciation of a public art project from any community--not to mention a city office and council--as I have seen here in Conway.

On behalf of artists, students, teachers and art administrators everywhere, I wish to express my deepest gratitude and accolades for your candor and progressive attitude for the arts in Conway. This attitude is readily apparent in the new growth that I have seen in Conway since my 10-year absence, and I believe that it is this attitude that will continue to make this city prosper.

Again, thank you to

The UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication:

Dean Rollin Potter

Associate Dean Dr. Gayle Seymour

Mike Castens

Carol Griffith

Donna Stephens

Office of the Mayor:

Mayor Tab Townsell

Felicia Rogers

Jamie Gates

Conway City Council:

Andy Hawkins
David Grimes
Mark Vaught
Shelley Mehl
Jack Bell
Mary Smith
Theodore Jones, Jr.
Shelia Whitmore

Conway City Planning: Bryan Patrick

Conway Public Art Committee:

Becky Harris

Caroline Hansen

Barbara Satterfield

Bryan Patrick

Dr. Gayle Seymour

City of Conway Physical Plant: Tony Heffington and the gang

Conway Tree Board: Wes Craiglow, Chairman

The Conway Downtown Partnership:

Amy Reed

TJ Johnston

Mike's Place

American Management Corporation: David Grimes

The UCA Art Department:

Dr. Jeff Young, Dept. Chair

Stephanie Crain

Jennifer Rospert, Assistant Professor of Art

Carrie Dyer, Assistant Professor of Art

Sue Tebo, Slide Archivist

Dr. Deb Kuster, Assistant Professor of Art Education

Pat Larsen and Professor emeritus Gene Hatfield (who both gave me my start in public art)

UCA Students:

Ed Kowalsky
Tony Leopard
Melissa Marple
Lauren Crymes
Lauren Smith
Sarah Waller
Raelyn Lawson
Beth Hull
Melissa Kordsmeier
Kelly Helfrich
Aimee Laflamme
Chris O'Quin
Jack Reed
Reed Simpson
Lena Murfin
Anne Sebourn
Ashley Grimes

Especially,

Scott Meador, Professor, Mass Commincations and Theatre (who not only video-documented the project, but spent many long hours painting on the mural)

Kerry Tindal, UCA Art Education student who stayed through thick and thin, not getting class credit but wishing to learn this process so that she can replicate it in her work with public schools

Sigma Sigma Sigma: Kyna Hockenberry

President Lou Hardin and Mary Hardin

Russ Hancock, Director of Publications

Dr. Amy Amy, Assistant Professor of Public Relations

Jack Gillean, UCA General Counsel
Tom Courtway, UCA General Counsel

Mike Kemp, University Photographer

Heather Kendrick, UCA Channel 6
Wayne Bailey, UCA Channel 6
David Keith, UCA Chanel 6

Conway Boys and Girls Club:

Mike Neuhoefel and Alley Burke (the teacher-girl in the mural)

Conway Public Schools:

Carl Stuart Midle School/Becky Thornton

Ellen Smith Elementary/Renee Thrash

Julia Lee Moore Elementary/Will Fisher

Ruth Doyle Intermediate/Jessica Peterson

Simon Intermediate/Chris Massingill

Jim Stone Elementary/Mrs. Hammons

Conway West High School/Susanne Kunkel and Carla Owen

Marguerite Vann Elementary/Lori Cullum

Sallie Cone Elementary/Christina Rhye

St. Joseph/Patricia McCauley and Penny Basham

Theodore Jones Elementary/Sally Allinder

Faulkner County Library: Sarah Mattingly

Darragh Construction:

Larry Peale
Logan Moss

Log Cabin Democrat
Carey Tai
Joe Lamb
Akira Horiike

The Echo
Michael Ward
Brittney Newborn
Robert Haynes

The Vino
Kendra Kersh

UCA Magazine
Sonja Keith

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Tammy Keith
Debra Hale-Shelton
Kane Webb

The Conway Community:

Linda Paxton (niece of Florence Mattison)
Bill and Virginia Nutter
Bill Bethea
Gene Hatfield
Bob and Armilda McCormick
Toni Johnson


Thanks to you all for your help, support, and faith in this project.

Until next time-

Cheers!

Morton Brown

Artist Journal 10-06-07

Celebration day! Saturday, October 6th--the day we all have been waiting for. The first annual Conway ArtsFest was a huge success. With over 300 persons--young and old---in attendance, the celebration of the mural, and the arts in Conway was a 5 hour showcase of Conway treasures.

The day began with displays of public art created by local Conway Public School children. Over 9 local schools had been working with the UCA Art Education Department for the past 6 weeks, to include the mural, public art in general and Conway history in their curriculums. Dr. Deb Kuster worked very closely with Dr. Seymour and I to come up with project ideas and to devise a means to display the artwork on October 6th.

The results of this work were amazing! Some schools did a unit on superheroes--taking a cue from the flying kid in the mural. Some decided that the flying kid night be lonely in the mural, so they created papier mache "pets" for her. Others colaborated on painting small murals on single bricks--priming, painting, then installing them in a decorative fashion onsite--mimicking the mural process, but also symbolizing the "building blocks" of the community. This activity was the most striking of all to me, as it reached so many young people and taught them so much about art, history, and giving back to the community. Good job!

At 12noon, the UCA Pinnacle Brass started the event with a concert in Simon Park, the site of the mural. At 12:30pm, it was time to dedicate the mural. Mayor Tab Townsell spoke first, expressing his deep appreciation for the work and care that went into this mural and stated that this mural would be cherished as a source of pride for the city for years to come. I felt his sincerity, especially since he had his mother make a quilt-cape (and found some pink glasses) for his two year old daughter Riley, who made a grand entrance as the flying kid from the mural.

I was up next. I thanked everyone involved, and gave a brief description of the figures and objects that constituted the mural image. I went on to announce that we had finally given the mural a title: Aurora Rising. Dr. Gayle Seymour actually gave me this title, after she and I struggled over ideas for several weeks.

The title relates to the Roman goddes of the dawn--Aurora--who leads us into the new day, and also reflects the idea of the "borealis" effect of the sky's filigree. The "rising" part of the title is also very important, as it denotes the idea of Conway being a progressive city, still striving to better itself---rising toward tomorrow.

Dean Rollin Potter of the UCA College of Fine Arts and Comminication and Hendrix Provost Robert Entzminger rounded out the ceremony with wonderful accolades of the project, but also spoke about how this (first ever) partnership between our schools and the city of Conway would not end here, but continue into future endeavors.

The event quickly launched into a dance performance by the Hendrix dance troupe that enacted Anansi Does the Impossible, a famous African folktale put to interpretive movement and dramatic speech. Next up was the Arkansas Shakespeare Company that did a rather comical, three-man rendition of Romeo and Juliet. It was silly, but really well done and had the entire crowd enthralled and laughing histerically.

As soon as the performances had subsided, the moderator, Matt Chiorini, directed the group to Mike's Place across the street where a series of short films were on display, created by students of the UCA Mass Communications and Theatre Department. Scott Meador, who had documented the mural project, had a short film on the mural but also displayed many student-made short films for our enjoyment.

The day culminated in a concert back at Hendrix, with shuttle buses taking attendees to and from that event.

This was an amazing event, that was inspirational in its sheer coordination of so many different organizations and community members all coming together to show their support and appreciation. I believe that this is proof that this city loves art, loves its artists, and is hungry and ready to produce more public art.

Artist Journal 10-05-07

The mural is finished. My students and I have been working around the clock, touching up and finally applying the clear acrylic clear coat--the day before the scaffolding crew arrived.

On Friday, October 5th, the men from Darragh Construction arrived at 7am to dismantle the scaffolding. They were amazed that the mural was finished within 6 weeks of their first visit, and of its quality.

After taking about 6 hours to install, the scaffolding came down in under 2 hours...leaving the mural looking very good, but rather naked after seeing it for so long through the bars and stairwell...

-Morton

Artist Journal 10-01-07

The final week-the scaffolding crew will be here on Friday to dismantle, so my students and I are feverishly working to make final adjustments, touch up drips, and to get two coats of clear varnish over the entire mural by Thursday morning.

The mural dedication ceremony is this Saturday. Dubbed "Conway ArtsFest", this day-long celebration will not only officially hand over the mural to the community, but also showcase the artwork done by local public school children done in response to the mural, a dance troupe from Hendrix, a performance by the Arkansas Shakespeare Company, The UCA Pinnacle Brass Band, and film shorts provided by the UCA Mass Communications and Theatre Department.

We also installed our large banner to the right of the mural, in preparation for the day-

It is going to be down to the wire...

-Morton

Artist Journal 9-25-07

More night work this time, and more help from other UCA students and faculty. UCA professor Scott Meador, of the Mass Communications and Theatre Department, and UCA student Melissa Kordsmeier started spending nights and weekends at the site, greatly aiding us in our work.

My daughter, Lily, also came down for a picnic one Sunday and helped by painting the pants of the Train Dispatcher.

-Morton

Artist Journal 9-20-07

The mural painting has been progressing nicely, but the deadline of October 6th is looming. The weather has not been cooperating, either. At this point, the rain has caught us abou four or fivr times, dragging our freshly painted figures all the way down the wall.

Not to be undone, however, my students and I have began working during the night so that we can regain some of the lost time and effort.

We will make it, one way or another

-Morton

Artist Journal by Raelyn Lawson, UCA student

I originally signed up to work on the mural because I wanted to learn the process. Now that this project is nearing its completion, I can say that this experience has largely been a positive one, but I can also say that I don’t see myself becoming a muralist professionally –at least not an outdoor one. While I love painting large, painting outdoors has its extra challenges. In the beginning of the semester, the heat made work hours considerably uncomfortable. At times, the sun’s brightness could be overwhelming and made it difficult to see, and of course, there was always the threat of rain, which would prevent us from working and cause wet paint to run down the wall. An outdoor muralist also has the challenge of ensuring that the mural is of high enough quality that it will not be damaged by weather in the years to come. Overall, I enjoyed working on the mural. I love the idea of public art and the idea of knowing that I participated in something that will last as long as city hall. I like doing collaborative projects with other artists. However, despite all the positives, I have to say that if I ever paint another mural, I can say for certain that it won’t contain lots of small, extraordinarily detailed buildings.

Raelyn Lawson, UCA student