Page 4 - Explore Independence Co 2020

4SS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE • EXPLORE INDEPENDENCE COUNTY
PHOTOS BY JENNIFER ELLIS/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Across the street from the historic Melba Theater, “Blossoming on Main” depicts the apple blossom, Arkansas’ state flower, and represents the revitalization of Batesville’s Main Street. TOP PHOTO: The restoration of the “Coca Cola” mural in downtown Batesville played a major role in renewing community interest in the city’s historic area.
BY SARAH DECLERK
CREATIVE SERVICES WRITER
With colorful murals decorating buildings on Main Street and beyond, the Batesville Area Arts Council has made it easier for art lovers to arrange self-guided walking and driving tours of the public paintings. In July, the Arts Council released a mural map that highlights new murals in Batesville.
Carly Dahl, executive director of BAAC, said the council released the mural map in conjunction with the ribbon-cutting for the “Blossoming Main Street” mural, which was designed by Dahl and her husband, Dustyn Bork, and completed in June with help from students of the Lyon College art program. e mural was funded by a grant from the Department of Arkansas Heritage and supported by Main Street Batesville and the Arts Council.
“ e subject of the mural is an apple blossom, the state flower of Arkansas, which symbolizes the natural beauty of our region,” Dahl said. “We also wanted to show a visual metaphor for growth and beauty to represent how Main Street is blossoming, both visually and economically, with so many wonderful opportunities for our community.”
Also on the map is “Unity,” which was completed in August. Dahl said Bork developed the idea because he was frustrated with negativity and divisiveness on social media and felt moved to help bring the community together. He crowd-funded the project, raising $1,000 in four hours, and numerous community members came together to paint the mural, she added.
“It was wonderful to see the outpouring of support and to meet the target goal so quickly,” Dahl said. “To get so much buy- in and support for the mural from the community bolsters the feeling that this message is one that people can definitely get behind.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
One of Batesville’s newest murals is “Unity,” a crowd- funded mural that was designed by artist Dustyn Bork and completed by members of the Batesville community.
Batesville is home to 12 new murals, she said, adding that the public art can increase the city’s quality of life and community engagement by raising property values, encouraging foot traffic and promoting tourism.
“A good example of this is the ‘Coca- Cola’ mural,” she said. “ ere was a great outpouring of support for the mural and the history behind it. When we helped with the restoration, it became a key element within the push to renovate and reinvigorate the downtown.”
With an eye for further increasing local prosperity through public art, BAAC recently started a public-art fund using money from donations and fundraisers, she added.
“ e idea is that any artist or business owner can apply for funding to use for murals or other public art projects,” Dahl said. “We want to continue to add to the vibrancy of our community and work with local stakeholders to increase visibility of businesses and local attractions.”
Mural maps are available at the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St. in Batesville. For more information, call 870-793-3382 or visit batesvilleareaartscouncil.org.
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Arts council releases mural map
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