CONCORDIA, Mo. (KCTV) – Driving together I-70 in central Missouri, many wouldn’t give a little city like Concordia a next glance. But for just one artist, it’s just his hottest canvas.
Artist Ray Harvey has expended the last 30 a long time of his life reworking downtowns into journey destinations by having blank walls alongside city streets and making use of his brush to make a public masterpiece. His new task, a 100-foot flag mural, is just the most up-to-date illustration.
“Every small city needs an arch,” Harvey explained, referencing the iconic Gateway Arch in St. Louis. “For [Concordia], this is their arch.”
Harvey was originally commissioned in January by the Concordia Lions Club and the Concordia Reasonable board for the job. A wall at the corner of 6th and Main was presented for the venture, with the Lions Club requesting a flag in the job.
What transpired was a 100-foot mural that consists of a waving American flag, the preamble of the U.S. Constitution, and a soaring eagle. The piece took 11 times to total and has garnered countless numbers of sights on Fb. Harvey claimed his patriotic murals seem to get the most response from individuals.
“Patriotic things is what I like to do,” Harvey mentioned. “It’s getting genuine. There is a hunger for it.”
Harvey, who started off with a degree in graphics and built toy packages in the 80s, went to freelance get the job done in 1986. As the promoting and style field adjusted in the course of the economic downturn in the 90s, he also commenced to adjust. He recognized house painters turning to painting murals.
“If I can train myself to paint huge, I’ll be on to anything,” Harvey claimed.
And, he was correct. Around the earlier 30 yrs, he’s traveled across the state, portray murals for any person who will have him. His motto “have paint, will travel” appears to be serving him perfectly. As of August this yr, he will have done 22 comprehensive-sizing murals in the town of Hannibal, Missouri by itself. Harvey also has contributed to Cuba, Missouri’s title of “Mural Metropolis U.S.A.” by portray quite a few parts alongside Route 66 in town.
“I’ve become the backroads artist,” Harvey reported.
His murals, which often feel to be effectively-been given, are supplying folks factors to hit the roads and check out these towns where they could possibly not have stopped prior to. Harvey reported these paintings are a different vehicle for patriotism, and it offers these city one thing to rally all over.
Harvey explained he enjoys heading to these tiny towns and offering them these paintings.
“We’ve got this modest town with 2,400 people and now folks will get off the freeway to see it,” Harvey explained. “It pulls men and women into town and provides them a reason to appear into city for extra than just gas and chips.”
Other men and women have picked up on the reputation of these murals, in particular on line. Given that ending the Concordia project and publishing it on Fb, several folks have achieved out to Harvey about commissioning new tasks.
“It’s fairly a legacy,” Harvey reported.
If you’d like to see a lot more of Harvey’s work, you can go to his web-site in this article.
Copyright 2022 KCTV. All rights reserved.
