Benton mural project brings historical interest to community

August 11-17, 2014

By Molly Baltzer 

This September, Benton, Ark. plans to provide a historical timeline mural for the community. Freddy Burton, volunteer project coordinator, worked with designer of the mural and Benton resident/artist, Diana Roberts, to get the project started. The project was first started by Arlene Rainey and is managed by the Gann Museum. 

In mid-September mural artist from Tennessee, Mark Davey, will began to work on the painted historical mural that will be located on the west side of the Bell Building. Burton said “There is a lot of history from Benton and this project has made the community more interested in learning about it. 

“This project is unusual, it will be the first mural in Benton,” Burton said. “Right now we have raised about $20,000 and need around $40,000,” he added. 

Davey will spend an estimated ten weeks working on the project. He and his wife plan to stay in Arkansas while he works on this historical project. 

As the painting will be facing the west side, the sun will beam down on it often, which is why prepping the building is so important. “Mark said he will use a total of three coats and then a top clear coat to finish it off, that way the painting will not fade as much,” said Burton.

You can expect to see the history of Benton from its earliest days to the era of 1920, with the Saline River as the focal point of the piece. “This project has gotten the community so excited, they are asking what the next mural will be. We have plans to do more but they aren’t set in stone like this one is” Burton said. 

Search Gann Museum Mural Project on Facebook and “like” the page to keep up with the project’s progress. Donations can be mailed to “Gann Museum Mural Fund,” 218 S. Market St, Benton AR 72015.