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Capturing the heart of a community is no easy task, but a Lafayette artist and some talented youth are doing just that by painting a mural in downtown Monticello.

Artist Timothy Spencer, with the help of a group of young painters, have been hard at work in June painting a mural on the north wall of the building at the 200 block of Main Street, between Kinser’s Bakery and City Hall.

“It’s a partnership between the Tippecanoe Arts Federation and the Monticello Public Library,” said Sandy Wagner, children’s librarian.

Mayor Jason Thompson helped enlist the Tippecanoe Arts Federation (TAF) after learning of murals projects they had overseen. Thompson recognized that the spot on Main Street; owned by Dick and Judy Bertram, who agreed to the project; would be improved with a mural.

After permission was gained from the city council, TAF, under the direction of Tetia Lee, obtained a grant to hire Spencer after he responded to an ad seeking an artist for the project.

Spencer’s resume lists work as a scenic artist for numerous theatre projects around the country including the 2009 Purdue Christmas Concert. His education includes painting and drawing majors from the Maine College of Art and Concordia University in Montreal, QC, Canada.

 “When I first started designing it, I really just wanted it to be representative of the … natural landscape of Indiana,” said Spencer, citing the area’s trees, landscape and new wind farm. “I didn’t have any grand idea about it; I just wanted to capture Monticello’s immediate surroundings.

“It grows along the way and it’s been changing with every step.”

The City of Monticello helped provide the paint, explained Mayor Thompson: every elected official, including himself, Clerk/Treasurer Liz Oilar and the board of works and city council members each bought a gallon of paint locally.

TAF, along with local contractors, provided equipment to get the job done. The mural will feature trees, wind turbines, cardinals, the Indiana state bird; and more.

“It’s exciting to watch it evolve that way,” Spencer said. “I’ve painted all my life, I love painting, and I really like large-scale projects. I’ve loved it so far.”

“I go by it every night when I leave work and see the progress on it,” said Wagner. “I think it’s exciting; it does represent our area with the flatlands; he’s adding the wind mills and it’s going to have the state bird in it.”

But Spencer has perhaps taken the most enjoyment in working local teams discovered by the Monticello library and TAF when they paint Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“It’s really exciting to see these kids get more confidence and create,” the artist said. “They really do most of the work; I kind of outline for them and they are the ones who paint everything. It’s really exciting to see them accomplish that and to see the positive effect it has on them.

“We kind of goof off and have a good time, and it’s really rewarding to be a part of that.”

Eli Tribbett, a Monticello resident who will enter the seventh grade at Roosevelt Middle School this fall, said the project has piqued an interest in art and that Spencer has a lot of art knowledge to share.

“I get to mix the color,” Tribbett said.

“My pants, you do not see that they’re blue jeans anymore,” laughed Tribbett. “We get up on the scaffolding and paint, and it gets all over and it doesn’t wash off very easily.

“Then we always have to go eat somewhere, and you have to go with paint all over yourself.”

Spencer said that the kids have also been an integral part in the creative process.

“There’s been a few points where the kids have thoughts about something: ‘wouldn’t it be cool if we used this color yellow’ or ‘wouldn’t it be cool if we painted a cherry blossom tree over there,’” Spencer said.

“I think the mural is better off for the kids having painted it. It allowed it to grow more. I think it’s also exciting that the kids are able to have that kind of input.”

“For these kids to be able to be part of this project … and for them to work with a mural artist, I think it’s exciting,” Wagner said.

Thompson hopes to have more murals painted in Monticello to continue beautifying the city.

“I knew this would be a great start and we’ve heard a lot of positive things about it,” the mayor said. “It’s been a great project. I’m happy with the project and I’m hoping for many more.”

 

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