Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Making history one brush stroke at a time

Thursday, September 14, 2017
The process of the patriotic mural with over 500 collaborating citizens’ contributions.
Photo by Joe Isaacs

For the entirety of the SEMO District Fair attendants had the opportunity to make history just by visiting the Paint for a Cause booth.

Longtime artist and owner of the Painted Wren Art Gallery Aaron Horrell said the idea of having a mural painted by the community came to him about three years ago. Horrell and the Painted Wren Gallery Assistant Manager Barb Bailey have done many murals with the Southeast Missouri community prior to the one featured at their booth at the fair.

The mural is in the process of being completed by those who are willing to donate money to paint for the cause. All of the money donated will be split evenly among all of the residents at the Missouri Veterans Home located in Cape Girardeau. When the painting — composed of an American flag, an eagle and a military aircraft — is completed, it will be hung in the lobby of the veterans home.

Owner of the Painted Wren Art Gallery, Aaron Horrell and the Painted Wren Gallery Assistant Manager, Barb Bailey waiting for fairgoers to stop by their booth and help make history.
Photo by Joe Isaacs

“What’ll be really nice is when this is hanging in the veterans home, they’ll get to see it every day. The reason that Aaron had the veterans paint on the building in the mural is because that’s their home, and hopefully they’ll remember they painted that there, and that they had something to do with this,” Bailey said.

The mural adds another aspect of the community coming together for the cause. The 5-foot-by-10 foot aluminum panel that has been painted on was donated by Canedy Sign & Graphics without hesitation, according to Bailey. Once completed, the panel will be framed by Stev-Mark, Inc. The donation box presented at the fair booth was built by community member Brian Hagen.

The Paint for a Cause booth visitors varied in age and background, from retired veterans to babies who could barely hold the paintbrush, Horrell said.

Owner of the Painted Wren Art Gallery, Aaron Horrell assisting Cape Girardeau resident, Cathy Clippard.
Photo by Joe Isaacs

Cathy Clippard and her son William attended the fair for the 15th year in a row. They were motivated to come to the Paint for a Cause booth because William enjoys painting. They had read about the cause in the Southeast Missourian and were excited to be a part of history.

“In some of the other booths there are things to purchase and take away, but with this one you’re giving back,” Cathy said.

Sikeston resident and friend of Horrell and Bailey, Joe Johnes, was at the fair to support the cause. Johnes has lived in the area for almost 40 years and said what sets this booth apart is the fact that people are able to give what they can to a good cause.

Owner of the Painted Wren Art Gallery Aaron Horrell lending a helping hand to a donating participant.
Photo by Joe Isaacs

“I was a veteran, I was in [the military] for six years,“ Johnes said. “I look back on it and think, ‘Well if I needed help, I’d like somebody to help me.’”

The opportunity to paint a piece of the mural does not end with the fair; the mural will be at The Painted Wren Art Gallery until it is ready to be framed and brought to its home with the veterans. Horrell plans to fill in the rest of the mural, but said community members are more than welcome to visit the gallery and add their contribution to the painting.

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