A picture can say a thousand words.
That’s what the City of Indianola is hoping in receiving artist renderings of a proposed downtown mural dedicated to Alex “Hambone” Brown.
Mayor Ken Featherstone updated the city’s Board of Aldermen last week about the project and potential artists for the project.
“Initially, it was proposed that they would name the alley near The Crown restaurant Hambone Alley,” he said. “Mr. Brock (Ward 5 Alderman Sam Brock) said that for us to get the biggest splash – enough for our citizens to be able to see the artwork – it may be best to have the mural on the north side of Turner’s (Downtown) Market.”
Featherstone also informed the board that he has an update on the artists. One of the artists is the brother of Hambone, George Brown.
“I do have an update. Two artists whom I have spoken with are eager to get this done. One happens to be the brother of Mr. Hambone,” Featherstone said. “Myself and Dr. Brown (Adrian Brown of Brown & Associates) have been in contact with his brother.”
Featherstone made the board aware that George Brown may be having surgery soon and that may delay the start of the project.
“He told me in a perfect world he may be able to get to this project by March. He may, he may not,” Featherstone said.
Featherstone let the board know that if George Brown is not in condition to complete the project, there’s another artist he has been in contact with.
“I have also reached out to another artist, Mr. Chris Winfield. He is out of Jackson,” he said. “I have seen full-blown murals done by Mr. Winfield, and from Mr. George Brown I have seen some portraits of some of the work he has done. Both look impressive.”
Featherstone told the board they could have a work session meeting to look at both of the artists’ work to see who might complete the project.
“We have been kicking the can on this project for a while now. We need to get this done. Every time I see Hambone, he tells me he has been waiting on the art piece, and he is 80-something years old. He doesn’t know how much longer he may be living. And he has a great point,” he said.
Ward 3 Alderman Reuben Woods asked if choosing the image is at the artist’s discretion or would the city be able to have input.
“I have suggested to them just to give us some images, an image of Hambone and almost like a collage of some public things that are unique to Indianola. And then both artists start drawing, and we could compare both of the drawings,” Featherstone said.
Ward 4 Alderman Marvin Elder said, “We need to get the logistics now because on March 1, we need to have someone over there going to work.”
Elder asked (Adrian) Brown for an update of when he spoke with George Brown.
Brown said, “I did speak with Mr. George Brown. He did advise me that he was going to be having surgery, and he would be able to begin work at the beginning of March.”
He told the board he asked George Brown if he would go ahead and begin the planning process for the project.
Brown said, “He said he doesn’t have a problem with beginning the planning process. He did say that he has not come to take a look at the site, and he would need to do that as well.”
Brown informed George Brown that he would contact him once the board discusses the status of the project to do a follow-up with him.
He did ask George Brown if he had given Indianola a price for painting the mural, and was told that Brown hadn’t yet given the city a price.
“The pricing has to take place,” Brown said. “They can’t bid on something if they don’t know the specs or what their desired scope of work is. And based on the pricing, we may have to get two competitive quotes. And there is an internal process that has to take place, but we would love to move this project forward.”
“I don’t want Indianola to look over its own people. Now, what about Bobby Whalen?” asked Alderman Brock.
Brown replied, “Mr. Whalen is a local artist who has done a lot of paintings. We can definitely have a conversation with him as well.”
Brock said, “Alright, now, and also listening to Dr. Adrian Brown, the way this process is going with George Brown, there’s no way we are going to begin in March, not even laying the paperwork out because you are looking at all of the diagrams and demonstrations and some legal entities may have to go in there.”
Brock continued, “So we are looking at further than March but are hoping it can begin in March because March is a knock around the corner.”
Brown said, “I guess what the board needs to do is if you all are ready to proceed with the planning of that whether he can participate or not, then the project has to move forward how you all want to move. Because you do have other artists you have engaged with.”
Featherstone asked the board what their wishes were.
The board approved allowing Dr. Adrian Brown to meet with the three artists for professional services.
