BJ Boyer, a local merchant, spent about 100 hours adding more scenes and details to the work at Oak and Main streets. The mural of artist Cindy Jackson’s family farm north of town was started more than two years ago by Jackson, who had moved back to Hogansville about 13 years ago.
“(Jackson) is a personal friend of mine,” Boyer said.
Due to some health issues, Jackson, who’d gotten a really good start on the mural including a background, barn and farm animals, had sat untouched for at least a year.
Boyer said the Hogansville Downtown Development Authority, of which her husband is a member, “really wanted the mural done.”
“Alan said, ‘Oh, BJ can finish it,’ ” BJ Boyer said.
She doesn’t consider herself an artist, but took on the challenge, visiting Jackson’s family farm several times.
“It just came together,” she said. Boyer concentrated on adding details and “surprises” to the farm scene.
“When you look at the tree, it looks like they’re apples in it, but they’re really cardinals,” she said.
Close inspection reveals the inclusion of two “local legends.” Somewhere in the mural is a depiction of the black bear that “visited” Hogansville’s mill village in June - and later esd captured by state Department of Natural Resources officers. An alligator that was scene near Interstate 85 in the early 1990s also is included.
Boyer is proud to have completed the mural and permanently memorialized the farm, which used to attract local children for horse rides and other activities.
“It just shows that America is still rural, wherever you go,” she said.
Jennifer Shrader can be reached at jshrader@lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.
Post a Comment
