Labor Day Mural Gets Final Brush Strokes

Muralist Herb Roe and Paducah School of Art student Evita Cole add the final touch ups and repaints to the Labor Day Celebration mural on Paducah's floodwall.

With the Labor Day holiday a couple of days away, Roe has pushed to finish the repaint and refrubishing of this panel to be ready for the thousands of locals and visitors that will be downtown on Monday.
 
Roe will speak on the stage in front of the floodwall Monday morning around 11:30 - following the Labor Day parade. He will hand out large post cards with the newly repainted mural - in celebration of organized labor in the region.  

Originally designed and painted in 2004, Roe was determined to make it even better during the repaint process. Cracking and fading images have all been repainted and the entire mural "pops"! Fresh and brightened images of people, sky, buildings, sign and borders do make a huge difference in the whole appearance of this solidarity panel.

Thursday evening he finished painting and Friday morning Roe applied two coats of sealer that protect the painted images from weathering and vandalism. "I was determined to finish in time for the celebration and am happy to have gotten it all sealed today before the predicted rains begin," remarked Roe. "It is fresh and does look much sharper now. I've included more details in the faces and generally overall. We expect it to remain in great shape for another ten years."

Teresa Perry, Paducahan and Lower Town artist/muralist helped Roe earlier this summer, but she is involved in another mural project and wasn't able to complete this painting season with him. A friend told Roe about Evita Cole, a student at the Paducah School of Art. This is her first large scale mural to help paint. She is presently earning her Associate's Degree in Art and then plans to transfer to Oregon College of Arts and Crafts to earn a Masters in Art Education. She lives with her Grandma Anna Cole, who raised her and encouraged her to pursue her passion. Evita is quick to share that she is here because of her Grandma and says she's her best friend and most avid supporter. After getting her masters degree in Art Ed, she plans to teach in a High School art program and then to hopefully have her own center that will incorporate the healing benefits of art as therapy for children.