Saturday, May 18, 2013

Sedalia Democrat: 'Original artist gives Joplin mural a facelift' in Sedalia, Missouri


Scott Joplin (c. 1867-1917) was an African-American composer and pianist of ragtime and classical music.  He is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which relies extensively on an authoritative biography, Dancing to a Black Man's Tune: A Life of Scott Joplin, written by Susan Curtis and published in 2004 by the University of Missouri Press.  Susan Curtis is Professor of History and American Studies at Purdue University.

Sedalia DemocratSedalia, Missouri

Original artist gives Joplin mural a facelift

Posted: Friday, May 17, 2013

Stan Herd raised the scissor lift he was working from on Thursday and dabbed paint onto his brush, then took a step back and examined his work before leaning in and adding a few brush strokes of contour to Scott Joplin’s suit jacket.

Herd, an internationally known artist based out of Lawrence, Kan., has been working like this off and on for the last month as the Scott Joplin mural at West Second Street and South Ohio Avenue has undergone something of a facelift.

Though it has been nearly 20 years since he first created the mural — perhaps the most recognizable piece of public art in the city — he told the Democrat he was glad to have the opportunity to reconnect with the piece and hopefully extend its life for another 20 years.

Comment by email:
Dear Bill, Thanks for sending the update to the Scott Joplin site.  I'm glad to know that the mural is being well maintained!  The lecture on Scott Joplin went well.  I had an opportunity to give a second Weiner lecture, and gave a talk about the Depression of the 1890s.  I think that one went well, too! All the best,
Susan [Susan Curtis]

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