AMT @ Lincolnton, NC
  
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US Post Office "New Deal" Mural
"Threshing Grain" - Featured Mural
Lincolnton, NC

Exit BR Parkway MilePost: 294



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Featured Muralist: Richard H. Jansen(1910-1998)
Trail Member/Sponsor: Lincolnton Tourism
Development Authority

The Iron Furnace
Mural Mention #1
Rail Trail Train
Mural Mention #2

Mural Descriptions

    Featured Mural - Threshing Grain "Threshing Grain" was painted by Richard H. Jansen in 1938. The mural measures 14' wide by 4'6" high with a total approximate area of 63 square feet. Jansen used the medium oil on canvas, and completed the mural in 232 calendar days. Postmaster J.F. Seagle announced in the Lincoln County News the mural's placement in the west end of the building and its depiction of a rural Lincoln County's scene.

     On Wednesday, August 10, 2005, the Lincoln County Historical Association, U.S. Postal Service, and members of Lincoln County's arts and cultural community gathered at the Lincolnton Post Office to rededicate the "Threshing Grain" mural painted by Richard H. Jansen. The dedication commemorated the artistic merits of the mural's artist, the conservation efforts of the Association and the numerous project contributors, and the attendance of the artist's stepson, Henry DeMeritte. Organizers and participants celebrated the hard work, dedication, and commitment art, history and preservation exhibited by the Association's staff, board of directors, and volunteers. Sparked by the interest of an inquisitive Lincolntonian, the Association successfully preserved for posterity one of nation's most cherished works of public art.

     During 2000, Lincolnton newcomer Mike Ottinger took notice of the faded mural while standing in line in the Lincolnton Post Office. Participating in Leadership Lincoln, a joint program between the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce and Gaston College, Ottinger became very interested in Lincolnton and Lincoln County history, specifically the post office mural. He contacted museums, libraries, and family members in Madison, Wisconsin, home of the artist, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. After three months of extensive research, Ottinger submitted an article to the Lincoln Times-News outlining the U.S. Postal Service's New Deal Arts Collection, the mural's subject, a short biography of the artist, and information on the artist's later works. Lincoln County received Ottinger's article with open arms, but failed to take the project to the next level: restoration.

     Over the next three years, Mike Ottinger became a very active member of the Lincoln County Historical Association and discussed the mural and its restoration with Association executive director Jason L. Harpe. After much discussion and planning, Harpe contacted Dalan Wordekemper, U.S.P.S. Federal Preservation Officer, in November 2003 to inquire about the proper steps to begin the process of restoring the mural to its original state. Wordekemper contacted Doris Reed, Lincolnton Postmaster, to explain to the project and its significance, and delegated the leadership of the project to Harpe and Reed. Harpe consulted with two conservation firms for quotes on the mural's restoration and decided in favor of Parma Conservation of Chicago, Illinois. After the initial visit from staff of Parma Conservation, Harpe began the fundraising effort to raise $6,400 to properly restore the mural. Between January and August 2004, Harpe and the Association successfully raised the necessary funds. Thanks to a $3,400 contribution from the U.S.P.S. and contributions from over 20 individuals and businesses in Lincoln County, Parma Conservation began the restoration in August 2004.     Location: 326 E. Main St
    Muralist: Richard H. Jansen

    Mural Mention#1 - The Iron Furnace Joe McKinney painted the mural on the east side of the Lincoln Times-News building in 2017. This project was supported by the City of Lincolnton, and spotlights iron production, the first big industry in Lincoln County.
    Location: 119 W. Water St
    GPS: 35.4702097, -81.2574311
    Muralist: Joe McKinney

    Mural Mention#2 - Marcia Cloninger Rail Trail Train Ty Hobson painted the mural on the west side of the Anderson Building in 2015. This project was supported by a facade grant from the City of Lincolnton, a grassroots grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, and John Anderson, the building's owner. The mural features three train cars spotlighting textiles and Catawba Valley pottery.
    Location: 233 E. Main St
    GPS: 35.4718267, -81.2545936
    Muralist: Ty Hobson

Featured Artist Bio:
Richard H. Jansen(1910-1998)

     "Threshing Grain" was painted by Richard H. Jansen in 1938. The mural measures 14' wide by 4'6" high with a total approximate area of 63 square feet. Jansen used the medium oil on canvas, and completed the mural in 232 calendar days. Jansen painted "Threshing Grain" in his studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The mural was later transported on canvas to Lincolnton by train. The subject matter has a local theme. In a handwritten letter dated September 18, 1937, Jansen suggested an agricultural theme "...as I felt I couldn't go wrong, since the town is certainly bound up with the county around it." Though grain was and still is cultivated in Lincoln County, one must speculate the wheat grown in Wisconsin and the Great Plains influenced Jansen's creative process. Jansen received $610 for painting the Lincolnton mural. On June 9, 1938, Postmaster J.F. Seagle announced in the Lincoln County News the mural's placement in the west end of the building and its depiction of a rural Lincoln County's scene.



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     Mural News


Mural Art News
    Artist John Sims, who was asleep when officers entered his apartment, says, "I could have easily been shot and killed that night." Now what if I was armed legally and fired on the intruders not knowing if they were police? Would this 'stand-your-ground' law apply to me? " And more importantly, why are Black people consistently profiled to be a suspect, an intruder, a thief, in the wrong place, assumed to be guilty first?"   article source




     AMT @ Lincolnton, NC


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     AMT @ Lincolnton, NC

Visitor
Comments


    comment by: Gloria
Love, love, love ❤ all the art we saw and experienced while in Asheville!!Laura

    comment by: Lois
Brilliant way to allow visitors to enjoy the sites and sounds that Asheville has to offer.

    comment by: Rebecca&Susan
We just loved all of the murals in Asheville! Asheville is a fun vibrant interesting town!

    comment by: Catherine Wilson
    (Asheville, NC)

As a member of Carolina Street Mural group, I learned about The Appalachian Mural Trail! After reviewing your web page. I planned my road trips to locate the trail murals, reflect on them and photograph memories of my trip!

    comment by: Tammy Compton
    (Fort Myers, Florida)

Love it! We went looking to take selfies with 3 and found over 20 murals!

    comment by: Angie Trapp
    (Concord, NC)

Beautiful mural in Sparta, one of my favorite places! 😊❤️

    comment by: Debra
    (Falls Church City, VA)

Doreyl,
Thanks for letting me know! What a great project!
It added cool stops to my visit and I love seeing art and the artist was around that day to meet.


    comment by: Cristy (Mountain City, TN)
We have been getting much more traffic around our murals, and a lot of it is due to the publicity from your organization!
Thank you!
We will unveil our newest (and largest) mural on September 4th.


    comment by: Cindy Hedrick Day
It's beautiful! Thank you!!!!
Awesome! You made my day! Love love love it!.
I saw the email re the Mural Trail special in process of being made. Can't wait to see it. We are working to finish our projects, exhibit changes, etc. Who knew it would take so long! But, it's soon finished!!!
Looking forward to seeing this!
Thank you again!!!


    comment by: Marcie Toomey
This is our second visit to Holy Trinity.. we always leave blessed and humbled ❤️

    comment by: Chelsea
Thank you so much for the quick response! I received my shirt and thoroughly enjoyed the trail! Thank you for all of the hard work put into this project!

    comment by: Debbie Dillion
Just came across your website and it is great! I plan to look for these murals in my travels. A phone app would be awesome.

    comment by: Carol
Lincolnton, NC, is loaded with murals! And I love them all!

    comment by: Barry & Cindy Beaulieu
we got to see the Fresco in W. Jefferson NC and is amazing ... we were on our two wheeler the Voyager... nature declares there is a God... everywhere you look... thanking ya'll so very very much...

    comment by: Vickie Sealock
    (Welcome Center Manager)

I love what you folks are doing. Several years ago we went to Exeter California to see their Mural trail. We spent hours in this little town looking at the murals and trying to find the hidden objects in each. We talked with the towns people, had lunch, shopped in the shops. I love the mural trails, and yours is going to be one of the best. Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

    comment by: Liz
Art is everywhere in Asheville! This gorgeous mural of Dolly Parton by Gus Cutty is the newest mural you'll see in town. Gus created the mural with spray paint in 3 days. See it for yourself at Beauty Parade on Haywood Rd in West Asheville.

    comment by: Karen
Roanoke murals are awesome to see... love the mural with girl floating in air... the poetry one was neat!

    comment by: Big Tom
This is great mural art, will be remembered a long time...

    comment by: Bob
This is very expansive mural, covers many walls inside the cradle building. Beautiful art mural, a must see!

    comment by: Dolly
Love the big murals!!!

    comment by: Lisa Patten
I love the mural trail. It's like seeing a gift at Christmas!

    comment by: Ann Barbare
Beautiful mural of Maggie Valley

    comment by: Jennifer
Love your mural artwork! The local references, the depiction of marvelous, beautiful, and colorful nature - landscapes, birds, animals, butterflies, and glorious flowers - invites close study and is very engaging!

    comment by: Carol
Looks like progress being made! Can't wait to see the mural at Joeys.

    comment by: anonymous
Can't wait to see this beautiful mural art in person at Joey's Pancake House

    comment by: Amy
I love your little sneak-a-peek view. Need more...

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     AMT @ Lincolnton, NC




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