This summer, several individuals participating in the Supported Living program chose to help a local art education non-profit with a large-scale, community art project. Access Arts, a provider of therapeutic recreation for persons served by BCFR, reached out to several community organizations, agencies and groups to be a part of painting a 72-panel mural celebrating the upcoming total solar eclipse. The finished project will be six feet tall by 64 feet long and will be on display at the Montminy Gallery at the Boone County Museum for the month of August.

Volunteers at Access Arts sketched the mural design onto a grid. Each panel is two feet tall by three feet wide and represents one section of the grid. A color printout was provided with each panel so artists would know what colors to use. “The mural is kind of like a giant ‘paint-by-numbers’ activity,” says Shawna Johnson, executive director at Access Arts. “This project embodies the whole vision of Access Arts which is that everyone can make art. Working jointly on a community project like this also bring people of all walks of life together for a common cause. In this case, to celebrate the solar eclipse!”

The BCFR artists met one afternoon at the main office. Some helped with mixing paint and then everyone worked together to complete two of the panels in record time. “This was a lot of fun,” says Barb. “I enjoyed painting very much.”

Mike is happy that his art will be on display and is looking forward to seeing the finished mural. “I had fun painting and would like to do it again,” says Mike. “I am excited to see the eclipse and see the picture.”

Robert also said he enjoyed painting the panels and is excited to see the eclipse in person.