In a fractious, frightening, uncertain year, a little unity and togetherness is just what everyone needs.
Artist Stacie Drane thought of that as she designed the large mural that will grace downtown Bargersville. She wanted to showcase people joining as one, the roots of an agriculture community and its bright future.
Muted grays and darkness would be offset by softer hues — canary yellow, seafoam green, pink, purple, orange and blue.
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“Even in the darkest of times, there are also these bright colors. We can find the brightness in each other and in the community around you,” Drane said. “Especially this year, I really wanted to paint something that unified, that showed a lot of compassion and love.”
Drane’s design resonated with those in charge of the Color the County mural program. Her imagery will be the latest addition to the county’s murals, set to be installed on a wall at Taxman Brewing Co.’s gastropub in downtown Bargersville.
Though it was Drane who came up with the mural’s design, she is excited to have the public come out to physically install it on Aug. 8, during the Johnson County Community Foundation’s community painting day.
For the past five years, Color the County has brought local artists and residents together to beautify public spaces. The Johnson County Community Foundation has organized the design and creation of nine murals, with artwork located in Franklin, Greenwood, Bargersville, Trafalgar, Edinburgh and Whiteland.
The program was created in 2016, as the community foundation looked to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The idea was to connect people through a collaborative process of making murals, transforming public spaces and the identities of neighborhoods.
Instead of commissioning an artist to create the mural design, organizers accepted submissions from the community. From the start, Drane was intrigued by the opportunity.
“I’m not the kind of person who’s very outspoken. But I want to be able to speak my truth and tell a story, and the best way I know how to do that is by drawing or painting.
“I think it’s a really good opportunity to express yourself. Coloring the County, it brings so much joy and life and brightness into the world,” she said.
Drane, who lives in Nineveh with her husband and two daughters, 2-year-old Haley and 7-month-old Alaina, graduated from Franklin College in 2013 with degrees in painting, design and art history. She had always loved to paint and draw as a child, and funneled that creativity into a career.
“It was my escape. For some people, it’s books and getting engrossed in a story. I got engrossed in painting; I loved being able to have that outlet,” she said.
The Cubist painters, such as Pablo Picasso and Paul Cézanne, have always fascinated her. Their approach helped influence the design she made for Color the County. She had submitted designs in the past, and always focused on the theme of connecting people who care with causes that matter.
Her design in 2020 was particularly focused on unity. Different elements of the design reflect that — a child and parent, lotus flowers, growing towns and rising silos.
“Our community is so diverse, not just its people but rural areas and small towns and bigger cities. I wanted to be able to represent those people, and everyone who lives here,” she said. “I hope that everyone can connect to a certain piece in their own way.”
That connectivity is what caught the eye of the mural committee at the Johnson County Community Foundation, Minton said.
The next step will be getting ready for the community painting day on Aug. 8. Drane has been working with organizers to pick out paint and get supplies ready for local residents who come out to paint the mural. The night before, Drane and others will project the design on the west-facing wall of Taxman Brewing, then sketch the design out.
Different-colored sections will be numbered, so that people can easily match the paint color with the part of the mural they’re working on.
“It’ll really be like a paint-by-number — that day, you’ll get your cup of paint and go to that number on that square and section. I tried to design it in a way that we could all paint it together as a community,” Drane said.
Anyone is welcome to participate, and no artistic skills are needed. Supplies and refreshments will be provided. For children, free coloring books, paint sets and activities will be available.
For Drane, the chance to have her work displayed permanently in such a prominent place is an incredible honor. She’s particularly excited for her daughters to see the mural as they get older.
“It’s really an important thing for me, and for my girls to see. I want them to know that their mom had a voice, even if she’s not the one who’s talking. I want them to know and feel unity and inclusion, to dare to be different.”
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Paint Your Town! Bargersville
What: A community painting day encouraging the public to come together and create a mural designed by artist Stacie Drane. The mural is part of the Color the County program, through the Johnson County Community Foundation.
When: 9 a.m. to noon on Aug. 8
Where: Taxman Brewing Co., 89 S. Baldwin St., Bargersville
Who can take part: The event is open to all; no artistic ability is necessary.
Participants will receive supplies, water and snacks. Kids will get free coloring books and paint sets, and activities will be set up for them.
Information: jccf.org
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