25 Mar 2020 Public art: Enjoying the murals in Hot Springs
by Linda Henderson
Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow this year so an early spring is predicted. Spring is the perfect time for a road trip to view public art in Hot Springs, where there is a growing number of murals painted on walls throughout the Spa City. These murals depict Hot Springs history, attractions and people.
I have noticed as we travel across the 501 there are more and more walls being decorated with colorful displays of art. Local artists are turning empty walls into huge public canvases. People who would never go into an art gallery are able to view examples of fine art just walking down a city sidewalk. Many murals tell the story of the community or what is important about the area.
The majority of the Hot Springs murals are easy to find, and most are in the downtown area. If you plan the whole day to view the murals, there are lots of other things to do. The day could include a stroll down bathhouse row to admire the historical architecture, a visit to one of the local stores or a meal at one of the unique downtown restaurants. If you are up for an adventure, take a hike in the national park.
One of the most celebrated murals is a colorful work called “Black Broadway.” The mural is found at 350 Malvern Ave. on the Habitat for Humanity Restore building. It was painted by Italian artist Giuseppe Percivati (aka Pepe Gaka), Anthony Tidwell and Cut Well 4 Kids. During the 1930s, this avenue was known as “Black Broadway ” a section of town that had many entertainment spots where world-famous entertainers like Count Basie, Duke Ellington and B.B. King performed.
There are several more of Percivati’s works at various spots around town. These include “How We Play at C4K,” which is located at 247 Silver St., on the side of the Cutwell 4 Kids building. “Moonlight Stroll” is located at 833 Central Ave. on the side of Core Brewing.
Up a block from “Black Broadway,” there is a mural honoring Hot Springs’ baseball history. In the early days of baseball, several major league baseball teams conducted their spring training in Hot Springs. The town was chosen as a training camp because of the city’s warmer spring weather and the thermal properties of the hot water bath houses. “Playing Cards” is located at 204 Malvern Ave. This mural was painted by Chris Arnold and Jeff Garrison. Depicted in the mural’s “baseball cards” are Babe Ruth, Mel Ott, “Smoky” Joe Wood, Jackie Robinson and Walter Johnson.
As you drive through the Hot Springs downtown, you will be welcomed by a giant Quapaw Native American. This image pays tribute to the Quapaw Tribe, which played an important role in the early establishment of the city. The mural was painted by Pepe Gaka, and it is on the south wall of the Simon Mendel Building in the 500 block of Central Avenue.
As you continue to the 300 block of Central Avenue, another Pepe Gaka mural is “Verna’s Dream.” It is located at 320 Central Ave., next to the Waters Hotel. The mural represents the natural beauty that is found at Garvan Woodland Gardens.
Next to the Mountain Valley Water building in the 100 block of Central Avenue is the Tom Moore Cigar “ghost sign.” This is one of the best examples of ghost signs in Arkansas. Ghost signs are the remains of an old hand-painted advertising sign. These signs were painted on buildings as a way of advertising a product of a business. The artist is unknown. At least four other older signs can be seen bleeding through the Tom Moore Cigar sign. The mural was exposed in the 1980s when the building next to the sign was demolished.
A colorful graphical mural is found on the Emergent Arts building a few blocks off of Central Avenue. The “Emergent Mural” is located at 341 Whittington Ave. It was painted by Sike Stlye.
My favorite is the “Hot Springs Alligator Farm” located on 847 Whittington Ave. It was painted by America Carillo. It is a row of vibrant painted characters that represent the animals found at the Alligator Farm.
A touching mural of a young man with beautiful piercing eyes painted by a local artist, Rayshaun McNary, is located on the side of the Webb Community Center at 127 Pleasant St. It is called “Promise of Peace.”
This month I have highlighted some of the murals of Hot Springs. In the coming months, I plan to share other towns’ and cities’ murals. So, it’s spring; get out there and learn about the history and the people of our communities by enjoying the public art of the 501.
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- Getting the shot of a lifetime - February 1, 2024
- The road to Gothic Mountain - October 9, 2023
