Magnificent Missouri, whose mission is to conserve and increase appreciation of the Katy Trail, held an unveiling Sunday, Oct. 19. Ray Harvey, known as “Missouri’s Small Town Muralist,” along with founders Dan and Connie Burkhardt, unveiled a 60- by eight-foot mural highlighting the Missouri River Corridor from Peers to Treloar.
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Magnificent Missouri, whose mission is to conserve and increase appreciation of the Katy Trail, held an unveiling Sunday, Oct. 19. Ray Harvey, known as “Missouri’s Small Town Muralist,” along with founders Dan and Connie Burkhardt, unveiled a 60- by eight-foot mural highlighting the Missouri River Corridor from Peers to Treloar.
Dan Burkhardt learned about the New Haven artist while viewing Harvey’s work at Rock Island State Park in Gerald. Burkhardt invited Harvey to the Treloar Mercantile to size up the potential location for the mural.
Harvey said the exterior wall of the historic Treloar Country Club building wasn’t a good surface for the mural, but came up with an alternate plan, the first of its kind, using 5-foot by ten-foot aluminum panels which could be painted offsite. Other challenges for painting the mural onsite included the harsh southern exposure and dust from farming operations nearby.
Burkhardt provided the artist with selected subjects which highlight the area — an Eastern bluebird, Katy biker, Monarch butterfly on native milkweed, serviceberries and a steam engine. Harvey used acrylic paints for his subjects, then sprayed the mural with UV protection.
Harvey said he painted his first mural in 1990 for a client in St. Alban’s. Word spread and his life as a muralist took off. He has painted more than 600 murals in Missouri alone.
“I believe the Katy Trail mural is the only original art here,” said Harvey. “It’s the first time I’ve worked in the area. It has been an interesting project.”
Burkhardt said the Treloar Mercantile and Peers Store were built to accommodate the arrival of the railroad in 1896. Communities grew along the trailhead. Farm families have populated the Missouri River bottom for more than a century. The first section of the Katy Trail opened in 1990 near Rocheport. The local section opened in 1996.
“It’s miraculous the buildings are still here,” said Burkhardt. “It’s very special to have the mercantile and Peers store as part of the Katy Trail corridor. This mural will help us celebrate this section of the Katy Trail. Harvey brought a lot of creativity to the project.”
Harvey thanked his wife Paula for her continued contributions to the project. He expects the mural to survive well and “be there a long, long time.” His high school art teacher, Sharon Stockman, was also at the celebration to view her student’s latest work.
For more information about Harvey, visit his website at rayharveyart.com or his Facebook page at Ray Harvey Art.
