By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Swim season and mural season are coming together. Barton Arts Movement announced Monday the first of at least three murals in the county. Great Bend's Anna Popp will add some summer vibes to the city of Claflin pool entrance. Barton Arts Movement Co-Chair Rachel Mawhirter said a few sponsors have already signed on, but a few more are needed.
"We're super excited to be using a local artist," she said. "She's a college student and will already be home for the summer, so that's going to keep this a fairly affordable project, but we do still need a few donors."
BAM will announce at least two more mural projects this summer. Those announcements will now include renderings so potential donors and the public know exactly what to expect.
"It's a lot easier to understand and get excited about something that's conceptualized already and not so abstract," Mawhirter said. "We're kind of reversing the process we started with. When we started, we would come up with a building, then find an artist, then a concept, then try to get donors before we would announce it to the public. Unfortunately, that just made the progress really slow."
Popp is a 2021 graduate of Great Bend High School. She currently attends the University of Kansas, where she is studying visual arts. Last summer, Popp painted a large bison mural in Atwood.
RELATED: Popp paints bison mural in Atwood.
For more information on Barton Arts Movement, or to volunteer or donate, visit bartonartsmovement.com.