Second large mural in Holley takes shape on back of library

Arthur Barnes creating farm scene of wheat field, apple orchard

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Arthur Barnes, an artist from Millville near Medina, is in Holley today working on a mural on the back of the Community Free Library.

Barnes put the primer on Sunday for the artwork that will be 25 feet high and 21 feet wide.

On Monday he painted the sky, and tried to blend it in with a mural painted last year by Tony Barry. That mural features the portrait of Holley’s namesake, Myron Holley, and a Erie Canal scene. Holley was an early commissioner for the canal.

Barnes today is painting the tree line and the wheat fields. The bottom of the mural will have more detail and feature an apple orchard.

Tony Barry’s mural is on the left and Arthur Barnes is working on a new large-scale painting on the right side. The project is funded with a $5,000 grant awarded to the library from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Barnes said Barry had some leftover paint that allowed for a perfect match with the sky.

“I’m a big fan of Tony’s work,” Barnes said.

This is the sixth mural Barnes has painted in Orleans County. The first five were all Erie Canal scenes. One of those is on display in the Murry-Holley Historical Society.

Arthur Barnes said he would like to have the mural done by the end of July.

“That’s what I’m aiming for but there are many variables with the weather,” he said.