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By Chris Case
CUBA–Viva Cuba unveiled its twelfth and final mural project at the four-way intersection on Monday.
Muralist Ray Harvey, who also painted the Bette Davis mural at the Cuba Free Press building, was present to meet and greet people during the viewing and to sign each of the three mural panels.
The city’s newest mural celebrates the life and service of entrepreneur Bill Wallis to the Cuba community. It also honors the Missouri Highway Patrol, now celebrating their 75th year as an organization; the Wagon Wheel Motel and the close relationship between the city and Route 66; and the corner Phillips 66 gas station that the Wallis family purchased 1968.
Harvey said that Cuba is becoming well known worldwide as Mural City, and that many Route 66 travelers make sure to stop in town to see the paintings.
“You probably don’t even realize how wonderful a thing this is for Cuba,” he explained, “but I see it and others see it, too.”
Lynn Wallis thanked the large crowd for showing up to take part in the celebration and all those who worked so hard to put it together. She said Bill would have been proud to see the results of Harvey’s work.
With cameras clicking away, the artist unveiled his finished three-panel work to the public and signed each panel individually.
Harvey said that the entire project took on a special meaning for him because he could recall stopping at the Cuba four-way station as a kid and getting 10-cent sodas out of a machine.
“I’m painting a mural in the same spot that years ago in my youth I went for a cold drink. It’s kind of eerie in a way, but it also makes this very special for me personally. I have a real connection with this place and this project,” he commented.
The Wallis mural was planned for completion in the fall of 2006, as Viva Cuba’s final project in preparation for the sesquicentennial year in Cuba. Bad weather and other scheduling conflicts pushed it back until this spring.
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