i have a dream: a salute to the life of dr. martin luther king, jr. this collaborative mural...

I Have A Dream: A Salute To The Life Of Dr. Martin Luther

King, Jr.

This collaborative mural honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be on exhibit at the Kentucky Library

and Museum Jan. 6th – Feb. 26th 2006 in Bowling Green, KY.

The mural “I Have A Dream: A Salute To The Life Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a collaboration of six local African American artists: Glen Bolling, Thelma Green, Granville Mitchell, Vonda Victor, Alice Gatewood-Waddell and Thomas Whitrow. The mural is an 18 ft. long acrylic painting on canvas, and each artist painted a 36 X 45 section of the mural representing different times in the life of Dr.King.

Alice Gatewood-Waddell depicts the birthplace of Dr. Martin King, Jr., his early childhood years, parents and family. It reflects the influence of his father’s church.

Alice Gatewood-Waddell

A native of Bowling Green, KY, Alice Gatewood Waddell has developed an artistic style that appears to a variety of collectors. Primarily known for her mixed media designs, Waddell seeks to incorporate positive messages regarding family, unity, and spiritual celebration to both move and inspire the viewer.

A formally trained artist, Waddell obtained a BFA, with a concentration in painting, from Western Kentucky University. Waddell teaches art classes, gives private lessons, and conducts workshops for children and adults. Waddell’s work is included in many local and national corporate and organizational collections.

Vonda Victor represents Dr. King’s education with degrees from Morehead College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University. Represented also are his marriage to Coretta Scott and his four children, Yolanda Denise, Martin Luther III, Dexter Scott, and Bernice Albertine.

Vonda K. Victor 

Victor has been part of the Bowling Green community for 18 years. She is a 1990 WKU graduate with a BA in graphic design and has participated in several local art exhibitions. She owns Monograms and More in down-town Bowling Green, which offers monogramming, glass etching and graphic design services.

Victor works in several mediums including, acrylic paint, calligraphy, stained glass, and fabrics. She receives incredible joy from calligraphy of inspirational scriptures for homes and churches. She also produced a commissioned stained glass pieces for a business in her hometown of Hopkinsville and worked for her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta. One of her proudest moments was to provide a piece for Bishop Vashti McKenzie.

Granville Mitchell’s canvas shows historic Freedom Riders civil rights activities and the violent action taken against them.

Granville Mitchell

Mitchell, a Bowling Green native, is a self-taught artist. He is an assistant ticket agent at the Bowling Green Greyhound Bus Lines.

Mitchell discovered his love of painting in high school and he prefers working in oil. Mitchell’s vibrant work captures movement, the dynamic of life. You can see other examples of Mitchell’s work on display at Barnes and Noble through the month of February.

Thomas Withrow’s work illustrates King’s civil rights work with marches, sit-ins, and protests as well as images of atrocities inflicted on King and other civil rights supporters.

Thomas Withrow

Withrow has had many different jobs in his lifetime but art has always been an important part of his life. He received formal art education at Western Kentucky University, but developed a reputation as a portrait artist through trial and error, working mostly with pastels and charcoals.

Withrow enjoys working with oils and acrylics, as well as screen-printing and occasionally sign painting. Withrow feels fortunate to possess a God-given gift that he will enjoy all his life. 

Glenn Bolling paints of historic speeches, King’s accolades including the Nobel Peace Prize. The work also shows men who influenced and were influenced by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Glen Bolling

Bolling is a Bowling Green native and is part of the Western Kentucky University family. He has enjoyed doing art all his life. He considers himself a muralist and became interested in mural work while working as a wall painter in Michigan. Bolling took a couple of basic art classes when living in Michigan.

Examples of Bolling’s work can be viewed inside at Trinity Baptist Church and on a wall at Ragland Lane. Bolling has collaborated with local artists doing mural work in Bowling Green including working with Delaire Rowe at Parker Bennett Community Center.

Thelma Green’s painting with an image of the Lorranne Hotel where King was shot is an also an epitaph as she depicts King in front of the "mountain top."

Thelma L. Green 

A self taught artist, Green, a native of Warren County was born in Wooodburn. She always loved drawing and would practice on any found material including brown paper bags, cardboard, plaster board, and even the bedroom walls. After graduating from Warren Central High School she finished two semesters at Western Kentucky University.

In 2004 Green took a painting class under Neil Peperis. The painting class reaffirmed her love of art as she has been painting and entering local art exhibitions since. Green’s work is part of the Kentucky Museum’s collection and currently on display on the 5th Floor of Cravens.

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