Mason City Hall walls filling up with great art

Honored illustrator depicts life in Mason

By WILL KANGAS

wkangas@lsj.com

January 15, 2011

From Ingham County Community News

Robert Paul Adams' Portrait in Mason City Hall

MASON - New artwork by a noted Alabama illustrator decorates a wall at Mason City Hall, adding to a project that was launched when the new city hall.

Since the city hall opened in 2010, donated art with local connections has been slowly appearing on walls.

Art includes donations from Mason graduate John Ahrens and his father Robert, as well as photographs from Mason's past that were on the wall at the Mason Meijer before the store was renovated.

But the latest artwork depicts the city hall itself. It was drawn by an artist from Alabama that specializes in urban life.

Robert Paul Adams has had his work displayed around the country, according to Mason City Manager Martin Colburn.

"It's nice to have such a well-respected national artist do a painting of our city," Colburn said. "This has already helped make our hall look fantastic."

Colburn said the reason the city hall was able to get the donation was made through a local connection.

Connections

Birnie Adams works for DBI Office Interiors in Lansing, and he was working on a hall in city building when he heard about the need for artwork, so he simply called his brother.

Using a photograph, Robert Adams created the 3-foot-tall painting, which depicts Mason people living and working around the city hall.

"The bright colors add a cheerful note," Colburn said.

Adams' illustrations have been used in an annual report to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush in 1988 and 1989 for the Council on Environmental Quality.

One exhibit was used to commemorate the rededication of the Alabama State Capitol Building in Montgomery, Alabama.

His most recent work has been published in the book "Montgomery and the River Region Sketchbook."

The painting was placed on the second floor just outside of the city finance department.

Colburn said it fits in with the other donated artwork, including one of only two busts of Michigan's first governor, Stevens T. Mason.

Artwork and historic photos continue to be accepted as part of the program, Colburn said. Donation questions should be directed to Ingrid Nova at (517) 676-5891.