Library’s mural: a world of ideas

Walter Sprague
Art and Culture Reporter
 
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this has never been truer than now with the current art project taking shape on the front of the Weston County Library. Del Iron Cloud was contracted to paint a mural on the front of the building, covering up previous stains that have been on the brick facade for years. And his vision encapsulates the spirit and vast benefits of reading. The sense of wonder, the search of history, the magic of fantasy – all are on display in one painting.
Many have been privileged to see this work of wonders in progress in the past week. As I stood outside talking with Iron Cloud, people stopped to take in the site with words of encouragement and anticipation for the final work to be enjoyed. Meanwhile, watching the process take place lets a person take in the magic that only art can bring.
Iron Cloud is an accomplished artist with many murals to his credit already. Two of them, beautifying Newcastle today, are on Main Street. One of them is on the wall of the dry cleaners alongside the First State Bank of Newcastle parking lot. The other is on the side of the Hurricane Services 21 building on the west side of the railroad tracks. He has also done many acrylic and oil paintings. While he paints his latest mural at the library, he has a photo album of some of his work available for the public to flip through, and his work is marvelous. He is especially fond of painting scenes of what life was like in the Old West.
While many artists charge a premium for their murals, Iron Cloud tries to make his work more affordable. He told me about one project, a small wall, that was getting bids as high as $10,000. He did the mural for $4,500. His feeling is that by making his art affordable, he said, he can get more projects, and he loves to stay busy. To Iron Cloud, the goal is the next mural, the next painting, the next expression of his soul –  the mark of a true artist.
While there is no specific date set for the completion of the library mural, Iron Cloud said, he will complete it soon. Meanwhile, a miniature version of the project is on display inside the entrance to the library. Completion of this beautiful work will give people one more reason to take a walk down Main Street and drink in the beauty of what Newcastle is and what it is becoming.