After leaving the monument, we headed to Grand Falls in Joplin, Missouri. This was a great place to visit 12 foot falls. As we arrived, we saw many people there hanging out, walking the rocks over to the falls and fishing. One person told Lorraine that he caught a 3 foot cat-fish the day before and was hoping for more today.
Created by: MSSU Art Department and Downtown Joplin Alliance
Title: “Rise of the Phoenix” Triptych Ceramic Mural
Artist: Trent Talley
Location: South facing wall at Main & 17th
Date Completed: June 2014
May 21, 2021
From Dave Loewenstein‘s website: “Ten Years ago, I was preparing to begin a new mural in Joplin, Missouri. Plans were well under way, funding was secured, when on Sunday, May 22nd at about 6pm Joplin was hit directly by an F-5 tornado. Damage was almost incomprehensible. One hundred and sixty-one people were killed. Thousands were injured, and thousands more displaced. In the immediate aftermath, our mural team reached out to new friends in Joplin to see if they were ok and to see what they needed. Only later, did we consider if or what our mural project might be like in light of the tragedy. The story of that experience is beautifully documented in the film “Called to Walls” and the mural that we did do with hundreds of residents still stands today on the corner of 15th & Main, a mere two blocks from the path the tornado had taken.”
Story of the above mural from Dave Loewenstein‘s website: “Ten Years ago, I was preparing to begin a new mural in Joplin, Missouri. Plans were well under way, funding was secured, when on Sunday, May 22nd at about 6pm Joplin was hit directly by an F-5 tornado. Damage was almost incomprehensible. One hundred and sixty-one people were killed. Thousands were injured, and thousands more displaced. In the immediate aftermath, our mural team reached out to new friends in Joplin to see if they were ok and to see what they needed. Only later, did we consider if or what our mural project might be like in light of the tragedy. The story of that experience is beautifully documented in the film “Called to Walls” and the mural that we did do with hundreds of residents still stands today on the corner of 15th & Main, a mere two blocks from the path the tornado had taken.”
Artist: Garin Baker (NY-based artist) -check out his website to see other awesome murals
commissioned by the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Cultural Affairs Committee.
Location: South facing wall at 8th & Main
Date Completed: May 2014
The next 4 pictures are:
Title: Downtown Lion Mural
Artist: Missouri Southern State University Art Department and Downtown Joplin Alliance
Location: 6th St and Virginia Ave
Date Completed: September 2019
Description: Located in the viaduct under 6th Street and Virginia Avenue, the Downtown Lion Mural was a joint effort between Downtown Joplin Alliance and Missouri Southern State University’s Art Department.
That wraps up our visit in Joplin, Missouri. We were really impressed with the murals and Joplin definitely has recovered from the F5 tornado.
