Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
ORLEANS – At 45 feet tall and more than 150 feet across, the corrugated metal grain bins that face Ind. 37 in Orleans are huge, but their plain grey exterior made them easy to ignore, but not anymore.
The emerging image of a speeding locomotive, its nose a vibrant red, is getting lots of attention. Mural artist Adam Long is transforming three grain bins on the north side of Orleans into a singular piece of art that will reflect the town’s history and connection to the Monon Railroad.
Long, of Bloomington, is one week into the project that will take about a month to complete. The Orleans project is, by far, his biggest project since becoming a full-time artist.
The height, scale and curve of the bins have made the project like nothing he has ever done before, describing it as “easily the most difficult mental puzzle I’ve attempted.”
Yet, he said he didn’t hesitate to take the job.
“Heck, yeah! I wanted to do it. Anything that’s going to be extremely difficult is going to be what I want to do,” he said. “I go into any job with the idea that it’s gotta be good. One way or another, I’m going to figure it out and make it as good as I can make it.”
A mural artist for five years, Long has completed more than 300 murals, including several in Orange County.
The Orange County Economic Development Partnership was awarded a $15,000 IN Indiana Placemaking Activation grant from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation in March to create murals on the bins, locally owned by the Springer family. OCEDP Executive Director Skylar Whiteman said painting a mural on the grain bins started “as a wild idea.”
Now, seeing the vision come to life, “It’s better than I expected. And it’s better than the rendering he provided for the grant application,” Whiteman said.
The mural is generating tons of buzz, evidenced by the response to Long’s social media posts from the site – a video he posted describing the project recorded 175,000 views in four days.
Whiteman recalled seeing the incredible response to Long’s post and noting that the shares were not just by Orange County residents.
“It’s been shared so widely and it’s giving a positive energy to the town,” she said. “I think the scale of it is what surprises people the most. It’s bringing such a buzz to the county, and not just to Orleans.”
Because the bins are near the new Monon South Trail, the mural will draw attention to this new public pedestrian and bicycle trail, which was another goal of the mural, Whiteman said.
Long works from a hydraulic lift that is stocked with paint supplies. Empty paint cans are scattered on the ground below, to be picked up when he finishes for the day. By the time the project is finished, Long will have used more than 1,000 cans of spray paint. Once it’s complete, a vantage point near the sidewalk will mark the best spot for viewing the mural.
Every morning, he said he wakes up and can’t wait to get back to work on the mural.
“I love it,” he said.
Long said it’s great seeing the reaction to the mural and having people stop by to watch the progress.
“It’s really about the town. I love the idea that this could affect the town, it could bring people in and increase business for the small businesses in town,” Long said.
For Whiteman, the mural is evidence of what small communities can accomplish.
“This is a project that began with a vision,” she said. “It’s a testament to collaboration that we were able to bring it all together.”
Support for mural
Several corporate and community partners have contributed to the mural. OCEDP is still accepting private and corporate donations to fund the final phase of the project. To make a donation, call OCEDP, 812-936-3388.