Benton Joplin Murals

            Walking in to the Joplin, MO City Hall building it didn’t take long to recognize the Benton Mural. It stands out off the white wall with strong, clear, vibrant colors. His depiction of Joplin in its earlier days was quite an interesting site to observe and let sink in. Looking at it put me in a place of fully feeling like I was actually there amongst the other people. It was almost as if I could feel the warm daytime sun shining on my cheeks while the soft cool wind gently flowed through my hair. Then as I looked to my right I saw his grandson’s mural. Just like his grandfather’s, I felt like I was walking down a road in Joplin. This setting however was a more modern time in Joplin history, and the scene seemed to be painted as though it was a little later in the day. The colors were not quite as vibrant, yet still stunning, and the sky was done a little darker. One thing that stood out to me as I was comparing the two was the fact that both murals have a mass of clouds just about in center of the sky. The Benton and Gude Murals are a great representation of Joplin’s history.

Both the Benton mural and the Gude mural were made here in Joplin. The Bento mural was opened to the public on March 24, 1913. He had decided he wasn’t going to do anymore large scale murals but after the Joplin public suggest that he finish his career where it started (he started drawing cartoons for the Joplin newspaper) he liked the idea and the mural was made to celebrate Joplin’s Centennial birthday. The Gude mural was opened on April 15, 2010. He was commissioned to do the mural for “Art in Public Places”.

In February 1971 Joplin centennial committee members Henry & Mary Warden requested Thomas Hart Benton to produce a mural in celebration of the upcoming event, which was in 1973. They wanted to commission him to paint a mural that would be publicly displayed in a Joplin government building on Third St. Hart was taken with the idea and a steady stream of letters, visits and phone conversations ensued for the next several months. The original request to depict a scene from the old House of Lords brought some concerns from Benton (who did a small study in oil of the painting, but not the large mural) when he was made to understand that the House of Lords had been a whorehouse and saloon. His concerns were with the people of Joplin who are even today part of the "Bible belt" and his unwillingness to offend them with the public display of the work. He offered the theme of the mining days as an alternative and things progressed from there. They settled on the theme of “Joplin in the Early Days” Although, gambling and drinking by the miners are depicted in the mural, The Holy Bible is prominently display in the lower center foreground of the piece which is the largest piece of art of the Benton collection displayed in City Hall. The piece was moved to its current location in the Newman Bldg. in March of 2005. It measures 5 ½ feet high by 14 feet wide and is done in an acrylic emulsion medium. The piece was dedicated on March 24, 1973. The original cost of the piece paid for by the city of Joplin was $60,000. Its current value is over $8 million dollars.

           The forms contribute a lot to the murals in very big ways. The giant oil canvas’s both are the same size, and are just big enough to make you feel small. The point of view of the people varies greatly, showing you a vast view, in a little frame. Vibrant colors take over both pieces of art making it feel like a strange, but wonderful trip. Yes the colors can make it seem a little unrealistic, but it also makes you have a great feeling inside from seeing it. The pictures both give you a focal point to rest your eyes as you take in such wonderful pieces art.

           The mural done by Tom Benton was titled Joplin at the Turn of the Century. The title portrays the way Joplin came about in 1896. It shows how Joplin started off with mining and then started to modernize as the years went on. Then the mural by Tom’s grandson Anthony Benton was titled Route 66. It portrays Joplin as a modern city that is on Route 66 and is also showing traveling west on Route 66.