Bourne’s Aptuxet Road Mural Getting an Update

Bourne artist Timothy Ellis Cole. Photo Courtesy of Bourne TV

BOURNE – After more than a decade, the mural on the Aptuxet Road railroad underpass in Bourne will be receiving some much needed updating courtesy of a local artist.

Town selectmen voted unanimously last month to hire Bourne resident Timothy Ellis Cole to paint two new murals on the underpass’s retaining walls, which leads into the historical society’s museum complex.

The first would depict town namesake Jonathan Bourne’s 19th century whaling vessel, Lagoda, on the water beneath a starry sky portraying the use of celestial navigation.

“Bourne’s investment in the Schooner Lagoda’s technological updates made it most profitable boat in the fleet and the most advanced ship of its time, even after whaling was no longer its role after the industry collapsed,” Cole told selectmen of his decision to depict the scene.

The second mural would portray the Cape Cod Canal and feature local marine life, with Cole explaining, “The rich history of innovation and engineering are to be highlighted alongside a uniquely a positive ecological outcome to a human intervention on national landscape.”

Materials for the endeavor are being partially funded through a 650 dollar grant from the Bourne Cultural Council with Cole hoping that the rest can be covered through the sale of limited edition prints of the final product.

Cole, who has experience working with local governments on public art projects, told selectmen that he wouldn’t require any help from the town on fundraising and would volunteer his time for the undertaking.

In addition to the art itself, Cole told selectmen that he plans to prep the walls with a masonry bonding primer and seal the finished product with a clear coating in order to ensure that the murals look their best for years to come.

“The current mural is still a colorful fun gateway did museum complex and the canal but it’s extremely weathered and the rust from the tracks are a bit of an eyesore,” Cole told selectmen, “By painting a new mural the surface will be thoroughly stripped using solvents and rust removers when sealed to preserve the walls integrity and treats me and surface using masonry bonding primer, once painted a thorough clear-coat will enable years of easy power washing without compromising the artwork.”

Work on preparations for the mural painting is tentatively scheduled for late September or early October depending on Cole’s studio workload. He says that the project will be a great resource for the community.

“The additional of a mural by an established artist will bring a broadened demographic as well as simply brighten up that weathered wall for all of us who drive by, whether we live here or are just passing through.”

By DAVID BEATTY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter

About CapeCod.com NewsCenter

The award-winning CapeCod.com NewsCenter provides the Cape Cod community with a constant, credible source for local news. We are on the job seven days a week.



CapeCod.com
737 West Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Contact Us | Advertise Terms of Use 
Employment and EEO | Privacy