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Local artist, entrepreneur, and athlete J.C. Barnett III’s latest work is his largest to date; a mural commissioned by Jiffy Lube of Indiana for its Kokomo location on South 931.
The mural, which is titled “The ‘Mo”, located on the auto care center’s south outside wall next to the Sunspot Natural Market parking lot was completed last week.
Barnett is a very prolific local artist and photographer who works in various media through his company, Wear That Hat Artworks. He has been featured in many local and regional exhibitions and competitions. This particular commission came to him from a friend.
“A friend of mine named Isaiah Terrell, who I've known for several years now through basketball, knew that I was an artist,” said Barnett. “One day several weeks ago, he asked me if I had any interest in doing a mural. Turns out that he is the district manager for Jiffy Lube near the Indy area, so he had the authority to select an artist and follow through with the process of location for mural and payment.”
Since 2016, Jiffy Lube has commissioned murals in a program titled “Growing People Through Work,” and in 2013 it received the Americans for the Arts’ National Arts and Business Partnership Award, the first Indiana-based company to receive this award. Currently, there are 25 murals across Jiffy Lube’s Indiana locations.
“A mural of this size has definitely been something that I've wanted to do for a while,” said Barnett. “I didn't know where the opportunity to do so would come from, or if it would even happen at all.”
But Barnett had faith that one day it would happen.
“I remember a year ago when I was on the committee to bring the mural artist Detour (Thomas Evans) into town for Native American Sarah Siders Bitzel’s mural on the side of Foxes’ Trail. I picked his brain like no other on what his process looked like, and how he accomplished such a beautiful piece in such a short time.
“He kindly gave me such wonderful knowledge, and before the event was over, I thought, ‘Man, how awesome would it be to accomplish something like this of my own? A year later, here we are.”
The work, which took almost a week and a half to finish, was done during the hottest weather so far this summer. But Barnett was still excited to complete the work.
“None of this I credit to myself, but God for blessing me with a gift, and with a man like Isaiah for giving me a chance,” said Barnett.
There will be a dedication of “The ‘Mo” on Tuesday, Aug. 8, from 4-5 p.m. at Jiffy Lube, 3711 S. Reed Road. Those attending are asked not to park in the Sunspot Natural Market parking lot, but park to the north of the Jiffy Lube location. For more information about Jiffy Lube’s mural project, visit https://jiffylubeindiana.com/jiffy-lube-mural-project