Morning in the Red Hills
The UnVacant Lot
Joe Cowdrey
Installed 2020 + 2022 | Ongoing
Morning in the Tall Pines + Morning at the Fresh Spring
Joe Cowdrey demonstrated techniques and engaged with our community as he painted a ground mural, Morning at the Fresh Spring, depicting a typical stream found in the Red Hills Region. Visitors watched as he incorporated some of the unique features that are abundantly found in our part of the world, and talked about the value that it brings to our environment. Drawing inspiration from the iconic attributes of the Red Hills Region, Joe Cowdrey portrays the fresh and clean water of our region and honors it as a critical resource to conserve. Using vibrant blues and greens, contrasted by the color of the cypress trunks, Cowdrey creates an artwork that is so compelling; it holds your attention and allows you to stop thinking, to let go, and standing there you’re even more aware of the power of water, and what it can do.
Morning in the Tall Pines draws inspiration from the surrounding forested areas, including the Tall Timbers Research Station, where Joe set the scene for a misty morning in the longleaf pine forest. Using vibrant blues and greens, contrasted by the dark-red brick color of the pine trunks, Joe created a piece that feels dense with vegetation, but also spacious, much like the local forests. Catch this mural just after sunrise, and it really seems as if the light of the early sun is reflecting off of the painted trees while the early morning mist drifts up into the atmosphere.
Joe Cowdrey is a self-taught painter from Tallahassee, FL. He draws his main inspiration from the natural landscapes he explores on a regular basis, wherever he may be located. Environment is very important to him, and it is his hope that people are able to share his appreciation for the beauty of the forest after seeing his works. Joe currently lives and works in Northern New Jersey.
