Officially named, Night Fires in Post Rock Country, this mural is located on the side of Charlson and Wilson Bonded Abstractors and depicts the annual spring burns in Kansas!
This incredibly vivid mural is so life-like in its depiction of the annual spring burns that just as the fires themselves can be, this mural is truly breathtaking. Viewing this mural, especially at dusk and you will understand what I mean if you have lived where "burning" is an annual occurrence. The white-hot heat from the low prairie grass as it is set on fire and then off in the distance, the fire lines burn as they march their way across the prairie. To the plume of smoke rises up in the background, high up into the sky almost as a signal to the locals that spring is upon us.
The burning of prairies is a necessity, and an annual reminder of our duty to take care of the land. The prairies are burned every year, and this helps to improve the health of both the native grasses and the health of the animals that feed on the grasslands. The charred landscape gives way in a very short time to the brightest greens you have ever seen as the nutrients are restored to the prairies and grasslands.
The limestone corner fence post at the forefront of the mural is also a familiar sight in the Flint Hills and most rural areas of Kansas. A good portion of the state is in "post-rock" country and these large limestone posts can be found throughout the region.
Night Fires in Post Rock Country was painted by Louis Copt and the IT-RA Icons. Louis is originally from Emporia, KS, and his art focuses a lot on the time he spent growing up on his family farm and the prairie landscape. The IT-RA Icons are muralist duo, Isaac Tapia and Rodrigo Alvarez whose work can be found throughout the Kansas City Area.
Located in downtown Manhattan, KS you will find this mural on the alley side of the Charlson and Wilson Bonded Abstractors office building, and standing at 11'x22' you won't be able to miss it.
