Photograph by Lance Adkins
Whether passing by in a car or on foot, it can be easy to miss the western-themed pocket park on the corner of Covington’s West Robbins and Banklick streets, thanks to some mature trees. But once you see it, you can’t un-see it. Its bordering fence features a colorful mural depicting an American Indian on horseback with mountain ranges in the back-ground. Metal horse and cactus silhouettes add to the overall feel. Created by the Westside Action Coalition and the Old Seminary Square Neighborhood, in which the park sits, this little plot of land is dubbed Henry Farny Park after the world-renowned artist. Henry François Farny was born in France in 1847. At age 6, his family moved to Pennsylvania, near a Seneca reservation, which sparked his interest in American Indians and served as inspiration for many of his oil paintings. From 1890 to his death in 1916, he lived and painted in a studio located across the street from the park. Westside artist David Rice created the park’s mural and sculptures, including a circular sculpture with a dot in its center, representing Farny’s Sioux signature, which appears on all his work. How about that for an artist’s mark?
Facebook Comments