Rockin' Razorback

Fairfield Bay artist turns ordinary, 8-foot boulder into local attraction

By By Jeanni Brosius Contributing Writer

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — Twenty-five years ago, an 8-foot rock caught the eye of Fairfield Bay artist Doris Sexson. After years of consideration, Sexson finally asked Fairfield Bay Mayor Tom Schueren if she could paint the "Razorback shaped" rock that is situated on Arkansas 330 just before the Fairfield Bay Marina and Campgrounds.

"It just had to be painted," Sexson said. "It looks like a Razorback."

One Sunday after church, Sexson, a bucket of red paint in tow, transformed this huge city owned boulder into an Arkansas Razorback. The backside of the rock is painted black, so the red stands out, Sexson said.

"I think it's kind of neat," Schueren said. "Otherwise, it was just a big rock."

Schueren admitted he didn't see Sexson's vision at first.

"I didn't see a Razorback," Schueren said. "She has an uncanny ability to see that kind of thing.

"The Razorback rock serves as a landmark."

Sexson and her husband retired and moved to Fairfield Bay 15 years ago. After teaching art to kindergarten through sixth grade students in Blytheville, Sexson set up an art studio in her home, where she teaches art classes almost daily.

Sexson's work is well known around Fairfield Bay. In addition to the Razorback that greets passersby, she has painted many murals around town. A few of her works include a 100-foot wall at Shirley Elementary, a huge mural at Indian Rock Village and a 50-by-10-foot scene at Gary Pack Lumber & Floor Cover in Clinton.

Feedback from visitors who have had their photos made with Sexson's Razorback is positive.

"They say we sure have had a lot of fun with that photo we took of the Razorback," Sexson said with a smile.

Out for a walk, Randy Moore, Shirley High School principal, happened across a group of people from Louisiana.

"'We're big LSU fans, but this is great,' they said," Moore said. "I think it's great; it's a tremendous artwork, and people from all over the country stop and take pictures."

Moore said his grandchildren come in from Fort Worth, and they all want to go climb on the rock.

"I love that rock," Fairfield Bay resident Dallas Phillips said. "I think she did a wonderful job painting that rock."

Phillips and her children would stop and visit with Sexson while she transformed the rock.

"She started with nothing and it took the shape of the Razorback," Phillips said. "People stop and take pictures because it's so unusual."

River Valley Ozark, Pages 146 on 09/13/2009