Herald Banner"Today is the Day,” by Greenville-born artist Brandon Adams, with its Father Time-like figure, a clock, and Z’s to indicate snoring, is intended to be a reminder of the importance of investing one’s time wisely and with passion and purpose.
“I want to motivate people not to wait to follow their passions,” Adams said. “I constantly hear people say, ‘I’d love to do this or that, but I just don’t have the time.’ To them, I always say, ‘Sleep well.’
“I get up early in the morning to work out, then I’m at work until about 7 p.m.,” Adams explained. “Then, from 7 to 9, I’m spending time with my kids, doing whatever they want to do. After that, from 9 to midnight, I’m spending time with my wife, doing whatever she wants to do. Then, from midnight to 3 a.m., I’m painting.
“If you’re passionate about doing something, you need to make time for it to work.”
“Today” is Adams’ third mural in Greenville, following “Hope” on the east wall of the Hunt County Children’s Advocacy Center, and a tribute to live music at the intersection of Lee and Wesley streets. And, despite having murals in five different cities, paintings hanging in galleries from Australia to Germany, and recently adding elaborately artful automotive painting to his list of accomplishments, Adams still has a great deal of appreciation for his hometown of Greenville.
“My wife and I both graduated from Greenville High School, and my family’s been in Greenville for five generations,” Adams said. “Growing up, I thought I would be a sports superstar ... and part of the reason why was because it helps elevate the town and gives people something to take pride in. ... But now, I have that same feeling that I had with sports, but I bring it into my art.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity, and it’s inspiring to see people get behind this.”
When Adams was finishing the mural Saturday, his brother Erik was helping him. As their father, Charlie, watched his sons paint, he said, “Earlier today, a kid came by and told Brandon, ‘You know? I’ve always wanted to get into stuff like this.’ Then, Brandon showed him a spot, handed him a spray can and told him what to do.
“He’s just like that,” Charlie continued. “It’s about being giving with his talent.”
One week earlier, when the mural wasn’t yet finished, it was already having an impact on the community.
On Sunday, Nov. 25, as the congregation of Iglesia Cristo es El Camino (Christ is the Way Church) was arriving for services next door, many of them paused to examine the new mural.
On his way to play the piano at another nearby church service, Dennis Strickland of Greenville took some time to admire Adams’ work and chat with the faithful of Cristo es El Camino.
“These people were standing here, looking at it, asking ‘What does it mean?’ I said, ‘Well, it says today is the day. Today is the day that the Lord has made.’ That got an Amen,” Strickland said with a smile."