By Michael Kinney
Johnathan “JK” Burchett didn’t have to look too far for inspiration. When the Fort Smith (Ark.) artist was asked to paint a of mural Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams at a Boys and Girls Club , an image seemed to immediately pop into his head.
Whether it was from his days at Northside High in Fort Smith, the University of Arkansas or his two years in the NBA, the 21-year-old Williams is best known for his boundless exuberance and infectious smile on the court. And somehow Burchett’s job was to convey that same frenetic energy on a 23-foot wide by 12-foot tall mural that hundreds of kids would hopefully see every day.
“They contacted me asking if I was interested in doing a mural of Jaylin Williams,” Burchett recounted. “I said, ‘Absolutely.’ I love Jaylin. He’s one of my favorites. So they had the idea of doing the mural with Jaylin Williams and I had the concept of Jaylin busting through the gym wall with his world-famous smile, and they absolutely loved that. So we agreed to do the mural.”
Burchett put the finishing touches on the mural in late March. It sits in the Jeffery-Glidewell unit at the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club. The unit and the entire Boys & Girls Club (4905 North ‘O’ Street, Fort Smith, AR ) are set to reopen in April after being closed due to renovations.
Other works from Burchett have been showcased at Jen’s Kitty Rehab, the
Fort Smith International Film Festival and The Gallery on Garrison.
For this particular commission, Burchett said he got some help from the real-life Williams to help him make the mural as realistic as possible.
“I had the idea of him stretching his arms out with a basketball again, trying to bust through that wall,” Burchett said. “And so we did kind of did a mini photo shoot of him while he was actually in Fayetteville doing some other events. And just his personality just shines through. It was just totally natural for him. So, it was easy.”
Burchett used Major Blue (SW6795) as the main color in the piece. It was provided by the B&GC. The mural features a wall with cracks throughout. In the center is Williams bursting forth through a hole he created. His arms, one fully tatted up, are half stretched out with a basketball in one hand.
Surrounded by flowers and screaming while wearing a blue Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club t-shirt, Williams looks at home/
“There’s a few things in the mural that have some representations of him. So he’s breaking through that wall, and for me, breaking through that wall means breaking through any barriers that you’re facing in life that might stand in your way of achieving your dreams or your goals,” Burchett explained. “This is at the Boys and Girls Club, so I want it to be an inspiration to all the kids that come here, to not be afraid, and to break through those walls that might be standing in your way of achieving your dreams, and also to pursue your dreams. So if there are any mental, physical, social, or emotional barriers that are in your way, don’t be afraid to just break through that and pursue your dreams.”
But it’s not just Williams who is conveying a message. According to Burchett, each detail in the mural has a meaning behind it.
“The other main elements in the mural is the Roses for me” Burchett explained. “The roses symbolize love, of course. But it’s not just a romantic love. It’s a love of your passion of your purpose in life. So it’s just whatever you’re passionate about, just pursue your dreams and break through those barriers to follow your passion.”
That is a message Burchett feels his Fort Smith needs and hopes the youth will see Williams as an inspiration.
“He’s from Fort Smith. We’re a small community and I’m sure he has had to break through many barriers to get to where he is as anybody does that’s highly successful to his level,” Burchett said. “I hope that it really inspires the kids that see this mural.”
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