The Mayo family proves that art endures the test of time through an exhibit of carvings and paintings spanning from the late 1800s to the present. This exhibit, titled The Mayos: Ordinary People; Extraordinary Folk Art, carvings and paintings by Walter O. and Walter L Mayo; father and son, will run at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center (CAC) from Jan. 9 through Feb. 17.

Both father and son lived in Mt. Vernon and worked for the Schlairet Trucking Company. However, what made this duo extraordinary was not their day job, but rather their escape from the mundane grind: art.

For Sheri-Lynn Flowers Caffey, daughter and granddaughter of these men and marketing manager of the CAC, their work was meant to carry a spiritual message. “I believe a lot of it was to share the belief. I think that may have been (my father’s) ministry,” she says.
Moreover, Caffey feels that art was how her relatives chose to express themselves. “They were both quiet, quiet sit-in-the-corner kind of guys,” she adds.

Walter L., Caffey’s father, painted a number of banners for the annual October homecoming at Bethany Baptist Church. Walter O., Caffey’s grandfather, also voiced his faith through art, but in a different way. He translated his daily biblical readings into woodcarvings.

Beyond depiction of religion, drawings and paintings of community leaders are also quite prevalent in the collection. According to Caffey, these sketches were done from seeing the leaders on television.

The Mayo’s works are categorized as folk art, or as Caffey defines it ordinary people and ordinary things. They were not vigorously trained in the arts, although Walter L. did take a mail-order art class, but they were talented. “They knew the gift that God had given them, and they knew how they wanted to express it,” says Caffey. “Some people just have a natural talent.”

Because this art was a pastime and not a trade, the artwork played mundane roles in the family’s home. Caffey recalls a carving of a turtle that was used as a doorstop for years. They appreciated its beauty, but it also had a function.

A lot of the work was stored in a garage for 30 years protected by soot and dirt. Caffey has memories of her father sitting in the garage looking up at the art. “I could only imagine that he would be thinking: 'Wow dad… what a talent. The world needs to see this,'” she says.

It was important to Caffey that the world did see her family’s work. “I promised my father I would make this happen and it did,” she adds. “The collection is so multigenerational. It touches everybody’s life.”

Seeing this collection also stirs up the importance of family in Caffey. “It has really given me a value for family and heritage,” she said. “The exhibit shows a sense of family. How a father and son have a likeliness living in two different eras.”

This exhibit is the last time that all of the art works will be displayed together. According to Caffey, the art was left to her father and his sister and will be divided accordingly after the exhibit closes. Caffey’s family will continue to display their share of the artwork.

The Columbus Cultural Arts Center is located at 139 W. Main Street at the Civic Center and admission is free for this exhibit. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday 7 p.m. To 9:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.