Rochester’s Zebra mascot takes shape on a large paper canvas as artist James Francis Scott works at Char-Bell Studios.
Text and Photos
By Libby Hubbard
InkFreeNews
ROCHESTR — When James Francis Scott was asked to create murals inside the Times Theater, he didn’t see it as just an opportunity. He saw it as a responsibility.
“When Julie asked me if I’d be interested, you know, one of the things that I was interested in, but it is a responsibility of, you know, this is not for me,” Scott said. “This is for people who come to the theater and have never gone to a museum.”
Scott, who moved from Chicago to Rochester in 1976, has become one of the most recognizable artists in the community.
His murals inside the theater reflect both local history and international art traditions, blending rural Indiana stories with inspiration from masters like Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Seurat and Grant Wood.
Historic scenes from Fulton County’s past are featured in the latest murals created by artist James Francis Scott for the Times Theater.
His latest works include a Van Gogh-inspired scene of the Times Theater’s façade, framed by the Fulton County Courthouse, Rochester’s round barn and signs honoring the city’s landmarks.
He is also incorporating imagery tied to the community’s identity, such as the Rochester Zebras mascot, which he said is a way of giving the artwork a personal, hometown feel.
Other murals highlight moments from the area’s past. One depicts elephants bathing in the Tippecanoe River, recalling when Cole Brothers Circus would winterize in Rochester.
Another re-imagines Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” against a farm background, nodding to Fulton County’s agricultural roots.
Scott said he hopes the murals provide both recognition and discovery.
“Even if people don’t know a Monet or a Seurat, they can still see something familiar (in the artworks),” he said. “It gives them a way to connect (to the paintings), and maybe later they’ll recognize it in a museum.”
Before dedicating his time to community art, Scott built a career in Chicago, working as an art director for Marshall Field’s for 20 years and exhibiting in galleries.
He later balanced his painting with a career as a rural mail carrier in Fulton County. Now retired, Scott said the extra time has allowed him to focus on creating art that is both meaningful and accessible.
“It’s enjoyable to do,” Scott said. “It’s giving back to the community that gave to you at some point.”
The Times Theater, once shuttered and nearly lost, has seen a revival in recent years. Scott’s murals, layered with color and history, now stand as part of that transformation — art created not for himself, but for Rochester.
