About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 2018)
Nick Bowman Features Editor | 770-718-3426 | life@gainesvilletimes.com W&t Sttncs gainesvilletimes.com Sunday, November 25, 2018 Photos by AUSTIN STEELE I The Times Artists gather to paint buses during the annual painting at the School Bus Graveyard in Alto on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Right: Amanda Morris spray paints a hummingbird onto a bus during the annual painting at the School Bus Graveyard. Below: Nick Morris, the artist who started the School Bus Graveyard, stands in front of his painting during the event. A junkyard, a graveyard and an artist’s mural — check out the School Bus Graveyard near Alto BY LAYNE SALIBA lsaliba@gainesvilletimes.com Every time Nick Morris rode down US 23 in Alto with his family, he’d see a line of old, broken down school buses — a grave yard, you might say — just off the road that intrigued him. Morris eventually moved away from Habersham County and traveled from city to city as an artist paint ing murals and creating other commissioned works. But something always brought his mind back to Habersham County and the line of busted buses seen from the blacktop of US 23. Eight years ago, it finally got the better of him — Mor ris went back to those buses and asked the owner of the junkyard they surrounded if he could paint them. “I just asked if they’d like to try and experiment with some kind of really weird project where I bring in friends and help give them a place to paint, but also help make something look nice in the area,” Morris said. “Around here, you have to make your own fun ... I just want young people to realize, you don’t have to live in a city to participate in art or whatever. “There’s really cool stuff happening right here out in the country.” Luckily for Morris, the owner of the junkyard was up for it. And just like that, Alonzo Wade Auto Parts Service became the home of what is now known as the School Bus Graveyard, and artists have been com ing out once a year to dis play their art on the sides of buses along the highway ever since. “I thought it’d be cool, and it’s escalated from there,” said Walter Wade. He inherited the junk yard with his brother from their father, who died three years ago. “It’s fantastic. People come from all over to see this.” And artists travel to paint there, too, some who know the place through Morris and others who have discov ered it on their own. There were about 20 artists at the School Bus Graveyard on Tuesday, Nov. 20, painting the buses as early as 6 a.m. Morris said that’s when he and his wife, Amanda, who drove from Denver where they now live, got there to start painting. “I’m just really into it,” Nick Morris said. “It’s just kind of having fun and meeting some other artists, watching how other people work, and getting to know people.” Painting has always been a part of Morris’ life. For as long as he can remember, he’s been painting some thing — starting with the walls in his bedroom. Morris said his father had bad knees, so he wasn’t able to make it up the stairs to Morris’ room on the second level of their home when he was young. “I just started painting the walls for fun, and before I knew it, I had painted my whole room into a mural,” Morris said. “I ended up repainting my room like 10 times as a child, just from wall to wall, from the ceil ing to the floor, I just did it all.” He said from there, it “snowballed.” He kept find ing walls, kept painting and ■ Please see BUS, 4E These Christmas jingles ought to be left on the shelves The Christmas season is offi cially here, although several department stores thought it started in September. There are few radio stations that switch to all Christmas music, but the satellite music service, Sirius XM has a bunch of stations ranging from traditional to country to soul. Which brings me to the subject of this week’s column: What songs should no self-respecting station play? Here for you perusal are my selections for all-time worst Christ mas songs: “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.” This is without a doubt the worst Christmas song ever. First, it’s a poor premise for a song and the words and music are equally bad. “The Christmas Shoes.” This was written by a member of a Georgia group called “New Song.” What an appropriate name — after this song they need a new song. “Jingle Bells” by the Barking Dogs. They actually listed the per former as the “Singing Dogs.” They should have been known as the “Silent Dogs.” “The Little Drummer Boy.” I have a hard time believing that the Lord’s mama would allow some kid to serenade her sleep ing baby with a drum solo. The original was made popular by the Harry Simeone Chorale. He also had a big hit with “Do You Hear What I Hear?” What I would like to hear is no drummer boy. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by Bruce Springsteen. The Boss may be a legend, but he should have left this one to somebody more congenial, like Burl Ives. “Santa Baby.” I just think this song makes Santa sound more like a sugar daddy. I think of Santa and toy trains, race cars and pretty little dolls. I don’t think of him with dolls with ice on their hands and a fur on their shoulders. “Don’t Shoot Me Santa.” I’ve only heard this song once, and it found its way onto to my worst list. “A Hippopotamus For Christmas.” This song was made famous by a 10-year-old named Gayla Peevey. The only good thing to come from this song was raising enough money to buy a hippo for the Okla homa City Zoo. “Please Daddy Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas.” Several artists, including John Denver recorded this fine piece of music. There are sad songs about Christmas that are actually pretty good, but this one should have never been let out of the bottle. “Funky, Funky Christmas” by New Kids on the Block. They are no longer “New” nor “Kids,” and this song is still bad. The thing I love about Christ mas music is that so much of the best stuff was recorded when singers were singers. Folks like ■ Please see HARRIS, 4E
