Photographer Chuck Davis is challenging long-standing stigmas around Ozark culture with his project on “Ozark Giraffes”—stone structures that resemble a giraffe’s coat

Why it matters: This installation unites art, history, and community, sparking conversations about the cultural and architectural heritage of the Ozarks.

• It offers a deeper understanding of the region’s resourcefulness.

• It celebrates the people’s ability to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Uniquely Ozark: In April 2023, Chuck Davis began celebrating Ozark vernacular architecture, focusing on these distinctive homeowner-constructed buildings.

• These stone structures, characterized by stacked stones and white mortar, highlight the creativity and ingenuity of the Ozarks.

Preserving History: Davis collaborated with Mario Quiroz to document these unique structures, resulting in the outdoor exhibit “Ozark Giraffe: Beyond a Home’s Walls.”

• Supported by an Art + Everywhere Innovation Grant, the exhibit showcases captivating images of these whimsical homes.

Go Deeper: The exhibit is part of the Art on the Bricks initiative by the Rogers Lowell Chamber. Davis was introduced to the Ozark Beer Co. team after he reached out to the Chamber for assistance in finding a venue for the outdoor public art exhibit. Naturally, Ozark Beer Co. said “yes.”

What they’re saying: “Since our inception, we have sought to elevate artists wherever we can through music, crafting, painting, photography and more. An occasion to transform a simple fence into an opportunity for reflection and beauty was a simple project for us to embrace.” Marty Shutter, Marketing Director, Ozark Beer Co.

Where to See It: This unique mesh mural can be found on the fence facing N. Arkansas Street at Ozark Beer Co. (109 N Arkansas St, Rogers).

• The fence wall installation features captivating images of these whimsical homes.

• The public art display draws attention to the vibrant, inventive architecture that is as historically rich as it is visually compelling.

• Mesh panels were printed by Best Sign Group, with architectural interpretation by Preserve Arkansas.

A piece of history: : The term "Ozark Giraffe" was coined in the 1980s by interior designer Steve Bengal and architectural restoration specialist Stephen Jordan, who later published the term in This Old House magazine in 1990. These stone-clad structures, often built by homeowners without formal blueprints, were most popular from the 1910s through the Great Depression. They utilized locally sourced fieldstones, creating both practical and distinctive siding solutions in the Ozarks.

For those interested in exploring more, the exhibit is an invitation to dive into the rich history of the Ozarks and appreciate the lasting legacy of these fascinating stone structures.

See if you recognize any of the homes in the online photo gallery.