Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
Homewood principal Zack Barnes and Steve Skipper during the artwork unveiling at Homewood High School.
Local artist and Homewood High School graduate Steve Skipper unveiled artwork commemorating Homewood graduate and Super Bowl champion Evan Mathis to student-athletes at Homewood High School on April 26.
Mathis graduated HHS in 2000 and went on to play at the University of Alabama and in the NFL. During his 11-year NFL career, Mathis played for the Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. He currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals. Mathis was also the starting offensive lineman for Peyton Manning and the Broncos during their Super Bowl 50 victory.
Skipper has a long history of donating artwork to his alma mater. During the 1980s, he drew many pictures of All State football players that still hang on the concourse walls at the school today. His prints also adorn the walls in the HHS main office and school library. He is the first African American artist to do sanctioned and officially licensed artwork for the University of Alabama, Auburn University, the Dallas Cowboys, NASCAR, the Professional Bull Riders, the PGA and the Washington Redskins. He was personally chosen by University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban to enter into contract with him as official and endorsed artist for his National Championship commemorative paintings and limited editions.
Skipper’s work is collected internationally and is featured on permanent display at the Paul W. Bryant Museum, the Eddie G. Robinson Museum, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Auburn Universities Lovelace Museum, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Most recently Skipper was commissioned by the City of Birmingham to do the official original and limited edition commemorative artwork celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement.
– Submitted by Merrick Wilson.
