SPRING LAKE — The Spring Lake Community Appearance Committee will unveil the design and name the artist for a new mural on Main Street during the town Board of Aldermen meeting.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Grady Howard Conference Room of Town Hall.
The committee requested proposals for the art project as part of the new Spring Lake Arts Trail. According to the committee, the project is part of an overall art initiative aimed at enriching the town for visitors and stakeholders.
The mural will be the first piece in what the committee hopes will become a comprehensive project of commissioned public art murals.
“We hope that as we continue to grow that we can expand these art pieces and murals throughout our community, including our bridge connecting our town,” said Appearance Committee Chairwoman Fredericka Sutherland.
Sutherland gave credit to the entire committee, including Vice Chair Cynthia Wilt, who helped get the project off the ground.
“The Appearance Committee has worked hard to bring this to our town, and Cynthia Wilt has done a wonderful job spearheading these efforts,” said Sutherland.
She said the committee collaborated with the city officials in Sanford and Fayetteville on the process of selecting a design and an artist.
“The committee talked about what made our community unique, and Dr. David Dickerhoff, who is a local dentist, suggested that we tie in with Fort Bragg. We all agreed that was perfect considering our military history and how many retired and active-duty soldiers we have in our town,” said Sutherland.
The committee set parameters for the proposals that included a historical tie-in between the town and Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield. It also requested that the mural have a patriotic theme recognizing the town’s support for the 18th Airborne Corps and Special Operations Command as well as the “Home of the Airborne” and the 82nd Airborne Division.
Sutherland said the committee also asked that only North Carolina artists or artists raised in Cumberland County be considered.
“The project is supported through a municipal arts allocation by Cumberland County, the city of Fayetteville and the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County,” said Wilt.
The committee also plans to include donations from the community and area businesses, according to Wilt.
The budget includes the artist’s fee, protection and maintenance of the mural, supplies, travel expenses and other costs.
According to Wilt, surface preparation will be completed by a separate provider before the artist starts the mural, including a power washing of the surface, removing chipped paint and priming the wall.
“The artist that we chose has experience painting other large-scale murals. We are looking forward to everyone seeing it,” said Wilt.
The design will be presented to the board for approval. The committee hopes the project will be completed by Nov. 10 at 108 N. Main St.
The board is also expected to hear a financial update from David Erwin of the state Local Government Commission and approve a draft ordinance for a special events committee.
