Wednesday, Mar. 03, 2010

Work begins on library mural

Local illustrator Jim Brown has begun work on a mural celebrating Clayton's history, the town's second public art project in as many years.

The mural is at Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library, and residents are welcome to drop by and watch the artwork come together.

"Any individuals interested in seeing the mural in the stages of creation can stop by the library during normal operating hours on the days he's working and meet Jim and see the mural design develop," said Gina Moreland, chairwoman of the Public Art Advisory Board in Clayton.

"His design is engaging, and his realistic depiction of Clayton's history allows those that grew up here to 'remember when' and those that just arrived to learn a thing or two," she added.

The design won the approval of the Advisory Board.

"Public art allows a community to celebrate its values and ambitions, and that is especially true in this case," Moreland said. "The context is appropriate for its location, and I think the residents of Clayton will be proud of this addition to our public art program."

The site is a hallway next to the library's reference room.

The hallway is part of the spine connecting the primary collection, the history room and the south wing.

The project, which should be finished this summer, has a budget of $12,000.

Brown, who teaches art at Johnston Community College, is best known for the Carolina Hurricanes mural at Duke Children's Hospital.

In recent years, he has produced box-cover art for Rules of the Game and a Scooby-Doo computer game. Also, he has done illustrations for Norwegian Cruise Lines and has contributed to the permanent exhibit on the Centennial Campus at N.C. State University.

Last year, town officials unveiled Clayton's first public art project, a mural by artist Dorothy Demboski.

The 10-foot by 10-foot painting of town scenes is on an upstairs wall of The Clayton Center.