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Star Correspondent

The City of Elizabethton and Main Street Elizabethton celebrated the dedication of a vibrant new public art installation Monday — a colorful postcard-style mural designed by local artist Joseph Maye of Hexagoat Art.

The mural, located on the side of the Eagle Center Co-op on East Elk Avenue, showcases themes central to Elizabethton’s identity, including its historic landmarks, outdoor recreation, welcoming spirit and sense of home.

Funded by the Tennessee Arts Commission Rural Arts Project Grant in partnership with the city and Main Street Elizabethton, the 12-by-20-foot mural was painted on aluminum composite panels using aerosol paints. The artwork was mounted in just two hours by Foster Signs to preserve the integrity of the building’s historic virgin brick.

“This project is really important to our community,” said Main Street Elizabethton Director Courtney Bean. “Public art is a key part of downtown’s continued growth. This mural reflects our values — recreation, heritage, home and a welcoming spirit.”

The idea for a postcard mural in Elizabethton has been long in the making. John and Lisa Bunn, local residents and supporters of the arts, envisioned a mural capturing the essence of the city for years.

“We talked about it for a long time, so it’s really beautiful to see it happen,” said Bean. “It’s supposed to be a welcoming, friendly postcard mural, and I think Joseph truly captured that.”

The project required months of planning, beginning with a grant application in January 2024, followed by a competitive request-for-proposals and qualifications process through the city last summer. Maye began painting in January of this year.

Maye crafted the mural in four panels laid horizontally during the painting process. The use of aluminum composite material, known as ACM, was essential to avoid altering the building’s historic façade.

The mural serves as a striking welcome to visitors and residents alike, enhancing downtown Elizabethton’s aesthetic appeal and reinforcing its cultural and artistic vibrancy.

A formal dedication ceremony highlighted the mural’s completion and the collaborative effort behind the project, marking a new chapter in the city’s investment in public art.