Black Mountain mural attracts crowds ahead of new art gallery’s grand opening
By Rian Stockett
Click here for updates on this story
BLACK MOUNTAIN, North Carolina (WLOS) — A unique mural in Black Mountain is drawing lots of attention to local shops ahead of a new art gallery’s grand opening.
Many families have stopped in front of the mural to take photos.
“The mural outside has brought a lot of business to the store and the town because before it was just a blank yellow wall, so now it’s this gorgeous, beautiful Black Mountain mural, and many, many people come to take their picture there,” said Debbie Hinten, the Team Lead at Sassafras, a bookstore in downtown Black Mountain.
Hinten says she’s noticed many customers walk into the shop after taking photos in front of the mural outside one of their entrances.
“All of the tourists that come by that are photographing themselves in front of this, and then that is proliferating all over the internet, is massive in terms of just cultural influence and actual economic dollars,” said Jonathan Bidwell, one of the artists commissioned to bring the mural to life.
The artwork was done by a designer in Atlanta named Ben Rupp; however, Bidwell was asked to bring the design to life and adapt it to the environment of Black Mountain.
“I had to make some adaptations, slight changes to the design just to sort of fit it to the wall,” Bidwell said.
The mural was commissioned by Cherry Street Gallery, an art gallery preparing to open, and was painted on the side of the gallery.
They finished the mural in late July, and then Bidwell came back a week ago to add a protective clear coat.
“I love it, I was just admiring it when I was walking by,” said Thomas Barker, a Black Mountain resident.
The Gallery Director at Cherry Street Gallery says they are looking to open by the end of the month.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.