Activate Selma and the Johnston County Arts Council invite all to a mural reveal in downtown Selma on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at 2pm. Come for the reveal at Treasury Antiques, 102 S Raiford Street, Selma, North Carolina.
In 2021, Activate Selma partnered with the Johnston County Arts Council to create the new mural as one of the arts council’s 50th Anniversary projects. Selma resident Allyson Caison coordinated the project, which centers on the theme of “Celebrating Love through Art, Community and Culture.” Five local artists participated in the painting of the mural:
- Judy Boyette, Four Oaks – visual arts
- Sue Avera, Smithfield – music
- Grace Brantley, Princeton – writing
- Percilla Williams, Selma – dance
- William Strickland, Selma – theatre
On the writing panel, Brantley painted the word, “love,” in nine languages: 1. Aejong – Korean, 2. Ai – Japanese, 3. Amor – Spanish, 4. Liebe – German, 5. Liefde – Dutch, 6. Love – English, 7. Mahal – Filipino, 8. Upendo – Swahili, and 9. Yeu – Vietnamese.
The mural will be mounted on the West Anderson Street side of Treasury Antiques in late January 2022. Shop owners Albert Kensak, a long-standing member of the Town of Selma’s tourism committee, and his wife, Cornelia, installed lighting so the mural may be seen after sundown.
Coffee on Raiford will serve coffee during the February 2nd event, and attendees are welcome to leave business cards or contact information at Selma’s many shops for the chance to win a Valentine’s Day basket.
Activate Selma is a grassroots group of residents, volunteers, and business owners promoting Selma and all the town has to offer. A dozen or more members of the 157-member group gather Wednesdays at 9 am at varying locations to spark creative problem-solving. Their motto is, “We don’t complain, we take action.” Anyone is welcome. Follow Activate Selma on social media: Facebook.com/ActivateSelmaNC or Instagram @activateselmanc, or ActivateSelmaNC.com.
The Johnston County Arts Council provides quality opportunities in the arts for every Johnston County resident. Check out their website at jcartscouncil.org.
Source: Allyson Caison, Activate Selma
