We're unveiling new "Our Town" community art pieces in Pound, VA!

As a project of the National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” creative placemaking program, four art installations and six historic photograph banners have been completed in the Town of Pound, VA. 

The art installations include a mural of Nancy “Granny” Mullins Shores (3/8/1867—5/9/1945) by Lacy Hale of Whitesburg, KY. The mural shows Granny Shores with a quilt over her lap, honoring her career as a midwife who delivered over 1,000 babies in the area. The mural was created as a piece of community-based art with members of the town contributing to ideas for the design. Community members also had the opportunity to participate in the creation of the quilt squares that make up the mural. It can be found at 8331 Main Street.

In addition to the mural, a sculpture titled “Far Above Rubies” (picture right) by Anita Bentley of Eastern Kentucky was installed, a reference to the virtuous woman scripture in Proverbs 31. Ruby takes inspiration from the many blue herons that can be seen wading and fishing in the Pound River that runs through downtown Pound. Ruby, the heron, was created using a variety of objects, from an 1800's baby pram and cast iron lantern pieces, to scavenged items from the recent Pound high school demolition. She embodies a wealth of history and represents resilience, strength, and determination. The sculpture can be found at Town Hall on River Road. 

A photo mural was also installed, by Addison Williams, a Kentucky Crafted artist of Jenkins, KY. The mural “Autumn Cloud Blanket” depicts “one of the best views in these mountains” taken from Pine Mountain at Pound Gap. Williams also produced an “Attractions Around the Pound” digital art piece, highlighting the sometimes overlooked attractions that the Town of Pound has to offer. 

  

The six historic photograph banners (one pictured below) are of photographs made in Pound by traveling photographer Picture Man Mullins during the 1940's and 1950's. Thousands of negatives and photographs from the Picture Man Mullins Collection are housed in the Appalshop Archive in Whitesburg.

"The Historical Society is so very glad to have worked with the EpiCentre artists who have brought our rich history alive through the art pieces distributed throughout our town,” said Margaret Sturgill, Chair of the Historical Society of Pound. “Much appreciation goes to Appalshop and the funding from the National Endowment for the Arts that made this all possible."

Doris Mullins, a council member of Pound said, “I am so proud of the new artwork located at the Town Hall in Pound. Thank you to Anita Bentley for this sculpture and Marley from Appalshop for his part in making this happen. The sculpture has pieces from Pound High School and will always hold memories.” 

This feeling is also apparent in the community, as Leabern Kennedy, Vice Mayor of Pound said “I love all of it. Each piece is absolutely gorgeous. To me it represents a new beginning for our little town and the hope that comes with the new beginning.”