(Fayetteville, N.C.) – After almost four years in the making, the Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County (Arts Council) and Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation (FCPR) leaders are excited to announce that the installation of two supporting community murals at the intersection of I-295 and north Ramsey Street is underway. Depending on weather conditions, the murals are expected to be completed by the end of June.
Over the next few months, North Carolina artist, Jermaine “JP” Powell, will transform the concrete bridge support structures into two vibrant pieces of visual art at this major gateway into Fayetteville. “The Fayetteville Northside mural project is the result of input from community members, the coordinators, and the advisory committee,” Powell said. “All have helped me create a beautiful and innovative design – one that tells a compelling visual story of life in the Northside community in Fayetteville, North Carolina.”
Fayetteville Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen, was part of a group of residents who met with Powell to share experiences about living in the area.
“Every day City Council Members strive to make Fayetteville a desirable place to live, work and play, and this mural project shows us what is possible through community collaboration,” Jensen said. “I am particularly proud as a graduate of Pine Forest High School and a lifelong resident of Fayetteville to see our community come to life through this wonderful representation serving as a gateway. This is an example of what is possible for us to achieve not only here, but throughout the City when we work together with vision and dedication.”
Project plans were made public in February 2020 as part of Fayetteville’s Corridor Revitalization Project, a collaboration between FCPR and the Arts Council. Bob Pinson, Interim President of the Arts Council, states, “This project strives to turn community gateways into great ways to enter the City, creating a sense of place reflective of the City’s inclusive, yet diverse, areas and neighborhoods.”
The I-295 gateway mural project is a partnership with the Arts Council, FCPR, City of Fayetteville Government, Cumberland County Government, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
City and County leaders ask that drivers prioritize personal safety by following the regular flow of traffic near the mural and being mindful of other drivers and pedestrians throughout the area. Attempts to disrupt the creative process could threaten personal and public safety.
Visit WeAreTheARTS.com/295mural for more information about the mural project and artist Jermaine “JP” Powell. Follow the FCPR Facebook page and the Arts Council social sites for updates in the coming months.
For questions and media inquiries regarding the I-295 Gateway Mural, contact:
Michele Horn
Project Manager
City of Fayetteville Corporate Communications