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Clintwood mural copy.jpg

In Process, the Repainting Project of the

Dickenson County Mural, “Echoes”

Since August of 2014, Ellen Elmes has been leading a community team of Dickenson County painters in a project to reproduce and repaint on fabric panels the original design of the downtown Clintwood mural on the Jettie Baker Center that was originally painted in 2001 by Ellen and her Southwest Virginia Community College students and community volunteer painters. The project was initiated by Town Manager and Mayor Danny Lambert and is being funded by the Town of Clintwood.

The team working in the Jettie Baker Center, painting together once or twice a month and at home individually, since August 2024, include professional artists as well as amateur painters, and many of them designed and painted the original mural almost 25 years ago.

original painters Scarlett, Ellen, Kevin, Rita, and Robin.jpg
painter of original mural Donna Leftwich at work on new one.jpg

These current painters also worked on the design and painting of the original mural in 2001. They are left to right: Scarlett Gilley, Ellen Elmes, Kevin Minion, Rita Justice, Robin Charles and Donna Leftwich.

The current painting team: Vicki Blevins, Robin Charles, Lisa Davis, Scarlett Gilley, Rita Justice, Donna Leftwich, Kevin Minion, Addison Mullins, Susan Mullins, Kimberley Dawn Rose, Jenna Taylor, and Reneé Wienecke. Ellen, Jenna Taylor, and Reneé Wienecke were awarded an Apprenticeship Grant from Virginia Folklife, a branch of the Virginia Humanities, and so have been mentoring and teaching together during their participation in this mural project.

artists at work, 1st painting session.jpg
Apprentice Renee Wienecke with Ellen.jpg
Apprentice Jenna Taylor at work.jpg

First painting session

Apprentice Jenna Taylor

Apprentice Reneé Wienecke

The panels will be finished sometime in March while the wall site of the old mural will be cleaned and primed in preparation for the permanent installation of the newly-painted mural on fabric in late spring. A dedication celebration of the mural and a Virginia Humanities-sponsored festival is anticipated to take place sometime in June 2025. Stay tuned!

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