“Grundy, VA: A Community Portrait”

 

This mural, portraying fond memories of the rural coal mining town in Southwest Virginia, was completed in 2006 while the downtown itself was being demolished to relocate local businesses above the flood plain. The Food City grocery chain provided a wall outside the town, (as no walls were left in town), as well as significant support for the mural project, along with major support from the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.

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During this past winter of 2022, community funds were again raised under the direction of Margaret Wakeland and supported by Food City and the Buchanan County Board, to entirely repaint and renew the now faded mural on the Vansant Food City wall. And again, community artists participated under Ellen’s direction on painting the revitalized face of the mural, but this time on 33 Pellon fabric panels to be installed upon completion on top of the old, faded mural. The installation was done by John and Russell Raines in June 2022 and now the community looks forward to a re-dedication!

The commissioned artists who spent four months re-painting the bright, beautiful, and current version of the original design created by Southwest Virginia Community College and Haysi High School students in 2006 are:

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Ashley Mullins, Angela Singleton, Allison Street, Patti Hertzog, and Ellen Elmes. Mary Talbott and Brenda Ratliff also painted on the mural as volunteers.