Next Downtown Mural Pays Homage to Tobacco History

The City of Sanford Appearance Commission revealed a sneak peek of its next mural -- an homage to Sanford's tobacco history -- on its Facebook page on Thursday.

The mural, slated for the Sanford Rent-All building on Wicker Street, will depict the process of taking tobacco to market and will a feature three-dimensional mule. This will be Sanford's second 3D mural, and only the second for the state.

The Appearance Commission was granted $40,000 by the N.C. General Assembly last year for the "Sanford Mural Restoration Project," which was then matched by the Sanford City Council. The grant funds are being used for the new tobacco mural, as well as restoration of the painted signs for Snowdrift, Lee Furniture, and Sanford Business College.

The $40,000 matched by the Sanford City Council will be used for other public art projects, including:

• Creating a trail of train sculptures throughout downtown Sanford;
• Working with high school students to paint fire hydrants with City-approved designs;
• Wrapping utility boxes in downtown Sanford and Jonesboro; and
• Creating a three-dimensional art project on a wall in Depot Park.

To stay updated on the tobacco mural – and to see the full reveal of the mural -- follow the Appearance Commission’s Facebook page here.

For more information about the Appearance Commission or the Public Arts Program, contact Liz Whitmore at 919-718-4657 x5393.

*A previous email stated the location of the mural to be the old Sanford Tobacco Market building. That was incorrect.