West Jefferson Murals

The small town charm of West Jefferson is enhanced by artistic visions of several artists. The beauty, culture, history and future of Ashe County are captured in downtown murals. The downtown mural project began in 1996 when McFarland and Company, Inc., Publishers, commissioned the first mural.

"Public art has the power to beautify, enhance and contribute to the our living spaces."

The downtown mural project began in 1996 when McFarland and Company, Inc., Publishers, commissioned local artist Jack Young to create the mural "History of Ashe Through the Ages". The mural is located on the Regency Properties building next to the Ashe Arts Center. In 1998 the Ashe County Arts Council was instrumental in establishing "The Arts District" in downtown West Jefferson by working with the West Jefferson  Revitalization Committee to complete two more murals. Robert Johnson's "Spring Wildflowers on Mt. Jefferson" depicts a close up of spring wildflowers, a view of the 
cliffs and foliage on top of the mountain and a distant view of Mt. Jefferson. Marianne DiNapoli Mylet's "New River Traditions" features two musicians playing traditional instruments and other scenes from Ashe County, past and present, the "Virginia Creeper" train, a family enjoying a picnic along the New River and the natural beauty of our area. In 2001 Stephan Shoemaker's "Cut at Devil Stairs" was completed on the Dollar Tire Building. The mural is reminiscent of a time when the railroad was vital to the life of Ashe County. This mural was made possible by the collaborative effort and funding of the Ashe County Revitalization Committee, Handmade in America and the Ashe County Arts Council. In July 2003, R.T. Morgan painted "Somewhere in Ashe" on the side of R.T. Morgan Gallery. The mural is a brilliant and colorful landscape depicting the high country in the autumn leaf season. This mural was funded, in part, by the Ashe County Revitalization  Committee. Raney Rogers, artist and owner of The Acorn Gallery - the oldest fine art gallery in West Jefferson, depicts floral and architecture in this "Gardens of the Sea" mural painted at Acorn Gallery. "Weathered Pines", a work by R.T. Morgan, was sponsored by Ashe High Country Realty, is located on their building in downtown West Jefferson. Hayden and Chaco, located on the backstreet in the old Western Jefferson storefront was created by Olivia Harless and Stephen Shoemaker in August 2004. In 2004, "Wings and Things" was painted on the wall of the Ashe County Cheese Plant Production Building. This mural project was a partnership between the North Carolina Museum of Art, Ashe County High School's Project 540 and the Ashe County Arts Council. Artists Earle Klutz Thompson and Raines Thompson designed the rural farm scene and led over 125 students and community volunteers in painting the mural over a three day weekend. Two local artists, Bessie Clay and Stephen Shoemaker, created murals on the newly renovated Jefferson Station in downtown West Jefferson. The murals are "Blue Ridge Parkway" and "Train at Jefferson Station". Two local artists, Bessie Clay and Stephen Shoemaker, created murals on the newly renovated Jefferson Station in downtown West Jefferson. The murals are "Blue Ridge Parkway" and "Train at Jefferson Station". In the summer of 2006 another mural entitled "Unity in Diversity" was added to the downtown landscape. The bright and colorful mural has a home on the side of Geno's Restaurant. Winston Salem artist Marianne DiNapoli-Mylet worked with students at the Ashe Middle School to create a mural that reflects the landscape of Ashe County, the music and the people who live and work here.