Published: October 20, 2020
Downtown Lawrenceburg, a National Main Street Community, unveiled its mural on Friday, October 16. The mural is located on the Historic Lawrenceburg Square on the outside wall of Society American Nosherie and was funded by a 50/50 grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission.
Columbia native Whitney Herrington was selected to complete the mural project out of six artists who submitted proposals. Herrington is an accomplished artist, teacher, muralist and business owner, and she has done mural designs for several Columbia businesses, including The Linen Duck, B’s Salty and Sweet, Bodega On Main, Little Juice Co, and Pink Porch. Most recently, she was selected as one of seven female artists from across the state to participate in the Walls for Women event organized by DMA-Events. Herrington’s mural design for Lawrenceburg was inspired by Mexican folk art and by Lawrenceburg being the birthplace of gospel music.
“Being selected as the artist for the mural by the Mainstreet Committee was an honor,” Herrington said. “Most of my work is centered in Maury County, so the opportunity to spread art outward and get acquainted with the wonderful people in Lawrenceburg and on the Main Street Board was such a blessing.”
Former Main Street Director Baylee Fincher secured the grant for the mural in June of this year, and Marty Bradley picked up the project when she accepted the director position last month and saw it through to completion at Friday’s unveiling.
“While I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of seeing the mural come to fruition, the hard part was already done before I came on board,” said Bradley. “I would like to personally thank Baylee Fincher for all the hard work she did on getting the grant award; Jason Grayson for allowing the mural to be painted on his building; the Main Street Arts Committee for their time and commitment to Main Street; and our sponsors Doan and Tiffany Cope, Story and Lee Furniture, Ben and Olivia White, Garrett and Baylee Fincher, and The Reserve. We now have a beautiful work of art that rivals any mural I have seen anywhere. Whitney did an amazing job!”
Main Street Lawrenceburg is a nonprofit organization that strives to maintain the National Main Street Center's Four Point approach. Comprising passionate advocates, dedicated volunteers, influential stakeholders, and community organizers who work hard every day to make a difference, they strengthen the community through preservation-based economic development in Historic Downtown Lawrenceburg and its commercial district.