The community gathered in Downtown Conway on Wednesday, Nov. 19, to celebrate unveiling the Laurel Street Mural. As chants of “move that trolley,” echoed from the crowd, a Coastal Carolina University shuttle drove off to expose over a hundred feet of nature inspired art to the public.
Painted on a building wall adjacent to Stella’s Homemade Ice Cream at the corner of Fourth and Laurel Street, the mural transformed 108 feet of brick into a portrayal of local beauty. It highlights the iconic Conway bridge, surrounded by parts of the local environment
such as alligators and lily pads.
The ceremony began with words from CCU President Winebrake, Associate Professor Yvette L.C. Arendt, Director of Conway Downtown Alive (CDA) Hilary Howard and student artists Lakelyn Phillips and Mia Pelio. The collaborators shared a message of community and gratitude that has been built through months of work on the mural.
Arendt teaches the Special Topics in Art: Mural (ARTS*499) course, which has provided students with this hands-on experience. She said the mural reflects Conway’s spirit and was designed with the community and local businesses in mind.
“We wanted to have it be something that’s visually fun and lively because we are next to an ice cream shop, but that is also rooted in communities,” Arendt said.
She also shared how their inspiration stemmed from a desire to share the story of Conway. The city is beloved for its welcoming atmosphere and historical buildings, decorated to match the spirit of those who fill them.
Student artist and senior visual arts major, Mia Pelio, said she is impressed with the level of detail Conway puts into decorating and is excited to have been a part of the process.
“Conway is unlike any town I’ve ever seen. To be able to have public artwork within the community makes it feel like home,” she said.
After months of painting, Pelio expressed the pride she feels at the end of this project and the beginning of a future art career.
“It’s insanely gratifying to see it complete. I can look back and say, this is where I was in my art,” Pelio said. “This helps me leave an impression on the world. It’s surreal to be able to say that I was a part of this.”
Arendt further explained how public art installations provide an opportunity for people to experience art in an organic way.
“So much of the art we make is put into a museum, it’s kind of put into this little cube. This is a way for the community to experience it firsthand where they are, and that’s something I love doing,” Arendt said.
Student artists guided guests along their mural presentation, pointing out their points of pride and names etched into the city. The evidence of love put into the art was clear for the community to see.
Sophomore exercise science major Taylor Fenby was in attendance to cheer on her friends’ achievements. She said having the artists at the unveiling to describe their creative process added to the overall experience.
“The murals are my favorite part of downtown,” Fenby said. “Being able to see the mural through the eyes of the people that made it makes it so much more special.”
Whether it be the temporary but extravagant transformation into the City of Halloween, or the continuous story being told by the mural walk, Conway’s art exhibitions radiate a charm that is hard to replicate.
Howard said Downtown Alive is looking forward to the number of people that will be drawn to Conway because of such art installations.
“We want something that people are going to save as a destination, to put on their socials, to share with friends and family. We want them to have an interesting story,” she said.
The university’s collaboration with CDA and the City of Conway has been in the works since February. This is the second student-led installation in Conway, and CDA members believe the choice of artists is just as important as the art that is produced.
“We believe in employing local artists. It’s a great way to build relationships and to be able to bring back alumni to do other things in town,” Howard said.
From budgeting and business collaborations to the hard work put into painting the mural, the students leading the mural project were able to gain first-hand experience with designing and executing projects on a large scale.
Junior visual arts major Kloe Gregory is one of the students benefiting from the experience.
“In high school I did murals in the school, but nothing as big as this. This is preparing us for future murals and our final projects,” Gregory said.
Through August humidity, hurricane season and now a November chill, Coastal student artists persevered to create a lasting mark on Conway.
