Greenville-headquartered mural company to design 3 Travelers Rest murals

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Work on the first of three murals has officially begun as part of the city of Travelers Rest beautification project.

Adam Schrimmer, lead artist and owner at Blank Canvas Mural Co., was selected by businesses in Travelers Rest to design and paint three murals as part of the city’s ongoing Façade Improvement Program, according to a news release. 

The mural locations are at 106 S. Main St. (the first mural at Urban Hare), 331 S. Main St. (TR’s Oriental), and 301 S. Main St. (Loftis Printing).

Schrimmer will hand-paint custom illustrations on three horizontal, unwindowed walls on the three buildings that bookend the town of Travelers Rest. 

“Murals are a way that communities express themselves through accessible art, which tells stories of their city,” said Travelers Rest Mayor Brandy Amidon. “We are super excited to see these murals come to life in such a visible way that is very uniquely T.R.”

Schrimmer met with dozens of residents and businesses in Travelers Rest to discuss the concepts and content of each mural to find out what was important to the community, the release said.

“I was interested in the individual stories and the history of the town because I wanted to create lasting artwork that generations can enjoy,” he said. “This collaborative effort between the community and Blank Canvas, and the relationships that were forged, were invaluable in creating these illustrative murals.”

Each mural is funded by public and private sources, and the city of Travelers Rest contributes 50% of the total project cost from Façade Improvement Program funds. Other funding sources include businesses, property owners and funds raised from a Go Fund Me campaign, the release said. Donations can still be made by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/two-new-tr-murals.

First Mural: Urban Hare

The first mural will be located on the building that houses the retail store, Urban Hare. Artwork will feature a vintage European poster-like scene of a female cyclist with flowers in her bike basket, a hare, and Paris Mountain in the background.

Second Mural: TR’s Oriental restaurant

The second mural will be located on the side of the building that houses TR’s Oriental restaurant.  Artwork will feature the slogan, “Where Travelers Come to Rest,” scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, a lake, and puffy white clouds in the signature colors of Travelers Rest: blue, orange and yellow.

Third Mural: Loftis Printing Co.

The third mural will be on the side of the building that houses Loftis Printing Co. Artwork will look like a vintage postcard with giant letters spelling out Travelers Rest, and inside the letters will be illustrations such as Chico Bolin (a former Travelers Rest resident and Marine), the Skyland Drive-In, and the Spring Park Inn.

The Blank Canvas Mural Co. is a national mural design company headquartered in Greenville. The company specializes in community engagement and commercial-based projects and has provided murals across the country.