COMMUNITY EVENTS
Locomotive Mural on East Railroad Street
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Public art is an outward and visible sign of Selma’s uptown revitalization and falls under the umbrella of Economic Development, one of the four main areas that Selma Town Council and Town Management are focusing on in fiscal year 2020-21 (the other three are Infrastructure, Code Enforcement and Appearance). Murals especially create a tangible sense of place and destination, resulting in increased foot traffic while adding color, vibrancy and character to a walkable town such as Selma.
The mural project is led by Activate Selma, a grassroots group of business owners, entrepreneurs, volunteers, residents and friends who have a heart for Selma. Activators meet every Wednesday at 9 am at various locations around uptown Selma to spark creative problem-solving. Currently there are 68 members of the group, including Ron Hester. They have been meeting weekly since December 2018. About a dozen attend on Wednesday mornings.
Individual activator projects include building renovations and the opening of an ice cream shop, coffee shop, lunch and bakery shop, the relocation of a florist shop, repair of a museum roof (with tourism money), the opening of On Beat, a music ministry aimed at middle school youth, sponsorship of writing scholarships for JCC students, sponsorship of an online local candidates’ connection through the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce, production of a weekly e-news and administration of a “Selma Uptown” Facebook page that reached more than 14,000 people and engaged nearly 6,000 people with its posts in September 2020.
Group projects include producing a video application to HGTV for a 2021 Home Town Takeover series (competing against 5,000 small towns – a town in Alabama was chosen), an update of the uptown Selma business map (700 copies produced for distribution so far), and now, the mural project.
If you would like to make a donation, contact Donna Reid at Reid’s Country Sampler or Kim Wooten at Selma Jewelry. To find out where Activate Selma meets this week, check the “Selma Uptown” Facebook page. Everyone is welcome!
The mural project is led by Activate Selma, a grassroots group of business owners, entrepreneurs, volunteers, residents and friends who have a heart for Selma. Activators meet every Wednesday at 9 am at various locations around uptown Selma to spark creative problem-solving. Currently there are 68 members of the group, including Ron Hester. They have been meeting weekly since December 2018. About a dozen attend on Wednesday mornings.
Individual activator projects include building renovations and the opening of an ice cream shop, coffee shop, lunch and bakery shop, the relocation of a florist shop, repair of a museum roof (with tourism money), the opening of On Beat, a music ministry aimed at middle school youth, sponsorship of writing scholarships for JCC students, sponsorship of an online local candidates’ connection through the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce, production of a weekly e-news and administration of a “Selma Uptown” Facebook page that reached more than 14,000 people and engaged nearly 6,000 people with its posts in September 2020.
Group projects include producing a video application to HGTV for a 2021 Home Town Takeover series (competing against 5,000 small towns – a town in Alabama was chosen), an update of the uptown Selma business map (700 copies produced for distribution so far), and now, the mural project.
If you would like to make a donation, contact Donna Reid at Reid’s Country Sampler or Kim Wooten at Selma Jewelry. To find out where Activate Selma meets this week, check the “Selma Uptown” Facebook page. Everyone is welcome!
New Art Exhibit in Selma
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George Schichtel is the artist behind the current exhibit hanging in Coffee on Raiford, a new business that opened in uptown Selma earlier this month.
George’s J&E Woodworks is a veteran and family-owned and operated company, specializing in custom portraits in wood. He says while he is the artist, his wife Patti is the inspiration.
“I started out working with wood 25 years ago, making tack and blanket boxes,” says George. “I branched out into yard art, signs for stall, house and business, and two-dimensional logos. But it is the wooden portraits that I enjoy the most.”
Every piece George makes is unique and bound to become a family keepsake. Give George any photo and he can turn it into a work of art. However, the clearer and more uncluttered the photo is, with as few shadows as possible, the better. Like any artist who loves his work, he finds the challenge can be very rewarding.
“I’m proud to know that across the country some of my pieces hang in people’s homes and will be there for years to come,” says George. “If you can dream it, we can design it.”
You can view and purchase George’s work at Coffee on Raiford, 123 N. Raiford Street in uptown Selma, NC, or contact George:
gwcd@twc.com
919-915-0099
https://www.facebook.com/J-E-Woodworks-1669632819930115
https://jandewoodworks.wixsite.com/
George’s J&E Woodworks is a veteran and family-owned and operated company, specializing in custom portraits in wood. He says while he is the artist, his wife Patti is the inspiration.
“I started out working with wood 25 years ago, making tack and blanket boxes,” says George. “I branched out into yard art, signs for stall, house and business, and two-dimensional logos. But it is the wooden portraits that I enjoy the most.”
Every piece George makes is unique and bound to become a family keepsake. Give George any photo and he can turn it into a work of art. However, the clearer and more uncluttered the photo is, with as few shadows as possible, the better. Like any artist who loves his work, he finds the challenge can be very rewarding.
“I’m proud to know that across the country some of my pieces hang in people’s homes and will be there for years to come,” says George. “If you can dream it, we can design it.”
You can view and purchase George’s work at Coffee on Raiford, 123 N. Raiford Street in uptown Selma, NC, or contact George:
gwcd@twc.com
919-915-0099
https://www.facebook.com/J-E-Woodworks-1669632819930115
https://jandewoodworks.wixsite.com/
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