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Council approves Tuscarora mural on 134 S. Third St.; artist to begin in September
Summary
The Town of Smithfield approved a proposal to mount a canvas mural honoring the Tuscarora on the side of 134 South Third Street; the artist Brian Lewis plans to begin work Sept. 18, and the design will add a bear and turtle per Tuscarora input.
The Town of Smithfield Town Council on Monday approved a proposal to place a mural honoring the Tuscarora people on a canvas mounted to the side of 134 South Third Street.
Todd Johnson presented the project on behalf of the town’s America 250 committee. Johnson said the mural will be painted on a canvas material and mounted to the brick face of the building owned by David Johnston. He said the work will be done on-site by artist Brian Lewis (Greensboro), who previously painted the Ava Gardner mural, and that the tentative work window is Sept. 18 to about Sept. 25, pending council approval.
Johnson said the committee is not requesting town funds for the project; the work would be paid from grant money awarded for America250-related activities. He also said Tuscarora descendants from Robeson County reviewed the design with the artist and requested the addition of a bear and a turtle, which will be added to the final rendering.
Allison Elsey, identified in the presentation as chair of the America250 committee, and representatives of the Tuscarora who met the artist were present for the proposal. Johnson said the mural location overlooks the courthouse annex and that owner David Johnston agreed to allow the canvas to be mounted on his building.
A council member moved to approve the mural as presented; the council voted by voice and the mayor announced the motion carried. During the discussion, a council member noted the town’s Appearance Commission had not reviewed the design; the council requested that staff circulate the rendering to the Appearance Commission for information (FYI).
Council members and presenters emphasized the cultural importance of the mural to Tuscarora descendants, noting the project grew from research into early references to an Indigenous village at the Smithfield site. The presentation included historical material the committee said is from an early 19th-century geographical dictionary describing an Indian village called Neuse at the town site.
The council did not discuss funding details beyond Johnson’s statement that grant funds would pay for the project and that no town appropriation was requested.
