The Fayetteville Arts Council approved artist Brian Alexis’s mural concept, “Nothing But Net,” for the Yvonne Richardson Community Center on a voice vote after reviewing a staff presentation and a mock-up from the artist.

Council members and staff described the design as centered on a basketball and net, with smaller symbols representing programs at the center and a new purple color to honor Yvonne Richardson’s preferred palette. The staff presenter said the YRCC board has already reviewed and endorsed the design.

Why it matters: the mural will be installed on the front entrance wall of the center and is intended to reflect the center’s youth and sports programming. The Arts Council emphasized preserving visual connections to the center’s community activities and honoring Richardson’s legacy through color and iconography.

Council members moved quickly to a vote after the presentation. One member said the perspective focusing on the net and ball felt fresh; another member made the motion to approve and a second followed. The motion passed unanimously, with no recorded dissents.

Installation details provided at the meeting: staff said the mural will be applied to an Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) substrate that is currently part of the building’s construction scope. Because EIFS does not require a curing period like some masonry finishes, staff expect the artist to install the finished work “in the next month or so” once the substrate is in place. Brian Alexis is based in Portsmouth and will coordinate timing with the city’s construction schedule.

The council noted one outstanding design item: the treatment or font of the phrase “Shaping the Future” on the piece may change if the YRCC prefers a logo treatment. Staff said final typographic choices will be confirmed before fabrication.

Looking ahead: staff will absorb the approved design into contract and scheduling; no further Arts Council approval was requested unless the design changes beyond the font treatment mentioned at the meeting.