By Debbie Adams
Local artist Jon Murrill has noted that a mural can have more than one purpose. It can be purely
visual, tell a story, or enrich a community. His newly completed mural in downtown Vinton
accomplishes all of these. It is the first in a series of murals he plans throughout the region and
state, entitled “Lady Appalachia.”
Vinton Town Council and staff and other members of the community gathered at the Town
Annex Building on Pollard Street on April 22 to welcome Lady Appalachia to Vinton. Deputy
Town Manager Cody Sexton said that while it is somewhat difficult to “unveil” a mural that is
some 22 feet tall and whose creation has been watched by the entire town, the town can “launch”
Lady Appalachia to the world.
members and mural artist Jon Murrill celebrate the completion of Lady Appalachia in downtown
Vinton. Pictured left to right are Council members Keith Liles and Sabrina McCarty, Mayor
Brad Grose, Council member Laurie Mullins, and artist Jon Murrill. (photos by Debbie Adams)
Vinton Mayor Brad Grose noted that art says a lot of different things to people and this piece
says a lot about the Town of Vinton and its willingness to participate in this project.
“I am excited about where we are and how we are growing,” said Grose. “Lady Appalachia
shows our roots in the past– where we have been– and where we are headed.”
Murrill thanked the Town of Vinton for “making this happen.”
“This is something that I wanted to do as a gift to the area where I grew up,” he said. “This is the
first mural in the Lady Appalachia series and an embodiment of the region, how we see the
valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Mill Mountain from Vinton’s perspective, and provides a
new ‘vibe’ in the area.”
He said that he has learned a great deal about creating murals in the past three years and feels
that this is one of his best pieces so far, one that “showcases” his creativity.
Murrill says the other murals in the series will be different in each location, relating to the land
and region, but with close ties to the mountains, particularly the Blue Ridge Mountains.
He says he wanted the face of Vinton’s Lady Appalachia to be “front and center. I am not sure
how large her face is in comparison to other portrait murals in the state, but it has to be up there
with the largest. Most murals represent more of the human figure when going this large.”
The background of the new mural features the mountains surrounding the Roanoke Valley using
unique shades of blue and green.
The question mark for many who have viewed the mural is “What is she thinking about or
looking at with her hand on her cheek?”
He declined to give away his own thoughts about the meaning of the mural, leaving it to others
to “form their own narrative, to decide what each Lady Appalachia is trying to say.”
McCarty and Laurie Mullins strike a contemplative pose while admiring Vinton’s new Lady
Appalachia mural.
“The gesture of her hand relates to the expression on her face,” Murrill says. “She is
contemplating something. I wanted this gaze to allow the viewer to determine what she is
thinking for themselves. I have my own opinions of what she may be contemplating, but I think
the unique nature of this pose allows each of us to see something slightly different within the
mural.
“The freckles were inspired by deer spots on a fawn. This piece directly relates to our
surrounding area so the more natural elements I could introduce into her character the better.
“The beauty about Lady Appalachia is that she is a representation of the land we love so
much. Her features, expression, and ethnicity will change amongst the variety of murals she is
in. This relates directly to the history of our area and the many, many people groups that built our
culture over the last few centuries.
“When I designed Lady Appalachia, I was greatly inspired by Lady Liberty and her pose at the
Statue of Liberty. I wanted to create an image that seemed iconic for our area by representing a
unique character holding a walking staff amongst the Blue Ridge Mountains. This gradually
evolved into representing her not just as an individual, but as an embodiment of the land. By
depicting her with moss growing up her fingers, deer-spotted freckles, and a bird’s nest crown, I
wanted people to see her differently than a traditional portrait. She is meant to symbolize our
relationship to the land both in the past and present.”
This is not Murrill’s first outdoor artwork in Vinton. He collaborated with art teachers and
students last year to create the parkway scene on the Vinton Veterinary Specialty Services Center
on East Washington Avenue. That mural involved mainly paint brushes and rollers. For Lady
Appalachia, however, Murrill used spray paint to a great extent, despite the winds of March and
early April.
“Spray paint is such an interesting medium to use,” he says. “I have only been using it for three
years and it is a steep learning curve! I enjoy creating soft blends and hard edges so spray paint is
the perfect tool for me to use as long as it is not too windy!”
Murrill will be starting his next mural in the Lady Appalachia series soon in Stuart, Va.
“I will be painting on the side of a local restaurant, Pickle & Ash, who are great supporters of the
arts and have a very creative vision. We designed a piece that will definitely grab everyone’s
attention in the area!
“Aside from my Lady Appalachia series, I will be traveling to paint a large community-based
mural in Craig County. New Castle was awarded a grant to build not only a new farmers’
market, but also to beautify the area even more with a mural. The mural will feature the
landscape of Craig County and a variety of wildlife seen in the area.
“As someone raised in Vinton it has been so special for me to bring my artwork to my
hometown,” Murrill said. “I have been drawing and painting since a very young age and always
enjoyed creating unique characters. Now that I paint publicly, my style may be different, but my passion for creativity remains the same. Once I complete a mural it then is no longer mine. I
hope that Vinton enjoys my own creative take on our area for years to come!”
