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Activate Selma to reveal “Celebrating Love” mural
from February 2022
by Johnston Now
Submitted by ACTIVATE SELMA AND THE JOHNSTON COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL
SELMA — Activate Selma and the Johnston County Arts Council invite the public to a mural reveal in downtown Selma on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. at Treasury Antiques, 102 S. Raiford St.
In 2021, Activate Selma partnered with the Johnston County Arts Council to create the new mural as one of the arts council’s 50th anniversary projects. Selma resident Allyson Caison coordinated the project, which centers on the theme of “Celebrating Love through Art, Community and Culture.”
The five local artists who participated in the painting of the mural are Judy Boyette, Four Oaks – visual arts; Sue Avera, Smithfield – music; Grace Brantley, Princeton – writing; Percilla Williams, Selma – dance; and William Strickland, Selma – theater.
On the writing panel, Brantley painted the word “love” in nine languages. The words for love and the languages include “aejong” in Korean, “ai” in Japanese, “amor” in Spanish, “liebe” in German, “liefde” in Dutch, “love” in English, “mahal” in Filipino, “upendo” in Swahili and “yeu” in Vietnamese.
The mural will be mounted on the West Anderson Street side of Treasury Antiques in late January. Shop owners Albert Kensak, a long-standing member of the Selma’s Tourism Committee, and his wife, Cornelia, installed lighting so the mural can be seen after sundown.
Coffee on Raiford will serve coffee, and attendees are welcome to leave business cards or contact information at Selma’s many shops for the chance to win a Valentine’s Day basket.
Activate Selma is a grassroots group of residents, volunteers and business owners promoting Selma and all the town has to offer. A dozen or more members of the 157-member group gather Wednesdays at 9 a.m. at varying locations to spark creative problem-solving.
The group’s motto is, “We don’t complain, we take action.” Anyone is welcome. Follow Activate Selma on social media on Facebook at ActivateSelmaNC or on Instagram at @activateselmanc or visit their website at www. ActivateSelmaNC.com.
The Johnston County Arts Council provides quality opportunities in the arts for every Johnston County resident. Visit its website at jcartscouncil.org.
