WILLIAMSBURG – A vibrant, 40-by-15-foot mural by North Carolina artist Britt Flood was approved for installation by Williamsburg City Council on March 10.
It will be the first mural in Virginia for Flood, who has a personal goal of painting a mural in all 50 states.
The Public Art Council received 13 submissions and narrowed the field to two finalists.
“She has extensive mural experience and has painted one that is 40-by-80, so she’s used to heights,” said Joanna Skrabala, the city’s tourism development specialist.
Flood created her design, a cameo-style silhouette flanked by the state bird on one side and an oak tree “for strength” on the other, by reading through the city’s Goals, Initiatives, and Objectives report.
Flood believes she can complete the mural in less than two weeks and Skrabala is hopeful the work will be done before the summer heat sets in.
“I think the design is lovely,” said council member Stacy Kern-Scheerer. “Public Art is one of those things that shows care for our town. We’re a community that really has a lot of pride in where we live.”
The city council approved a payment of $17,000 for the mural, which will be painted on a brick wall near the Sal’s by Victor restaurant in the Food Lion shopping center, part of the Midtown Row development.
It will join the Public Art Council’s first project, a mural of a larger-than-life eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly, painted by Hampton artist Silas Baker. To view it, access the parking lot behind the grocery store at 1242 Richmond Rd.
Exterior murals are only allowed for installation in Williamsburg’s B-3 zoning district.
In a separate action also recommended by the Public Arts Council, the city council voted to allow the Daughters of American Revolution to place a plaque in Bicentennial Park commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. It is part of a national effort by DAR called the 250 Patriots Marker Project, intended to honor the memory of men and women who achieved American independence. The goal is to place at least one marker in every state in advance of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.