The Paint NC public art initiative will begin work on more than 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor murals at Pack Memorial Library starting the week of May 11, according to an April 20 announcement from Buncombe County. The project is part of a statewide effort led by North Carolina artist Max Dowdle, aiming to create 100 murals in 100 counties.
The initiative seeks to celebrate local people, places, and histories through large-scale mural installations. Library Director Jason Hyatt said, “In honor of National Library Week, with a theme of Find Your Joy, we are excited to announce that Buncombe County’s participation includes more than 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor mural work at Pack Memorial Library.”
Community involvement is central to the project. County staff have already voted on top design concepts featuring local plants, animals, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the French Broad River. Residents can view three proposed designs online or in person at Pack Library and vote for their favorite until May 1.
Dowdle explained his creative process: “In regards to AI, I do like to use it early in the process for iterative design work where I normally feed it my own drawings, paintings, and previous work as a means to get to the design heart of a question. Rest-assured, all work as it is put on the wall will be 100% human-driven, and the hand of the artist will be very apparent.”
Volunteers are invited for Community Paint Days during installation in May. All skill levels are welcome; tasks range from base coating walls to detailed painting under Dowdle’s guidance.
Funding for this $37,600 mural comes from federal resources designated under the Local Assistance & Tribal Consistency Fund as part of public art projects within the American Rescue Plan Act.
This effort aligns with broader goals set by Buncombe County’s Helene Recovery Plan which prioritizes commissioning public art across neighborhoods and gathering spaces. Public art has been shown to help strengthen community cohesion and emotional resilience during challenging times while supporting economic recovery.
Buncombe County Libraries plan additional programs highlighting local artists throughout upcoming months.
Meanwhile academic data provides context about area youth: Of senior students taking science ACT tests in Buncombe County school districts during the 2022-23 school year, only about one in four were considered ready for college according to state education data. Junior students performed slightly better with nearly one-third meeting readiness benchmarks as reported by state sources. In reading portions of ACT exams that same year among seniors just over four out of ten demonstrated college readiness according to state reports, while juniors reached above forty percent according to education officials. Math results showed fewer students meeting readiness standards: roughly one-quarter among seniors based on official statistics compared with nearly one-third among juniors as noted by state data.
