Culpeper Downtown Walls Mural Program

Enhancing Downtown

Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. Accepts Proposals for Their Culpeper Downtown Power Box Mural Program

Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. (CRI), is excited to announce the Culpeper Downtown Power Box Mural Program. CRI is now accepting proposals for placement of murals on five power boxes located within the CRI downtown footprint. Funding for this program has been made possible through CRI’s fundraising efforts.

The placement of murals enhances the physical appearance and strengthens the sense of place in Culpeper downtown, while capitalizing on some of the assets: history, architecture, countryside, and the growth of an arts culture in our community. Murals have become a unique and appealing way of increasing tourism and improving commerce. This project will enhance downtown’s inviting atmosphere for new and existing businesses while enticing locals and visitors to make downtown a destination point.

CRI Board President, Glen Hoffherr states “This mural program opens a great opportunity to enhance the downtown area. It provides local artists an opportunity to show their skills while making the downtown landscape more exciting.”

The goal for this project is to pictorially preserve and celebrate the art, history and culture of Culpeper while increasing the charm and character of our town for residents and visitors alike. We will take pride in promoting economic development by increasing tourism, business and tax revenues, and property values; inspiring and energizing our town and uniting our community, organized groups, and businesses by encouraging participation from all ages and walks of life; beautifying our streets; and creating a greater appreciation of the visual arts and our historical roots while establishing the face and identity of Culpeper.

CRI Executive Director, Jessica Jenkins states “The visual Arts culture is growing in Culpeper and CRI is excited to utilize this growth to establish professional relationships with talented local artists to enhance the beauty of Historic Downtown Culpeper through the Culpeper Downtown Power Box Mural Program.”

The Culpeper Downtown Power Box Mural Program further strengthens the distinctive downtown atmosphere that will be inviting and attractive to multiple generations of locals, visitors, and entrepreneurs alike.  Due to carefully selected mural sites, this project will create a connected downtown; enticing pedestrians to explore.

The project will further improve the opportunity for downtown Culpeper to be viewed as destination for locals, visitors, potential investors, and entrepreneurs. Art projects that are rooted in community participation build strong societal bonds and create healthy and fun places to live and play.

To submit a proposal for the mural or for more information about the Culpeper Downtown Walls Mural Program please contact Jessica Jenkins, CRI Executive Director at 540-825-4416, cridirector@culpeperdowntown.com or visit www.culpeperdowntown.com .

Click Here for the RFP File:  https://culpeperdowntown.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CRI-Downtown-Power-Box-Mural-Program-RFP-2023.pdf 

The first mural of the Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. and Arts A’loft Culpeper Downtown Walls Mural Program was completed on Friday, August 25, 2017 by artists Tom and Kerri Mullany of Mullany Art Studios. Located at on the wall at West Cameron and Main streets, “The Surveyor” features George Washington, the surveyor, in a larger than life form.

The Second mural of the Culpeper Renaissance Inc. Culpeper Downtown Walls Mural Program was completed on Friday, June 8, 2018
The purpose of this project is to preserve, refresh and revive current painted Historical Signage on a brick building facade in historic downtown Culpeper.  The updated signage is to look distressed, in keeping with the historic and vintage look.

The project was compleed by Walter W. Burton of Reva, VA. Walter has 28 years of fine art endeavors including the study and practice of hand lettering and hand painted commercial graphics in public and private spaces.

Culpeper Downtown Walls Mural Program 3rd Mural Installation. The goal for this project is to pictorially preserve and celebrate the art, history and culture of Culpeper while increasing the charm and character of our town for residents and visitors alike.

Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. (CRI), Windmore Foundation for the Arts, and Culpeper downtown property and business owner, Brian Lam, partnered for the placement of the 3rd mural installation of CRI’s Culpeper Downtown Walls Mural Program.

Partnering organizations, community members, town and county representatives, and family and friends of those depicted in the mural, gathered to celebrate the completion of “The Trailblazers” mural by local artist and freelance illustrator, Layton Scarbrough on Sunday, June 12, 2022.  “The Trailblazers” mural can be found at 254 E. Davis Street in historic downtown Culpeper.

The individuals included in the mural represent some of Culpeper’s African American citizens that made a significant impact on our community: Henry Lightfoot, Culpeper’s first African American town councilman, as well as owner and operator of Lightfoot’s Grocery in the building where the mural is located; Dr. Elijah Barber, Culpeper’s first African American physician; Ruby Beck, female owner and operator of Boxwood House Restaurant and Motel; Roscoe Ford, Culpeper’s first African American police officer; John Preston “Pete” Hill, a Culpeper native and talented baseball player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006; Ella Drumgoole, the first female police officer in the Town of Culpeper; and a single soldier from the United States Colored Troops, representing the approximately 120 African American men who left Culpeper to join the Union Army. As these figures came to life through Mr. Scarbrough’s work, the location of ‘The Trailblazers’ mural, on the 200 block of East Davis Street, is what makes this mural complete. This area, once referred to as The Wharf and Fishtown for the Friday and Saturday fish fries, housed a thriving African American commercial and residential community post-Civil War.

In addition to Mr. Scarbrough’s vision, many other hands played a part in bringing this much needed mural to fruition in Culpeper Downtown. Brian Lam, owner of Collage Spa, stated “community, art and history are part of our Collage Spa brand values. We are so happy to collaborate with CRI and artist, Layton Scarbrough, on the mural project. The mural highlights and honors key African American Culpeper leaders. It makes their legacy visible and gives a sense of place for the present and future.” Mr. Lam, in part, was able to play a key role in the mural project after applying for and being awarded a $2,500 Culpeper Downtown Micro Marketing Leverage Grant, a partnered program through the Town of Culpeper Tourism and Economic Development, Culpeper Renaissance, Inc and the Virginia Main Street program through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. In addition, CRI and Windmore Foundation for the Arts allocated additional funding for mural expenses.

Murals serve an important role in historic downtown Culpeper, as they not only enhance the physical appearance of our community, but they provide deeper historical content for both longtime residents and tourists alike.

The placement of wall murals enhances the aesthetic appeal and strengthen the sense of place in Culpeper downtown, while capitalizing on some of our community’s assets: history, architecture, countryside, and the growth of an arts culture in our community. Murals have become a unique and appealing way of increasing tourism and improving commerce. This project enhances downtown’s inviting atmosphere for new and existing businesses while enticing locals and visitors to make downtown a destination point.