SNOW HILL, Md. – Pearl Street and the Arts and Entertainment District in Snow Hill will be getting a facelift starting this Saturday, June 13th thanks to a fresh mural being installed by artists Olga Deshields, Sue Stockton and Dawn Tarr on the side of the Maryland’s Coast building as part of a town beautification effort.
The mural comes as part of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Community Placemaking program.
The concept, which uses a trompe-l’oeil approach to create the illusion of three openings within the existing brick wall, reveals a scenic river landscape beyond while visually maintaining the traditional texture and character of the building.
Features such as crop fields, birds, butterflies, native plants, and a kayak on the river are intended to create a strong sense of place while contributing to the visual appeal and pedestrian experience of downtown Snow Hill.
Each artist will be contributing specialized elements within a unified overall composition. Mosaic components will be installed through the mortar joints to preserve the integrity of the brick surface.
Join the artists on June 13th, 20th, or 21st from 5-7pm and get an up close and personal peek into what goes into a mural like this. Participate in the process and related activities, chat with the artists, and enjoy an evening Downtown.
About the Artists
Olga Deshields: A resident of Snow Hill, Deshields’ work lives in public spaces as murals, hand-painted signs, and community-based installations that reflect both care for craft and connection to place. Her designs are vibrant and colorful, shaped by a lifelong love of nature and geometry.
In addition to her art practice, she serves on the board of Downtown Snow Hill Inc., a Main Street-affiliated nonprofit dedicated to revitalization through community engagement and placemaking.
Susan Stockman: A celebrated artist, Susan Stockman exhibits her jewelry, mosaics, and sculpture throughout the United States and her pieces reside in collections worldwide. Her popular classes and workshops encourage personal creativity and growth on many levels.
Her mosaic murals are in schools as part of Maryland's Artist in Residence program and in private homes. Her jewelry includes exquisite silver work with natural stones and other materials.
Dawn Tarr: A native of Snow Hill growing up near Public Landing on a farm where she was creating art as soon as she could hold a crayon. Dawn spent many years on Chincoteague Island where she painted signs and boat names, to Cambridge, Maryland, where her art started being shown in galleries.
Dawn’s work has been showcased in many Animal Planet shows, including Pit Boss, who invited her to Mexico to paint murals of his dogs throughout his property and travel around advocating for the pitbull breed.