As you walk around Rutherford County, take in the colorful sights of local murals while learning about the culture and history of the area.
Public Arts in Rutherford County
Anyone walking around Rutherford County can explore a buzzing hub of creatives and artists. With murals, statues, sculptures and more, there is always a piece of public art to inspire you during your visit. What might not be immediately obvious, though, is the work that local nonprofits and organizations do to support the community of artists in this county.
The Rutherford Arts Alliance (RAA) has been working, along with other groups and individuals, to promote arts, culture, and heritage in the county since 2018. RAA has organized countless public art displays, participated in arts festivals, advocated for the funding of projects, and galvanized the community in support of arts in Rutherford County.
In Smyrna, Carpe Artista has also played a role in this work. Carpe Artista provides training, leadership development and community engagement opportunities for artists in Rutherford County, while advocating to increase support of public arts endeavors.
Rutherford County has seen an eruption of interest in mural artwork and an exciting rise in the number of murals across the county. Much of that interest is due to not only these organizations but also local mural companies. Car and Cynthia at Iron Brush Mural Company are responsible for many local murals, including the popular “Good Things Happen Here” in downtown Murfreesboro and “It’s a Good Day to Have a Good Day” at Red Bicycle Depot District in Smyrna.
Travis and Alicia Maynard at Murfreesboro Murals created murals at Sinking Creek Farm and the well-known Main Street Music mural. Artists Ryan Frizzell/Meagan Armes are the minds and brushes behind the “I ‘heart’ the Boro” in downtown Murfreesboro and the much-loved “Circles and Bugs” art at The Bug Man LLC (among several others).
Murals to See in Murfreesboro
RAA board member Susan Gulley explained that the county has seen an exponential increase in the number of murals in the past 10 to 12 years. A few particularly influential murals spearheaded the county’s excitement for mural creation.
In particular, the Vine Street mural of Murfreesboro’s cityscape was representative of the community from the moment it began. It was organized by Rutherford County highschooler Mira Patel, who worked with her Murfreesboro neighbors, the RAA, and even internationally known artist Norris Hall to bring the community together to paint this masterpiece. Be sure to take your time and find all of the “easter eggs” in the mural that reference Rutherford County history, culture, and even community members.
Susan Gulley told us that, before the creation of this communal masterpiece on Vine Street, there were only about 12 murals recorded around Murfreesboro. Since then, however, the number has skyrocketed to more than 100 across Rutherford County.
Another essential stop on your mural tour is the Maple Street Murfreesboro Medical Clinic of Dr. David Hopkins. In 2020, during the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, the community came together to celebrate the centennial of women’s suffrage and pay homage to the “Leading Ladies” of Rutherford County history.
Organized by the RAA and designed by Murfreesboro Painter Laureate Ginny Togrye, the “Leading Ladies” mural was created alongside Mary Donnet Johnson’s original play, Party of Twelve. Featuring 12 women, 11 of whom are from Rutherford County and one of whom is a national figure of feminism, the mural provides viewers with an interactive experience as they learn about each icon. As a viewer, you won’t be able to identify the women’s portraits until you visit the Leading Ladies website and read about everything that they contributed to the feminist movement in Rutherford County. You’ll walk away from this mural with the satisfaction of having seen a great piece of artwork and having learned about essential history in the county.
You can find another visual representation of the county’s communal presence at the Patterson Park Community Center. The Murfreesboro Cultural Arts Department enlisted youth from local afterschool programs to paint a mural that represents peace, diversity, and education, with sections to reference all of the students’ hobbies and passions.
The local arts community has made Murfreesboro a gorgeous town to walk around in. Whether you’re looking for some pretty sights, an in-depth history lesson, or both, a tour of Murfreesboro’s murals is the perfect day activity.
Murals to See in Smyrna
Like Murfreesboro, Smyrna is home to many murals that demonstrate its rich culture and heritage. The local art community and Carpe Artista have played a huge role in the Rutherford County mural renaissance, supporting and being supported by the creation of public art.
On the side of the well-known Station Theater Building in downtown Smyrna, visitors will find a giant mural historically used to advertise Purity Dairy products in town. Since then, a Smyrna community member has restored the theater and lovingly redone the Purity mural as a nod to the county’s rich history.
Smyrna is also home to the mural on the Hoover Paint Store, which was paid for and designed by Hoover and painted by the community. After a professional artist drew the design onto the brick and the community filled in the lines, local artists finished the job by leaving their handprints in a variety of paint colors. This colorful project served to bring the community together, increase the presence of beautiful public art displays in Smyrna, and even benefit Carpe Artista’s community arts initiatives.
If you know where to look, you’ll find amazing murals all across Smyrna. Pick a day with good weather, put on your best walking shoes, and prepare to experience the local culture and history!
Supporting Public Art in Rutherford County
Across the county, we want you to enjoy your time in Rutherford County and to have as many exciting views as we can provide!
If you love your walking tour and want to support the artists and organizations that create these beautiful pieces, consider reaching out to the Rutherford Arts Alliance and Carpe Artista to learn more about their work and how you can support it.
Artistic organizations are always looking for new ways to expand, whether that’s the creation of more murals, the invention of an app to facilitate walking tours, or something that hasn’t even been thought up yet. Contact your local art organizations and keep your eyes out for their latest work to stay up to date! For now, come visit us and see if you can spot all of the murals we have to offer.
And, when you visit, be sure to add the social media tags so others can follow along: #VisitRutherfordTN #exploremurfreesboroTN #RuCoTNMurals