Cadman adds mural to her long list of local volunteer endeavors
Spruce Pine Main Street volunteer Emma Cadman stands in front of the new mosaic mural on Lower Street. She used donated plates to make it come to life.
Hundreds of hours of volunteer labor have finally paid off in the form of a new, colorful mural on Lower Street in downtown Spruce Pine.
The 15-foot mosaic mural, which can be viewed from the sidewalk on Lower Street just past the News-Journal office, is a colorful collection of letters on a simple, clean background that reads “Spruce Pine NC.”
It’s a project that has been in the works since 2020 and came to fruition behind the work of volunteer Emma Cadman, a native of England who now lives in Spruce Pine with her family.
The Spruce Pine Main Street Design and Beautification Committee in 2020 began planning the community mural project but the pandemic slowed the process and there was no artist.
The committee started to explore alternate ideas until Cadman, a volunteer on the committee, offered to design it. She presented a plan to incorporate several mosaic murals into a design that aligned with the latest vision for Spruce Pine Main Street with a focus on assets that showcase the outdoor recreational opportunities in town.
The mural reached its current state after more than 370 hours of labor. Cadman utilized dozens of plates donated by the community to make it come to life.
The community will continue to be involved. The second phase of the mural project, tentatively scheduled for early 2023, will incorporate “Mosaic Mondays” in which anyone can come to get their hands on the project.
For Cadman, it’s just another part of her volunteer efforts for SPMS. She has served as a volunteer since 2020 and has helped with clean-up days, promotions, social media and more.
Cadman fell in love with mosaic art more than two decades ago. She expresses her passion through pique-assiette art.
Cadman finds the art form soothing and her works are influenced by her love of nature and the beauty of the outdoors.
“Emma is a perfect example of someone who moved into our community and became an asset to our town, organization and those around her,” said Libby Phillips, SPMS executive director. “She is always willing to lend a helping hand and offer solutions to challenges. We are so fortunate to have her on our board and as part of our community.”
To learn more about the mural project, call SPMS at 765-3008.