Last spring, the Carolina Beach Mural Project received a $2,500 Community Grant from The Endowment to bring new life to the exterior of the Katie B. Hines Senior Center in Carolina Beach. The project’s vision, a vibrant Tree of Life mural featuring the island’s indigenous birds, continues to take shape thanks to the dedication of local artists and community partners.
This mural is more than just public art; it’s a story of growth and opportunity. Two aspiring young New Hanover County artists, Jude Watkins and Marshal DeLeon, both students at Ashley High School, were selected for paid internship positions. Under the guidance of renowned artist, teacher, and businesswoman Susan Nuttall, they’ve been working weekends for the past six months, balancing their schoolwork, jobs, and their passion for art.
Through this internship, Jude and Marshal have gained invaluable experience: managing project timelines, collaborating as part of a creative team, painting on a large scale, experimenting with new techniques, and learning how to present their work to the public. These hands-on lessons are shaping them into confident, professional artists, ready to pursue futures in the arts.
The Carolina Beach Mural Project is widely respected for its outstanding contributions to public art and its commitment to inclusivity. The organization has become known for celebrating the culture and history of Carolina Beach, featuring artists from diverse backgrounds who each add their unique voice to the island’s colorful story.
The Tree of Life mural, titled “Community in Bloom,” perfectly captures the spirit of the Katie B. Hines Center, a local hub for connection and well-being. The center offers residents of Pleasure Island daily activities, fitness classes, bingo, and a popular monthly pancake breakfast, while also serving as a vital nutrition site for seniors.
“The ‘Community in Bloom’ mural celebrates the community on the island with the tree of life centering the portraits of local flora and fauna. The tree of life can represent the source of life, connectivity, enlightenment, wisdom, resilience, longevity, or the cycle of life and death itself. The Carolina Beach Mural Project felt that this was a perfect representation of the important role the Katie B. Hines Center plays on Pleasure Island,” said Maureen Lewis, President of The Carolina Beach Mural Project.
The mural is still being completed on weekends as the interns balance their busy schedules, but each new brushstroke adds meaning to a project that’s already deeply enriching the community.
The Endowment is proud to support initiatives like this that inspire mentorship, education, opportunity, and connection for our New Hanover County community.
