In the final part of our series, we turn to the locals — artists, sponsors, town leaders, and advocates — who are rolling up their sleeves to find creative, workable solutions to the policy roadblocks stalling a downtown mural project.

Bruce Frankel, who became involved after hearing a proposal by muralist Christina Parrish, is among those seeking a simple solution: a town-approved, uniform plaque that recognizes mural sponsors without running afoul of the existing sign ordinance. 

“You’re talking about a small, two-foot plaque, maybe less,” he said. “And the town doesn’t have to pay for it. The mural doesn’t advertise the business — it’s just a thank you.”

Frankel noted that other municipalities have ordinances that specifically allow for mural-related exceptions, suggesting that one of these towns might provide the model for a Kernersville solution. 

And that’s where advocates like Lindsey Lengyel step in.

In addition to presenting the Board of Aldermen with three examples of other North Carolina municipalities — Sanford, Hendersonville, and Elkin — that have relevant public art ordinances on the books, she has offered to work with local leaders to address any other possible roadblocks.

Lengyel’s Blue Stream Environmental sponsored a mural Scope News highlighted while it was still a work in progress last month:

That mural, painted on the south-facing wall of the Musten & Crutchfield building, was one of a few Parrish-promoted projects permitted to proceed in accordance with the sign ordinance. And Lengyel is determined to help ensure other downtown murals are added to the local landscape as soon as possible.

Lengyel sees a “clear, legal pathway to allow small, uniform, informational public art plaques” in a section of existing code, which she said could present an option that “avoids the need for outside legal review or ordinance amendments and keeps control in the Town’s hands.”

Frankel agrees that a solution is within reach, adding: “The town has the ability to do it. They don’t have to start from scratch. This isn’t about redoing your sign ordinance.”

Lengyel has also offered a “mini grant” through her company “to fully fund these plaques for up to two years — so there would be no financial burden to the town.”  

Acknowledging the frustration of what she calls a “rigid interpretation of the ordinance,” she said she nevertheless remains focused on “sticking to the facts, offering a constructive solution, and hoping it gets traction.”

Town Manager Curtis Swisher told Scope News that the issue has been receiving significant attention at Town Hall recently.

“We’re actively looking at ordinances that other municipalities have that have murals,” he said.

The Board of Aldermen requested a recommendation from town staff in August, and Swisher said the town is considering all its options.

“We may take it back with the recommendation to leave it as is [or] take it back and say, ‘Hey, here’s a way you can do that we think will keep the town out of trouble,’” he said. “We just don’t know yet.”

As the town’s timeline advances, Frankel said the next few weeks are critical for community members who want to weigh in.

“People need to speak up,” he concluded. “I really do think so. If you’re a resident or a business owner, now’s the time to ask your elected officials where they stand.”

For more on this issue, read our entire “The Writing On The Wall” series and listen to our podcast interviews with Bruce Frankel and Christina Parrish.

Follow Scope News on social media for our full coverage.

If you’d like to add your voice to this ongoing public debate, share this article on social media or reach out to editor@scopenewsonline.com.

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