Gray Car Murals hoping to go plural in Trussville

Gray Car Murals has one mural in Trussville complete, and the nonprofit organization is hoping to add more in the near future.

The mural at the Trussville Public Library was completed in May, and Marc Ward, one of the founders of the 501(c)(3) organization, hopes to add more throughout the city.

“We wanted to bring art to Trussville,” Ward said, “and we thought murals would be a great way to do that.”

The mural at the library is Trussville’s first outdoor mural, Ward said. The Friends of the Library and the Library Board were “great to work with,” he said.

“It’s been rewarding to see a drawing come to life on the side of the library,” he said.

His wife, Callie, an art specialist at Magnolia Elementary School, drew the mural. The nonprofit group also includes Marcia Ward, an artist who is a member of the Friends of the Library, as well as the Wards’ children, Grace and Carter. The name of the organization, Gray Car Murals, is a play on the children’s names.

Marc Ward said that during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, the family drove to Oneonta and toured the city’s Art Walk. That inspired the family, which then traveled to Laurel, Mississippi, and saw its library.

“That’s when we figured our library would be a great start,” he said.

Leeds-based Mammoth Mural Company did the installation of the mural at the library. They painted it by sight of a design Callie Ward made on an 8-inch-by-11-inch sheet of paper. Marc Ward encouraged people to take photos with their books in front of the mural.

Marc Ward said that Gray Car Murals hopes to continue adding murals throughout Trussville, especially downtown. According to Americans for the Arts, for every dollar invested in a citywide mural project, $6 is generated in revenue for the city.

“We need building owners to participate,” he said. “If you own one in Trussville and want a mural, please let us know.”

For more information, visit graycarmurals.org.