Andrews – “The scaffolding was my biggest challenge,” artist Pamela Hopkins said of her recent mural installment downtown. “I’ve just turned 70, and getting up and down isn’t as easy as it used to be!”
Hopkins was tapped to paint the mural as a part of an Andrews Chamber of Commerce initiative. Chamber President Nola Cooper chose the bold, blue border color. Hopkins was thrilled with it.
“The blue seemed a beautiful sky color,” she said, “as well as a border around the sign itself.”
The idea behind the sign was meant to represent all of the activities available in the area.
“I wanted to include activities that are so important here – hiking, rafting, biking, airplanes, fishing,” Hopkins said.
As a longtime artist with roots as a billboard painter, she prepared for the mural by overcoming a major obstacle in her art.
“The challenge for something that big, to me, is making my head a giant projector,” Hopkins said. “Honestly, even though I do a scale drawing it’s always different once you get up there!”
Along with her husband, son and sister, she moved to Andrews earlier this year from Arizona. They fell in love with the mountain town after visiting friends in Franklin.
“I looked at my husband and said, ‘I’m ready for a new adventure!’ ” Hopkins said with a laugh. “And we moved here one year later. So I’m so excited to feel like I’m becoming a part of the Andrews community.”
The community is happy to have her. Her Andrews mural is not her only artistic contribution.
“I have painted some set pieces for the theatre,” Hopkins said. She also teaches a line dance class on Wednesday nights. But, mostly, she is interested in learning everything she can about the South.
“I’m really anxious to learn about the South,” she said. “I want to visit a plantation, see a reenactment, go to the library and get books about history of the South. Oh! And I want a mint julep, too!”
The mural, painted on the Andrews Tanning Salon building, adds artistry and interest to the town.
“I hope when people come to town and see the mural, they will feel good about Andrews. I’m new here, and I’m feeling very good about Andrews,” Hopkins said, adding, “I have never met such polite people in my life.”