The Moore County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) will reveal the third of its five “HOME” public art installations in downtown Aberdeen on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 4:30 p.m. The reveal is free and open to the public and will be located downtown at 101 Poplar St. The mural is 60 feet wide and 12 feet tall and will be mounted on the side of the building where the Blue Bird Play Café is located.
The mural is being painted by Dan Dreyer, a classically trained graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) whose local work includes the Sandhills Story Trail and one of the Painted Ponies in Southern Pines. He and his brother Jordan also painted the Landmarks and Legacies mural in downtown Carthage. The mural will spell out the word HOME, and each letter will be accompanied by scenes representing the Sandhills area. Dreyer used to work for the TDA as their destination storyteller.
The letter H will feature woodland creatures including a fox, a fox squirrel, and a red-cockaded woodpecker. The O shows a golf scene reminiscent of the tenth hole at Legacy Golf Club in Aberdeen. The M highlights the area’s equestrian history with the Moore County Hounds. The E depicts the locomotive from the old Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad. There will also be a swash of tartan as a nod to the deep Scottish heritage in the Sandhills, a symbol that is also present in the town’s logo.
“We have known for a long time that Dan is an exceptionally gifted artist and we were confident he would create a mural that is high quality and make a statement for our ‘home’ campaign,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO of Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen. “The scenes he chose for each letter all have special significance to the Sandhills and not only tell a story of our home, but also highlight the things that make this destination such a special place.”
The installation is part of a countywide initiative designed to bring the TDA’s new “HOME” advertising campaign to life. The organization commissioned five artists to create works for Robbins, Pinehurst, Aberdeen, Carthage and Southern Pines.
This is the final installation planned for this year. The remaining two will be scheduled for dates to be determined in 2027.
“This was a fun and unique challenge for me as the mural had to be painted on 21 separate panels and then mounted to the brick façade of a building. But this style is something I have seen in other locations around the country, so I enjoyed the process of making it work in downtown Aberdeen,” said Dreyer. “Having worked for the tourism bureau made it extra special for me to be part of their ‘HOME’ campaign, and I know the mural will be something visitors and residents of Moore County will enjoy for a long time.”
The first public art installation celebrating the TDA’s “HOME” campaign was unveiled on Oct. 22. Mac Metz, a metalworks sculptor from Starworks in Star, presented his creation in downtown Robbins. On Oct. 29, ceramic artist and Sandhills Community College professor Luke Huling unveiled his public art creation at the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens.
The other artists involved in the home public art campaign include Grace Cathey, a renowned metalworks artist who is planning a piece made of 14-gauge mild steel to be placed near the Pik n Pig restaurant at the Gilliam McConnell Airfield in Carthage. Lastly, internationally acclaimed sculptor Patrick Dougherty, known for his monumental works created from woven saplings, will create his “HOME” installation at Reservoir Park in Southern Pines.
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Contributed.
