A Living Work of Art: Have You Seen Our New Community Mural?
If you’ve driven or strolled past the front of White Horse Black Mountain recently, you might have noticed a vibrant transformation taking shape. This spring, we teamed up with the incredibly talented Asheville muralist Ian Wilkinson to bring a brand-new, large-scale mural to life.
But here’s the exciting secret: what you see today is only just the beginning.
When we first envisioned this project, we didn’t want a static, finished piece of public art. We wanted something that breathes, changes, and grows right alongside us and the community we love so much.
Built by Community Hands and Hearts
This project truly belongs to all of us. Over the course of four collaborative workshops, we brought together local residents, our wonderful White Horse members, and some incredibly creative first-grade students from Black Mountain Elementary School and ArtSpace Charter School.
We invited everyone to share their ideas, imagery, and inspirations. The result? Hundreds of local voices and hands directly shaped the final design. It has truly become a collective expression of Black Mountain’s unique spirit, identity, and deep connection.
“This mural became a shared canvas. By inviting the community in, we ensured it reflects many voices, many stories, and a collective sense of place.”
Designed to Evolve with Our Future
This mural is intentionally open-ended. As our White Horse campus continues to grow—including our highly anticipated new deck and patio additions—the artwork will expand and adapt with us. It’s not just paint on a wall; it’s a living part of our building’s long-term design and daily life.
“This mural was never intended to be a finished statement. Much like a sand mandala, its beauty lies in the process of creation and its relationship with time. The initial mural will be on the front wall of White Horse will be 60% covered by the deck that is built in front of it; so like a sand mandala the mural will disappear only to be transformed into something else as Ian is going to paint and adorn the deck with a similar aesthetic as the mural, so the entire corner becomes an installation art piece. It is part of an ongoing creative journey—as White Horse continues to grow and evolve, the artwork will evolve with it” — Zach Hinkle, Managing Director
Come See It Change!