Mural expanding in Sonny Side alley off Johnston Street

Wes Tomlinson, The Decatur Daily, Ala.
·2 min read

Apr. 18—The same North Carolina artist who painted the large mural in the downtown alley off Johnston Street Southeast is back in town expanding her Decatur-themed artwork to an adjacent building in the same alley.

Britt Flood originally came to Decatur last fall after being commissioned by the Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Association (DDRA) to design and paint the mural, which she completed in November.

"This is a continued mural project from what was finished last fall and I got approved to extend it to another building in this alley," Flood said. "I got the ultimate compliment and got hired back."

The alleyway, originally referred to as the Johnson Street Alley Project, was renamed Sonny Side in honor of Sonny Craig, a longtime business and civic leader in Decatur who died in September.

Flood was selected for the original mural from about 30 applicants who responded to a request for proposal by the Urban Arts Committee of the Alabama Center for the Arts Foundation.

Noel King, a member of the committee, said the Urban Arts Committee and the DDRA reached out to Mark Moody of MarMac Real Estate, who owns a building in the alley, late last year to ask if he would be interested in featuring the expanded mural "and he was in favor of it."

Flood began painting the building beside Silkroad Salon on Saturday, and on Tuesday, the silhouette of a fisherman in his boat surrounded by an orange dusk could be seen. By Wednesday she had painted two mallard ducks. She said the natural wildlife she experienced while hiking on trails through the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge influenced a large portion of the Sonny Side mural.

"That part is an ode to the river and all the fishermen in the area," Flood said. "I'm also continuing the same native wildflowers like mountain laurel and two mallards up above that to go along with the sandhill cranes to show the native birds in the area."

Her original mural painted last year includes images of Decatur's wildlife, such as fire azaleas and sandhill cranes, on the wall of The RailYard restaurant and Silkroad Salon on the east side of the alley. On another part of their buildings are hot air balloons depicting the Alabama Jubilee, which is held at Point Mallard Park every year.

King said he is pleased with Flood's mural and said it is putting a positive focus on the downtown area.

"We've had nothing but positive response from the public and a lot of positive comments about how it represents our community and the iconic wildlife that's in the area," King said.

Flood said she estimates the mural expansion will be complete by Friday.

"As far as square-footage goes, this is the biggest overall mural I've ever done," Flood said.

— wes.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442.