BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County Tourism is joining with Austin Shuck’s Appalachian Pioneer Program to bring a mural to downtown Inez and kick it off with a “Water Day” music and art festival in mid-May.

Tourism chairperson Nita Collier said in a Tourism Commission meeting Monday that she had been working with three Martin County artists to include local cultural and historical elements in the mural that will be painted on the Cain Hotel Building on Main Street.

Collier also said she had talked with the building owner Lisa Stayton, who began discussing the mural and event with Shuck after he approached her last year.

Collier showed the other commissioners a picture of a mural design that Shuck presented to Stayton.

“It’s beautiful,” Collier said. “I’m going to talk to him and have him work with Susan [Fannin]. Some of the things we want to show on the mural are history, gardening, coal mining and quilting, and we want to add some color.”

Shuck is collaborating with Anna Pollock of Lexington, Kentucky, an artist connected to the art and music scene of Kentucky, on the mural. 

Pollock created and will be painting the mural’s central design, a woman standing among flowing water and mountains surrounded by themes of Appalachia. 

Commissioner Jarrod Slone said he had spoken with Stayton about Shuck’s plans for a festival.

According to Slone, Shuck raised about $2,300 with his “Walk for Water” from Slade to Inez in October 2021.

“It’s my understanding that he wants to use the money for this,” Slone said. “He wants to do a festival on the lot beside the building. I’m going to call him one evening this week and talk with him.”

The Mountain Citizen spoke with Austin Shuck separately from the meeting, and he elaborated on his motivations behind the project.

Shuck aims to use the creation of the mural and the festival to raise awareness about Martin County and Appalachia’s clean water infrastructure needs.

“My goal with the Walk for Water was originally to get like $20,000, but $2,500 is all we raised and I knew that amount would essentially perpetuate the less-than-ideal behaviors,” Shuck said. “I talked with Phill Barnett and Lisa Stayton, and we thought we could use the Mountain Citizen building for a mural to not only raise awareness for the water issues there but to celebrate the artists and culture of the community.”

The commissioners noted the city’s new benches and tables could be temporarily set up in the space beside the building where the Christmas in the Mountains committee constructed a new stage in December.

“Water causes concerns and also inspires,” Stayton told the Citizen. “Shuck hopes the mural and the event will send a powerful message.”

Shuck will also be teaming up with Phill Barnett of Musical Moonshine to bring the event to a wider audience and will announce final plans in the upcoming week.

Shuck’s idea for a mural addressing water issues in Martin County and an accompanying festival has been met with enthusiasm from all fronts. 

“I’m glad other people are wanting to help,” said Shuck. “I’m sure $2,500 goes a lot farther when you’ve the tourism board and the paper helping out.”

Shuck’s nonprofit Appalachian Pioneer Program is hosting music/podcasting events April 14 and 15 in Central Kentucky. On April 14, Strings in the Spring will be a private session video and podcast recording session. The following day in Lexington, Shuck will host a free live event at Greyline Station. 

“Both events will promote culture and well-being in Kentucky and Appalachia,” said Shuck.