CLIO— Residents of Clio, members of The Rebuild Clio Economic Development Foundation, and mural project finalist Adam Schrimmer met at the Clio Community Center to discuss ideas for Clio’s new mural project. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to raise tax-deductible donations and secure tax-free grant funding for projects that enhance the Town of Clio. Falling under the town’s newly formed Beautification Committee led by Ms. Francis Moody, Clio’s mural project represents its first undertaking. Since their initial meeting in February, organizers have selected a location for the mural, next to the police station and near city hall.
“We are so excited about this project, and I am looking forward to it being just the beginning of more great things coming to Clio,” Clio Beautification Committee Secretary Debbie Polson said.
According to committee members, the goal of the mural project is to connect Clio with its past while providing inspiration to future generations of Clio residents. Saturday’s meeting was held at the request of finalist Adam Schrimmer, an illustrator and muralist currently living in Greenville. Creator and owner of Blank Canvas Mural Company, Schrimmer and his team designed and painted the latest mural in Bennettsville beside the courthouse. More information about Schrimmer and his work can be found through his website www.blankcanvas.com. He is one of seven applicants for Clio’s mural project.
Some other candidates currently in contention include muralists Jason Best, who created murals in Dillon and Florence, and Herman Keith, who has designed and painted murals in Lake City for ArtFields.
Paying his own expenses for the trip to Clio, Schrimmer said he feels it is critical for any muralist to listen to community members share their thoughts on the kind of image they want to see every day. Looking to fully immerse himself in Clio, he also requested to have Mayor Adam Pate walk him around town, helping him to really get a “feel” for the atmosphere.
“Hearing directly from you helps me design an educational, historical mural based on you, the community’s, expectations should I be chosen for the job,” Schrimmer said.
Susan Woods, who is The Mural Project leader, said she was very excited to meet with Schrimmer and hear feedback from other Clio residents about the project.
“It really does speak volumes to me that Adam [Schrimmer] wanted to come here and meet with us, talk about the mural, and listen to our ideas,” Woods said.
Echoing her sentiments, Mayor Adam Pate agreed, sharing he was excited to have an expert guiding Clio through the artistic process. “It was very gracious of him to agree to meet with us and we are so grateful for his advice helping us move the ball forward.”
During the meeting, several memories and ideas for what the mural should look like and represent were discussed.
Many residents mentioned Dowlings Hot Dogs as one of their favorite memories growing up in Clio, with quite a few remarking that Dowling’s was their first place of employment.
“Saturdays have never been the same since it closed; best place in town to get a hot dog and a coke,” Polson said.
One resident shared a favorite memory for her was visiting John Meadows store in town and treating herself to some ice cream. Prior to the recent consolidation, many residents discussed growing up with a love for their school system and the teachers who taught them anything could be possible with determination and perseverance.
Another shared memory was of former Clio Councilman Abe Cohen’s general store and the time all of Clio showed up to paint the town.
Apparently quite the undertaking, residents met downtown during the 1970s, grabbed a paint brush, and went to work beautifying the town in vivid Williamsburg colors.
“It was a groovy time,” Polson remembered with a laugh.
Other items mentioned are the old Oak trees still standing in front of Clio’s former elementary school despite being exposed to numerous storms over the years, the town’s movie theater, its original name of Ivey Crossings, the old Opera House, the year of the town’s incorporation, train depot, railroad tracks, azaleas, the cypress trees the area is known for, the cotton gin house, cotton and 144-year-old St. Peter’s Church.
Before changing its name to Clio, also known as the Muse of History, the little town went by the name Ivey Crossings, named for early settler Joe Ivey. Over time, the crossroads became a gathering place for militia drills, “muster day” trading, shops, churches, homes and a thriving agricultural community rooted in rich cotton farmland.
Still in its infancy, organizers of the Mural Project announced seven muralists applied for the job and a candidate will be selected and announced in the coming weeks.
In January, organizers set a fundraising goal of $2,000 to serve as a down payment for The Mural Project, however, that goal has since been exceeded. According to the latest report, $2,675 is raised for the project, including $2,115 through GoFundMe or PayPal, $520 mailed or sent through the mail, and $40 given in person.
At the close of the meeting, Mayor Pate said he was very grateful to all the people who have already donated time and money to the project.
He said, “I like to say Clio is not dead, just sleeping, and we’re going to wake it up again. We really want to hit the ground running with this project. I’m not scared to fundraise. And people have been great to the town of Clio; very generous people have helped Clio along the way and believe in Clio. It is where I call home and I want what’s best for it. So, we want to start small with a small project and move towards bigger things.”