SPRINGTIME IN TR — TRAVELERS REST, SC (2017)
OVERVIEW
Springtime in TR is a permanent community mural on Main Street in downtown Travelers Rest, SC, created in 2017. Designed by artist Emily Clanton, the project was executed in collaboration with Furman University’s MayX program, giving students the opportunity to engage in a large-scale public art project.
OBJECTIVES
Contribute to downtown Travelers Rest’s cultural identity through a permanent mural.
Create a welcoming landmark that celebrates Travelers Rest’s natural landscape, agricultural heritage, and connection to the Swamp Rabbit Trail—embodying the themes of springtime, renewal, and growth.
Provide Furman students with hands-on experience in mural production, creative teamwork, and environmentally responsible on-site practices.
Video courtesy of Furman University (Instagram, May 31, 2017) — [link]
PROCESS
Design Selection: The mural was selected through a public call for proposals. Emily’s floral landscape design resonated with the town’s character and vision for Main Street.
Collaboration: Under the guidance of Professor Ross McClain, the design was refined and converted into a paint-by-numbers format that allowed students to experience the full scale of mural production. Working on-site for two weeks during the MayX term, students contributed to the painting process while practicing time management, teamwork, and responsible material handling — including daily clean-up and reorganization of brushes, drop cloths, and paints.
Execution: The mural was completed on a central wall along Main Street, where it remains visible to pedestrians and cyclists traveling the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Its placement reinforces Travelers Rest’s identity as a town that integrates art, nature, and community life.
OUTCOMES
Cultural Landmark: The mural became a vibrant visual anchor for downtown, complementing the city’s ongoing Main Street revitalization efforts.
Educational Impact: Students gained real-world experience in public art installation, collaborative work, and site-specific design.
Community Engagement: The project demonstrated how small towns can merge civic goals with educational partnerships to enrich the built environment.
Completed mural and process (header image) photographed by artist Emily Clanton, May 2017.
IMPACT
Springtime in TR stands as both a creative contribution to Travelers Rest’s public realm and a model for experiential learning in higher education. The project embodies how university-community collaborations can produce lasting cultural and educational value, supporting local identity while advancing student development through engaged practice.
PARTNERS
Furman University — through the MayX Program (student artists and faculty), supported institutionally by The Furman Advantage, a Duke Endowment–funded initiative advancing experiential learning . Project mentorship provided by Professor Ross McClain with logistical coordination by Marta Lanier, Art Program Specialist (pictured below, wearing a white hat and black shirt).
Town of Travelers Rest — mural initiative coordination and asset mapping.
Collett — property stakeholder participation.
Photo originally published in “Painting by Numbers”, by M. Linda Lee, Furman News (July 12, 2017).