Local artist Seraphim Smith is creating a mural that encompasses the waterBEST logo, the City of Kinston, and the children of the community. waterBEST reached out to Smith after seeing the Kinston Okra Mural on South Queen and Shine Street, and asked him to submit a drawing for a mural for the waterBEST Kinston building where they bottle their water.

“I was delighted,” said Smith. “I got the contract a few months after the initial contact, and I was profoundly excited.”

Smith started the mural project in March and he has been working diligently to bring his idea for the mural to life. It was important to the people at waterBEST that Smith involve the community. Smith had visited Rochelle Middle School before and felt an affinity for the school. He knew he wanted the children involved in the mural's creation.

“I had recently heard that Rochelle Middle School didn’t have an art teacher,” said Smith. “I felt badly that the kids didn’t have an art outlet. It was especially important to me to teach an art class with them.”

Smith worked with the administration of Rochelle Middle School and worked it out so that Smith could teach an art class to the children that attend the school. About 82 children attended the art class.

“They signed up special to come to the art class,” said Smith. “They all wanted to come to this. Each of them painted a fish and they are all precious.”

Smith taught the children a variety of skills, including how to make different colors by mixing paint. Some children were not happy with their fish, but Smith thinks they that the community will view the paintings with as much pride as he does. The fish created by the children of Rochelle Middle School will be added to the water in Smith’s mural.

Smith anticipates the mural’s completion by Monday with an unveiling and ribbon cutting on Thursday. The mural is behind the Piggly Wiggly at Kinston’s Plaza. If you should see Smith working out there, he loves visitors, be sure to say hello.

Photos submitted by Seraphim Smith.