Artist Kurt Eagleman addressing the crowd gathered at the mural dedication in November. photo by Cindy Steele
Nature Inspires, Bridge Gets a New Look W ~by Jeff Tryon
hile Nashville’s Salt Creek Trail provides a nature walk along the creek from the intersection of state roads 46 and 135 to the YMCA, it also passes under the state highway’s big concrete bridge. Everyone who uses the trail would agree the bridge was the least attractive part of the walk—until now. The Nashville Arts and Entertainment Commission wanted to see more public art around town. They were in talks with local artist Kurt Eagleman about painting a mural in town on the side of the Heritage Mall when the idea of a mural under the bridge came up. Funding was available through a grant from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation, a group supporting public art grants through the
50 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2024
state. The Brown County Community Foundation also helped make the project happen. “It was a real community effort from two great organizations in the community who want to beautify and better our community,” said Eagleman. “Only three of these matching grants were given out in the state, and we were lucky enough to be selected.” With funding in hand, and the location in mind, the young artist drafted and submitted the design inspired by the nature that surrounds the Salt Creek Trail and the wildlife that makes Brown County special. Eagleman felt the underneath of the old bridge looked “dingy and derelict,” so he wanted to take it in the opposite direction with a design that was bright, cheerful, and colorful.
