Jared Wheatley’s mural project seeks to stimulate conversations between Native and non-Native people.

Jared Wheatley’s mural project seeks to stimulate conversations between Native and non-Native people.
Formerly known as the Tunnel Art Project, the over 250-foot mural occupies a real working tunnel connecting two main buildings of the Charles George VA Medical Center. Lead artist Jim Stilwell draws inspiration from the hospital’s residents and visitors.
Scenes include yetis downing hoppy porters and devils skipping with lanterns. At Diamond Thieves Piercing and Tattoo, a grizzled skeleton even dons a big, red Santa Claus costume.
Each week, Xpress highlights notable WNC crowdsourcing initiatives that may inspire readers to become new faces in the crowd. This week features the collaborative project more than 50 mural artists have planned for the River Arts District plus a Burnsville-based family farm’s business expansion.
The two Asheville-based mural artists have finished two new pieces on the side of the old Penland Auction house, which will be torn down in four to six weeks.