Topsail Island, North Carolina is home to a new, stunning piece of art!
The Surf City Water Tower pump house now features a beautiful mural titled “Home is where the heART is,” painted by local artist David Mercer. The mural was unveiled on February 6, 2023, and it has quickly become a talking point for residents and visitors to the area.
The mural is located at 121A S Topsail Dr, Surf City, NC 28445, at the base of the Surf City Bridge and can be easily seen from the traffic circle at the base of the bridge or those traveling on South Topsail Drive. This is the first project to be completed by Surf City’s Beautification and Enhancement Committee, and it has set the bar high for future projects. The unveiling ceremony featured comments from Surf City Mayor Teresa B. Batts, Sandi Monroe, the Chairwoman of the Beautification and Enhancement Committee, and of course, the artist, David Mercer himself.
The mural showcases several tourist attractions and elements of Surf City’s rich history, including a sea turtle, the old swing bridge, a shrimping boat, fisherman, pelicans, and concrete towers from “Operation Bumblebee.” This is the first time the town has sponsored an art piece, and it is a fantastic representation of the community’s dedication to creating a beautiful and vibrant environment for its residents and visitors.
David Mercer is a talented, self-taught artist from nearby Jacksonville, North Carolina. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from East Carolina University but never intended to become an artist.
Despite having no formal art training, Mercer has built a rich portfolio of murals, logo designs, apparel, pins, stickers, and more, all of which can be viewed on his website at davidmercerart.com.
Mercer is a true multimedia artist, working with acrylics, aerosols, spray paint, and digital software to create his stunning works of art. He hopes that the visibility of his new mural on Topsail Island will open up more opportunities for larger art projects in the future.
In fact, residents and visitors to the area will soon have the chance to see more of Mercer’s work, as he is one of the featured artists creating unique pieces for The Locals Art Gallery & Wine Bar which will be opening later this year in Surf City, NC.
Surf City’s new mural “Home is where the heART is” is a stunning representation of the community’s commitment to creating a beautiful and vibrant environment for its residents and visitors. We can’t wait to see what the Beautification and Enhancement Committee has in store for us in the future!