From Blue Herons to Great Horned Owls, sunrise to sunset and derelict to inspiration, Kurt Eagleman’s new mural brightens the Salt Creek Trail.

“The Salt Creek Trail is such an asset to our community,” said Eagleman, a full-time artist born and raised in Brown County. “However this particular area was in desperate need of some cleaning up. It has been an absolute honor to be able to bring some life into this neglected space.”

The location for the mural is under State Road 46 at the start of the trail from CVS. Eagleman said because of the condition of the underpass and how rough it was, he wanted his design to go in the complete opposite direction. He said he wanted the space to be bright, colorful, and cheerful.

“I figured rather than battle with the layout, I should embrace the structure as part of the design,” said Eagleman. “I thought the subject matter should reflect the location and should both beautify the space and educate the patrons of the trail.”

He said only since he began painting under the bridge did he realize how many people utilize the trail as part of their everyday life.

“Every day I see visitors from the Brown County Inn who use the trail to walk into town, seniors walking from the Willow Manor apartments, students walking after school, families with their children and runners and bikers,” said Eagleman. “To be able to put my work in such a predominant location has been such a humbling privilege.”

Eagleman said approaching the mural from CVS, one will see a large retaining wall featuring a stylized sunrise with a sunbeam reaching across the first arch, with ‘Brown County’ written under it. He said he developed a nature-themed composition that reflects native wildlife one may see while walking along the trail. He said the mural explores themes of predator and prey within each vignette, set in three different landscapes each of which are found along the trail.

“A blue Heron and spring peepers in marshland, swooping swallows and insects in a meadow, and a great horned owl and a field mouse along fence-lined farmland,” said Eagleman. “I wanted these scenes to act as conversation starters for children who walk the trail with their families.”

Sean Hildreth, Marketing, Communications and Outreach Officer at the Brown County Community Foundation, said they have been working since 2019 to beautify the Salt Creek Trail area and they were finally able to accomplish it. He said it was made possible with the funding from Richard J. Hoffman Public Art Fund, the Indiana Destination Development Corporation and the BCCF.

“We are proud to be part of this,” said Hildreth. “It’s great to have more art in the community, and great partnerships through a lot of great places is the beauty of it.”

Melanie Voland, President of The Nashville Arts and Entertainment Commission, said what Eagleman is contributing to the community through art is really important.

“He’s connecting two generations of artists to Brown County,” said Voland. “Kurt has the ability to see the past and bring it forward to the future of another generation. He gives kids who love art a sense of pride in their community.”

Eagleman said the response from the community has been overwhelming. He said people have such positive things to say perhaps because they remember what it previously looked like.

“My hope is that it gives locals a sense of pride being from Brown County,” said Eagleman. “And I hope it’s a reminder that we are lucky to live in such a beautiful location surrounded by nature and wildlife, which I think a lot of us take for granted.”

To learn more about the mural and see more photos visit www.kurteagleman.com.