by Jess McCuan / photo by Sarah Henry

Since there’s no university degree in “civic restoration,” Molly Must is making one up as she goes. So far, Must, a 22-year-old who moved to Asheville three years ago to attend UNCA, has taken classes in political science, economics and art history. In essence, she’s interested in urban spaces and the way people interact with them. But lately, she’s incorporated some high-profile extra-curricular activities into her education, like the Asheville Mural Project, which she leads as a branch of the downtown nonprofit group Arts 2 People. The first in a series of AMP murals is the nearly finished Lexington Gateway Mural, painted by six artists on the underside of the I-240 bridge where it intersects with Lexington Avenue and Broadway. The nearly 6,000 square feet of concrete, depicting local scenes and characters, spruces up an otherwise dark and rather menacing passageway. “Bringing art into the public sphere is really important for having a healthy community,” says Must, who painted a portion of the Lexington mural herself and is planning two others—on an exterior wall of the bus transit center on Coxe Avenue and an interior wall in the downtown Asheville Public Library branch. The latter will depict “Asheville Saints,” people who have contributed to the community and deserve to be honored. She’s currently accepting nominations. 

To learn more or to nominate an “Asheville Saint,” go to ashevillemuralproject.org.