Golden Rule Hosts Barbour County America 250 Mural

Friday, June 19th, brought the community of Belington together to celebrate a festival honoring West Virginia Day and the nation’s 250th anniversary with live music, vendors and activities. As part of the festivities, the Barbour County Commission found it significant to host a public ribbon-cutting for the new mural “Cerulean Sky” on the Golden Rule Building. With Governor Patrick Morrisey leading the ceremony, locals had the opportunity to celebrate the project, interact with the Governor, and meet the artists, Kylie Proudfoot-Payne (center) and Zoë Brielle Payne (right). Emilee Goodman (left), the third artist to have participated in creating this piece, was not present at the ceremony. 

The large 14’ x 32’ mural was completed in only two weeks, from March 15th to April 1st. It depicts the Tygart River, Laurel Mountain, and the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley train under a bright sunset. Kylie Proudfoot-Payne conceptualized this piece while her daughter, Zoë Brielle Payne, and artist Emilee Goodman assisted with production. Commissioner Bob Richardson was instrumental in locating the mural at the prominent Golden Rule location. Now, the colorful artwork lives on the upper section of the wall, making it almost impossible to miss. 

This piece evolved through a process that required adaptability, as Proudfoot-Payne chose to intensify the feelings that would evoke. Kylie mentioned having first designed a serene landscape for the mural. Yet, after watching the colors of the evening sky, she pivoted to create a vibrant sunset that better represented the beauty of Barbour County. “When I think of Barbour County, I think of the experiences with the land, the water, and the flow of the river through the County. Most of our communities are along rivers, and we engage with the water and the sky… and I feel like this mural depicts a dramatic point of interaction between those things,” Proudfoot-Payne said. David Strait, President of the Barbour County Commission, explained that “Rather than highlighting landmarks, we wanted our mural to make you feel the way that being in Barbour County makes us feel.”

The Golden Rule Building was a natural choice for the mural. Once home to the Valley Grocery Company and later The Golden Rule Company, the historic building served the Belington community for generations before sitting vacant for nearly two decades. Today, it has been restored as a mixed-use building with affordable housing and commercial space, making it a fitting backdrop for a public artwork that celebrates Barbour County’s landscape and history.

Governor Patrick Morrisey was present to give a speech addressing the celebrations: “When I come up here, I think about West Virginia history and how much it’s been shaped by the railroad. It carried our coal. It carried our timber, our workers, our families, but also carried opportunities.” The governor added that, “Railroad track connected communities like Belington to all across WV and ultimately, our country… [This is] such an idyllic small town, and we have a chance to look and assess where we’ve been, celebrate where we are today, and look ahead to where we are going.”

Funding for the mural was made possible by West Virginia’s America 250 Mural Project, with support from the Barbour County Commission and Woodlands Development and Lending. This project is crucial for downtown redevelopment purposes; it complements the Golden Rule development nicely. Downtown revitalization involves making residents feel happy and comfortable where they are while attracting people to the area. One way to do that is by showcasing the work of local artists such as Kylie, Emilee, and Zoe, for whom it is an honor to have their pieces displayed in a building that has marked Belington’s history. Now, entering Belington feels like an immersive experience of Barbour County’s beautiful landscape. 

If you would like to learn more about the “Cerulean Sky” mural and the ceremony, visit this article: https://www.wboy.com/news/barbour/how-barbour-countys-america250-mural-symbolizes-local-culture/