New Mural Coming to Our Greenwood Club
Robin and Yolande stand in front of the old mural at the Greenwood Boys & Girls Club
Get ready for a breathtaking transformation at our Greenwood Club! Thanks to a generous grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission, we are thrilled to announce a stunning new mural that will soon adorn the outside of our building on Carrollton Avenue.
This incredible project is a collaboration between two talented artists with deep roots in our community: Yolande van Heerden and Robin Whitfield.
Meet the Artists Behind the Vision
Yolande van Heerden, our own Art Director at the Boys & Girls Clubs, has been a driving force for creativity since she joined our team in September 2023. A well-known Greenwood art teacher originally from South Africa, Yolande brings a wealth of experience and a passion for nurturing creativity and entrepreneurship in our young members.
She is joined by Robin Whitfield, a renowned artist based in Grenada, Mississippi. Robin is no stranger to creating public art in Greenwood, having previously designed a mural for the Museum of the Mississippi Delta. She is an artist deeply connected to the natural world, often painting on location with watercolors and experimenting with foraged wild pigments.
A Mural By the Club, For the Club
What makes this project so special is that it’s a true collaboration. Our very own Club members have already rolled up their sleeves and played a vital role in its creation! They painted the vibrant background colors on the panels, which blend together to incorporate every color of the rainbow.
The mural will run the entire length of the basketball court, facing the parking lot, turning an everyday wall into a magnificent canvas. The final design will feature items and landmarks specific to Greenwood, creating a beautiful sense of place and pride for everyone who sees it.
This detailed sketch is the essential first step in bringing the mural to life.
Robin Whitfield: An Artist's Connection to Nature
Robin’s artistic process is a profound practice of observation and reverence for the world around us. Her work is a way to connect to the beauty and mystery of nature. Here is a glimpse into her philosophy:
“Painting is a practice of reverence... I consider myself a visual poet - seeking rhythms and rhymes of color and shape, light and dark... The act of composing is a creative cauldron... I paint on location to fill my senses and suppress my everyday mind. All that I know dissolves and opens an exciting path to the discovery of new things.”
This deep connection to the Mississippi landscape will undoubtedly infuse our mural with a unique and meaningful spirit.
Robin Whitfield adds some details to one of the mural panels.
A Work in Progress
Alicia Dallas and Hart Henson from our team recently visited the Greenwood Club to see the progress firsthand. The artists are hard at work, and the mural is expected to be completed by March 2026.
This project is a symbol of community, creativity, and the Great Futures we are building together at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta. We can’t wait to share the finished masterpiece with you!
Stay tuned for more updates as the mural progresses!
This project is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency.