Pittsboro, NC – The Town of Pittsboro is pleased to invite the public to a special ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring the restoration of the iconic Clyde Jones mural. This event will occur on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 2 p.m. in downtown Pittsboro. The mural is located on the west side of the building at 49 W Salisbury St, Pittsboro, NC 27312 (across from the downtown Pittsboro Pop-Up Park).
Clyde Jones, a former mill worker and logger in Chatham County, is internationally recognized for his whimsical “chainsaw critters,” which have drawn visitors to his Bynum millhouse for decades. As he approaches his 88th birthday, this event will celebrate his artistic contributions and lasting legacy.
The mural has been restored by Thomas Begley, a Pittsboro muralist, and is intended, says Begley, “to bring back and honor the legacy of Clyde Jones and the community members that helped to create it.” This mural restoration represents the largest work ever undertaken by the artist on an existing community-based piece of art.
Folk Artist Clyde Jones is primarily known for his whimsical wooden “critters” fashioned with a chain saw from logs, although as this mural will attest, Jones is equally adept with the brush. His works in either medium – celebrated by scholars of “Visionary, Outsider Folk Art”- have been featured internationally in magazines, and are included in permanent gallery collections around the country.
The Clyde Jones Mural in Pittsboro was commissioned by Tami Schwerin and Lyle Estill for the wall of their downtown software business in 1996. “We have always loved Clyde and his work, and we are glad to see it come back to life,” said Schwerin.
Faded by the sun, vandalized, and sometimes painted over, Begley has been painstakingly restoring the piece. The project is being completed with guidance from Michael Brown, a Chapel Hill-based muralist, and Stephan Meyers, longtime friend and archivist for Clyde Jones’ personal collection.
The effort has been funded by the Town of Pittsboro, with additional support from the Chatham Arts Council Grassroots Grant initiative. Sherwin Williams of Pittsboro donated the paint for this project. Jamie Wilkinson, Sherwin Williams store manager, said, “We are pleased to support Murals of Pittsboro and look forward to seeing more murals to come.”
Following the ribbon cutting, the community is encouraged to continue the celebration at the 23rd annual Clydefest on April 13, 2025, at the Chatham County Agricultural & Conference Center.
For updates on the mural restoration, visit the Murals of Pittsboro Facebook page at Murals of Pittsboro.
For more information about town events and announcements, subscribe to Town News and Alerts at pittsboronc.gov/news or visit the town calendar at pittsboronc.gov/calendar.aspx.