IN A display of artistic brilliance and community engagement, artist Megan Lingerfelt has concluded an extraordinary six-day endeavor in Grundy County, leaving behind Tracy City’s first magnificent full-scale mural, aptly titled “Lantern Light.” This masterpiece captures profound moments within South Cumberland’s vibrant history, preserving the narratives of the Cherokee Nation, Swiss immigrants, civil rights activists from the Highlander Folk School, and the intrepid coal miners through Tennessee’s South Cumberland Tourism Partnership’s ambitious oral history project.
Before commencing the mural’s creation, the Destination Marketing Association (DMA) and the tourism commission orchestrated a community forum, inviting locals to contribute their cherished historical moments worthy of recognition.
According to a press release by Margie Gallagher, a volunteer at the Franklin County Arts Guild and The Artisan Depot & Gift Shop, a passionate resident said “Coal mining started the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company and later became U.S. Steel. It also started the funding for The University of the South. The Sewanee area was the first area where coal was found on the mountain, called the Sewanee Seam. Tracy City was the center of all mining activity and the railhead. The Mountain Goat train brought people to the mountain, contributing to The University of the South and Monteagle Assembly.”
Coal mining was not only the livelihood of countless early plateau settlers but also birthed a labor movement that rose against the utilization of prison labor, pitting itself against established unions. Today, visitors to the area can still marvel at the remnants of the Lone Rock Coke Ovens, an emblem of the coal mining era. These ovens, over 120 in number, operated during the late 1800s, nestled just below the railway, and now stand as a cherished entry on the National Historic Register, embodying the region’s storied past.
Inspired by these captivating tales and the valor of the miners showcased in the Coal Miners Museum in Whitwell, Megan Lingerfelt embarked on her artistic journey, finding inspiration in the oil lamp sheltered within the Grundy County Historical Society building.
“Color plays an important role in this one, and it is all about the glow and texture of the coal,” the artist said. “I also spent some time with a man at the mining museum who shared what it was like working in low-profile spaces, something I tried to portray with the floor and ceiling in this design.”
The tourism commission handpicked the building owned by Doug and Kalene Hankins, proprietors of Hank’s Corner Grille and the newly opened hostel, The Goat Pen, as the mural’s home.
Kalene reflects on the week-long spectacle with excitement, stating, “It’s been an exciting week watching the community embrace this amazing project. Each day added to the suspense of watching the mural progress,” Kalene said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Megan and DMA to transform what was a blank wall into a piece of art that pays homage to a piece of Tracy [City’s] history for everyone to enjoy.”
The realization of “Lantern Light” was made possible through the generous support of Tennessee’s South Cumberland Tourism Partnership Inc. and a Creative Placemaking grant from the esteemed Tennessee Arts Commission. Prior to Tracy City, DMA triumphantly executed two mural projects in Madisonville, also funded by Tennessee Arts Commission grants, cementing their commitment to fostering artistic expression throughout the state.
The Inspiring Artist
Megan Lingerfelt, a native of North Carolina, honed her drawing and painting skills at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Following her graduation with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery in Seattle, where she found her passion for mural art.
Currently residing in Oak Ridge, Lingerfelt continues her illustrious career in public art, adorning Tennessee’s walls with her magnificent large-scale pieces. Her creations are a harmonious fusion of natural elements and engineered forms, incorporating the distinctive nuances of each mural’s location.
Through bold colors, intricate line work, and an emphasis on light and contrast, Lingerfelt’s compositions breathe life into the essence of the community they adorn, creating visually distinct landmarks that resonate deeply with their surroundings.
Let us revel in the beauty of “Lantern Light” and embrace the transformative power of murals, for they have the remarkable ability to celebrate our shared history, inspire our present, and ignite a sense of belonging within our vibrant community, giving it that sense of “home,” we all know and love.
The captivating tale of “Lantern Light” unfolds, revealing the rich tapestry of the community’s history. This remarkable mural uniquely conveys the power of artistic brilliance and community engagement.
Let this remarkable mural remind us all that there are extraordinary things in our communities waiting to be cherished. Just as “Lantern Light” captures the vibrant narratives of Tracy City’s past, let us embrace the murals, the stories, and the hidden treasures that bring our own neighborhoods to life. GN
