The Stories Behind the Tiles
So many beautiful, heartfelt stories were shared with us during the unveiling of the mural.
We knew we had to find a way to honor those moments, to preserve and share them with all of you.
This project is more than just art. It’s a reflection of who we are as a community, our history, our spirit, and the love we have for our Small Town. It holds deep meaning for us, and seeing it come to life has been nothing short of magical. Seeing people from all over the world contribute to it alongside 200 local artists is inspirational.
A heartfelt thank you to Lewis Lavoie, the artist, whose vision and passion brought this dream into reality. Through his work, he has not only created something beautiful, but he’s also connected people in the most meaningful and unforgettable way.
The Stories Behind the Tiles
Lynda Baker
Tile # 27
Rutherfordton, NC
I painted my tile in remembrance of The Wine Shop my husband and I owned in Rutherfordton for 15 years.
Shari Andrews
#408 on the mural in Rutherfordton. As a tribute to my sister, Stacey, Lewis is also including it at #2075 in the digital image and all future prints.
Columbus, Ohio
Let me tell you a little bit about my sister and why I painted my tile the way I did. Stacey Galster (tile #498) lived on Fripp Island, SC. Stacey’s life was not an easy one for her. She struggled with alcoholism and depression all her life. The one thing that gave her joy was being a part of the Sea Turtle Patrol on the island.
When Stacey was diagnosed with cancer, we all witnessed an amazing transformation. She was, for the first time in her life, at peace. It was such a blissful and profound peace that I have never seen before in my lifetime - from anyone, much less from someone who struggled all her life and was now battling cancer.
In the end, as hard as it was for her physically, she would get up every morning to do her best to save those sea turtles. She loved saving the turtles!!
Shortly after her diagnosis, Global Roots popped up on my Facebook feed. It was the start of something beautiful. I ordered 10 tiles for my family (including one for her dog, Mikki!). I threw a painting party for her 59th birthday on March 29, 2024, knowing she probably wouldn’t make it for her 60th. It was a very joyful day!!
In my tile, I painted her as the guardian angel to the sea turtles. I truly believe that was her mission in life - and will continue to be in her new life as an angel.
Stacey passed on August 5, 2024. Before she passed, I kept showing her the mural’s progress. It meant the world to her! She knew in her heart that we would be with her forever. Again, it was pure joy and pure peace.
Being a part of the unveiling yesterday brought ME pure joy and pure peace!!
I know deep in my soul that Stacey was there with us during the unveiling. She brought us rain - lots of rain! Perhaps she was reminding all of us how important it is for us to provide constant nourishment to our roots so we can grow as individuals and as a community!
From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank Lewis and Rutherfordton for everything you have down for Stacey, me, my family, and the community at large!!
Leniece Lane
Tile #1189
Rutherfordton, NC
In the bottom right-hand corner, you will see a faint gold outline of a tree stump with a similar heart to the one in my tile. When she was younger, my daughter and I used to letterbox, and this is the stamp we made for it. Now that she is in college, I decided to create my tile based on those memories