‘GateKeyper’ Greets Residents & Visitors to Downtown

Kingsport has another colorful creative piece of art for residents and visitors to admire – the ‘GateKeyper’ by Joe Maye. It’s located at the intersection of Center and Sullivan Street.

‘The GateKeyper,’ is a neo-cubist piece meant as a welcoming to the downtown community. The area of the installation influenced the title and idea of the mural, as it is known as “The Gateway.” The mural portrays a key approaching its destination, held by a figure with variable eyes.

“The variable eyes signify the multiple influences that affect the path to which we, as individuals but also a community, will move forward, expand, and develop our future,” said artist Joe Maye.

To view a time-lapse video of the mural, please visit the City of Kingsport Facebook page!

Maye’s mural is included in the Public Mural Program. Other murals completed from the establishment of this program include ‘Hamilton: The Giraffe’ located on the side of The 101 building on Main Street and the Bellafina Chocolates mural which is still in progress. It’s located on the side of the Bellafina Chocolates building on Cherokee Street – and they’re encouraging the public to help them paint the background! Check out Bellafina Chocolates on Facebook for more information.

Kingsport Mural Arts Program is funded in part by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. For more information, please visit www.engagekingsport.com.