CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — A Chapel Hill artist is looking for a new canvas as his impressive mural tribute to Dean Smith is set to be demolished in the near future.
“Back in 2015, when Dean passed, a good friend of mine called me up and said ‘I think it’s time,'” said Scott Nurkin.
Nurkin got to work the day the legendary UNC basketball coach passed away, working dot by dot to transform part of a delipidated building near the intersection of Smith Level Road and US Route 15/501 in Chapel Hill.
“I went to basketball camp at Carolina when I was a kid for three years and I was lucky enough to shake his hand. I just found him, as I got older and learned more about him, he’s a great leader, not just a basketball coach, champion of civil rights,” he said.
But now its days are numbered.
“I knew it was going to go down at some point, so it’s not surprising,” Nurkin said. “That’s just sort of why I’m pushing now to get the message out that we need a new one.”
Refuel is planning to build a new gas station and convenience store at the site, which includes tearing down the building the mural is painted on.
Nurkin has been tirelessly looking for a new building to replace the mural, which could include another Carolina legend.
“Clearly I want to do a newer version of Dean, a little sharper,” said Nurkin. “This isn’t really a style I work in anymore, so more of a hyper-realistic thing. But also, maybe if we have more room, I’d love to throw Roy up there too.”
Nurkin hopes wherever the new canvas will be will be closer to the heart of Chapel Hill.