Emily Clanton Art

In 2017 Furman Art teamed up with Travelers Rest Artists Alliance, the city of Travelers Rest, SC, and a local commercial property management company to create a mural. Furman University students participating in the May X program were made available to paint the wall.

The May Experience - or “May X” - is an optional three-week term following the spring semester that allows students from all programs of study to explore topics across many different departments in courses that are not offered in other terms during the academic year.​​ During May X Furman Art usually offers the opportunity to participate in the Stone Mural Project in Greenville, SC.

2017 was special because there were suddenly two murals - one in Travelers Rest and the other in Greenville. This split the class into two work groups.

As my design was selected for the Art on Main Street mural, I was invited to draw the design and create an action plan for Furman students - many of whom were not art majors.

City government in Travelers Rest was very supportive of the project as they consider public art to be an important part of the city’s character.

Media Mentions

“Furman course brings art to downtown TR” by Elizabeth LaFleur. The Greenville News. May 30, 2017.

"Painting by Numbers" by M. Linda Lee - Furman University News . July 12, 2017.

“Suddenly Hip” by M. Linda Lee. Furman Magazine. July 15, 2017.

“A Community of Art: A Source of Pride” by Melinda Long. Travelers Rest Here. August 1, 2017.

“Discover the Murals of Travelers Rest” by Amanda Dempsey. Greenville 360. February 7, 2019.

“Head Out on an Upstate Mural Driving Tour” by Melanie Coblentz. KiddingAroundGreenville.com. September 11th, 2019.

My installation proposal was selected by the 2018 Artfields jury.

I built and installed my mixed media portrait, 1942, on the wall in East Main Park in Lake City, South Carolina. (It can be seen briefly in the finale video for the event.)

A few months later, this piece was selected for the South Carolina Festival of Flowers Juried Art Show at The Arts Center of Greenwood. In this show 1942 was awarded the Arts Center Merit Award.

In 2016 one of my natural dye portraits was featured on a billboard at Bartaco Midtown, Atlanta GA.

Lighten Up Spartanburg - managed by The Spartanburg Art Museum - is a large scale public art project that bolsters the cultural vitality of downtown Spartanburg, SC, expands the local economy through tourism, provides opportunities to local and regional artists, and fosters connections between local businesses and the arts.

It is a collaborative project realized through the work of 36 artists and 30 sponsors in 2017.

My piece, Misty Morning, was sponsored Morgan Corp, and a local survey voted it as a “Bulb I’d Like to Have In My Front Yard.” 

Listen to my contribution to the walking tour audio guide.

Public Art Loan Program, Deerfield, IL

My natural dye painting, Summertime, was selected for The 4th Annual Deerfield Public Art Loan Program. It was on display at the Deerfield Public Library from 2017 to 2018. This piece was also the first portrait chosen by the Fine Arts Commission for this program.

Designed artwork for the Art in the Neighborhoods program in Chattanooga, TN. My work was selected by the Shepherd Community Action Council and Public Art Chattanooga, and it was transformed into a wrap for a school bus shelter in one of the oldest historically black communities in Chattanooga. This project funded two pieces of functional public art with the goal of increasing neighborhood pride and civic engagement in young residents.

This is a digital reworking of a portrait on paper. Chattanooga enjoys more warm days than many other parts of the United States. Summertime is a playful image reminding viewers of the fun and excitement of cooling off with childhood friends.

Pompano Beach, FL is in the process of wrapping utility/traffic boxes on major arterials and in several neighborhoods. The goal of the program is to reduce blight along the corridors by transforming a utility box into a piece of art.

This beautification effort enhances the experience of all those visiting the corridors and will help to prevent boxes from being vandalized, primarily with posters.

Both of these wraps are digital reimagining of previous paintings on paper. The portrait images are mirrored on the front and back of the boxes.