World renowned folk artist Clyde Jones came to Carrboro on Wednesday, November 10, 2004, with a bag of paint and a mission – to create a mural on the front of the PTA Thrift Shop. When Barbara Jessie Black, executive director of the Thrift Shop, decided the front of the Carrboro store needed sprucing up, she asked web designer Jackie Helvey for suggestions. Before you know it they were on their way to Bynum to strike a deal with Clyde. "Get some younguns together," said Jones, "to do the painting. I'll draw the outlines and they can paint." Clyde is well known for his critter creations, which can be seen around Carrboro and Chapel Hill, and in abundance in Bynum, but he's also become known for his paintings. He likes to involve young people in the process, and often goes to area schools and builds critters with kids, or has them participate in mural projects such as this. Dry Dock Seafood Restaurant at Cole Park Plaza, south of town, has an extensive collection of Clyde's paintings on exhibit in their dining room. Legend has it that a New Yorker walked into the Bynum General Store a few years back, spotted one of Clyde's paintings on the wall, and offered him several thousands of dollars for it. "I think it looks fine right where it is," was Jones' reply. Each year the Museum of Art in Raleigh features an exhibit on their lawn of Clyde's critters. This year alone Clyde has been the subject of several documentaries by film makers from all over the world, who come to Bynum to meet Clyde and film him in his natural habitat. The Discovery Channel will be airing a documentary on Jones in early 2005. Clyde takes it all in stride. Jones is known for not selling his work. He might give you one if he likes you, and he often donates them to auction off, but selling his work is not something he ordinarily does. If you think you'd like to call him to ask if you can come and visit, don't bother trying to find his number. Clyde doesn't have a phone. Once you find Bynum, turn left onto the road just past the General Store. You'll recognize his house. Clyde loves visitors. On this day, Jones started by drawing outlines of various creatures onto the white wall with a Sharpie. Then the children went to work. More than 25 students from local schools came to help with the painting. The younger kids were teamed up with an older child for guidance, and together they painted away. There were no rules as far as what they they could paint. Clyde encouraged the kids to use their imaginations and paint whatever they wanted. Payment for Jones' effort came in the form of a trade. "We fed him lunch, and are letting him go shopping in the store in exchange for his work on the mural," explained Jessie-Black. What a deal! As dusk began to fall, a few brave parents climbed the ladders to help Clyde complete the critters higher up on the wall, too high for the kids to reach. Clyde spread out his arms in an all encompassing gesture when the work was complete. "What do you think?" he asked. " Do you like it?" Very much Clyde, very, very much. More pictures...