Statesville in Iredell County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Images at the Crossroads by Ben Long

— Benjamin F. Long IV Fresco Trail —

Photographed by Mark Parker, December 14, 2024

1. Images at the Crossroads by Ben Long Marker

Inscription.

Images at the Crossroads by Ben Long. . The influence of ancient stories and myths can be detected in much of Statesville's fresco, entitled "Images at the Crossroads". Mythology has great respect for the goddess of the crossroads as she has the power of knowing what's ahead. She is usually portrayed with three heads or faces, signifying her ability to know what is going on in every direction. The maiden stands at the heart of the fresco in the foreground. Her hand to her breast is an ancient signal of greeting - a sign of arrival., It is no coincidence that Ben Long has chosen this image to serve as the inspiration for Statesville's fresco Statesville is a city that also finds itself at a crossroads, faced with deciding which road is best for its future., All the elements of what happens when paths come together and cross can be found in the medley of vignettes painted as a backdrop to the guardian of the crossroads. No one image is meant to overshadow another. It is hoped that observers will have their own response to the figures and faces in the environs of the maiden., "The images have to do with journey and choices; time and the ages conflict, contrast the memory of things; superstition, legend, elements of an ageless story; and love, loss, labor, play and an attempt at a meaningful gathering of oppositions, all needed to weave a sense of expectation, hopefully thoughtful and interesting, with reflections of irony." -Ben Long, The North Carolina mountains and foothills were designated the Blue Ridge National Herage Area in recognition of their natural beauty and living traditions of music, craft, agriculture, and Cherokee culture. This location is part of a regional trail of distinctive heritage sites. Ask for information at area visitor centers. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com, (captions) , Left: Hecate, the goddess of the crossroads. , Right: The sign marking the crossroads displays the word "God" in four ancient languages: Hebrew, Latin, Greek and Egyptian.

The influence of ancient stories and myths can be detected in much of Statesville's fresco, entitled "Images at the Crossroads". Mythology has great respect for the goddess of the crossroads as she has the power of knowing what's ahead. She is usually portrayed with three heads or faces, signifying her ability to know what is going on in every direction. The maiden stands at the heart of the fresco in the foreground. Her hand to her breast is an ancient signal of greeting - a sign of arrival.

It is no coincidence that Ben Long has chosen this image to serve as the inspiration for Statesville's fresco Statesville is a city that also finds itself at a crossroads, faced with deciding which road is best for its future.

All the elements of what happens when paths come together and cross can be found in the medley of vignettes painted as a backdrop to the guardian of the crossroads. No one image is meant to overshadow another. It is hoped that observers will have their own response to the figures and faces in the environs of the maiden.

"The images have to do with journey and choices; time and the ages conflict, contrast

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the memory of things; superstition, legend, elements of an ageless story; and love, loss, labor, play and an attempt at a meaningful gathering of oppositions, all needed to weave a sense of expectation, hopefully thoughtful and interesting, with reflections of irony." -Ben Long

The North Carolina mountains and foothills were designated the Blue Ridge National Herage Area in recognition of their natural beauty and living traditions of music, craft, agriculture, and Cherokee culture. This location is part of a regional trail of distinctive heritage sites. Ask for information at area visitor centers. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com

(captions)
Left: Hecate, the goddess of the crossroads.
Right: The sign marking the crossroads displays the word "God" in four ancient languages: Hebrew, Latin, Greek and Egyptian.

Erected by Statesville Civic Center, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music.

Location. 35° 46.913′ N, 80° 53.222′ W. Marker is in Statesville, North Carolina, in Iredell

Images at the Crossroads Marker. Statesville Civic Center in the background image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, December 14, 2024

2. Images at the Crossroads Marker. Statesville Civic Center in the background

County. It is on South Center Street (North Carolina Route 115) south of West Front Street (U.S. 64), on the right when traveling south. The marker is along the sidewalk near parking for the Statesville Civic Center. The mural itself is inside the lobby of the Civic Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 S Center St, Statesville NC 28677, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Col. Silas Alexander Sharpe (within shouting distance of this marker); N.C. Association for the Blind (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Vance Hotel (about 400 feet away); Wallace Brothers Herbarium

Front entrance of the Statesville Civic Center. The fresco is in the lobby of this entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, December 14, 2024

3. Front entrance of the Statesville Civic Center. The fresco is in the lobby of this entrance

(about 500 feet away); U.S. Post Office and Federal Building (about 500 feet away); United Spanish American War Veterans Memorial (about 700 feet away); Statesville in the Civil War (about 700 feet away); Iredell County Courthouse (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Statesville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Statesville in the Civil War (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Regarding Images at the Crossroads by Ben Long. The Fresco Trail is a series of artwork by Ben Long mostly in the High Country of Western North Carolina. This work in Statesville and another located in Charlotte are the two exceptions outside of that region.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Benjamin Long Frescoes.

The luminous, life-size Ben Long Frescoes created by world-famous fresco artist Benjamin F. Long IV are the focus of a trail that leads visitors through the North Carolina mountains and foothills to churches and public buildings adorned with the paintings.

(Submitted on December 15, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Images at the Crossroads Mural by Ben Long image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, December 14, 2024

4. Images at the Crossroads Mural by Ben Long

Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 250 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 15, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.