Black Mountain mural attracts crowds ahead of new art gallery's grand opening

A new mural in Black Mountain, North Carolina, is drawing crowds and boosting local business ahead of the grand opening of Cherry Street Gallery. The mural, designed by Atlanta-based designer Ben Rupp and adapted and painted by artist Jonathan Bidwell, was commissioned by the gallery and completed in late July 2025. Local residents and tourists have been stopping to take photos, with the artwork generating significant foot traffic and online visibility for nearby shops like the bookstore Sassafras.