This fun and colorful Coffee Cup mural was installed near the entrance to Downtown Benson, right off of I-95, Exit 79. Greensboro artist Gina Franco was commissioned for the Coffee Cup Mural, giving the town a very bold, colorful, and inspirational piece of public art.

The mural can be seen coming into town just off the interstate on the Main Street facing wall of the Exxon gas station and The Grind coffee shop and creamery. It’s not hard to miss with its bright reds, deep blues, sunny yellows, and pops of pink and teal. Bold and colorful was the exact thing the Benson Arts Advisory Board was looking for in a second mural in downtown. Franco’s mural depicts a welcoming Benson “feeling” — with its gigantic coffee cups stacked on top of one another with messages like “love grows here,” “come together,” “kindness matters,” and of course “I love Benson.” The last one being a kind of unofficial catchphrase that can be seen around town on signs and bumperstickers.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

“I use a lot of text and typography,” explained Franco. “It’s really important for me that people interact with (the mural). I like to create moments where people can use it as a background for pictures and selfies. Interaction is a big part of the style.”

For Franco, Benson’s new mural was the first time she had worked so close to the interstate and as a result she had quite an audience over the three days it took to complete. “I’ve never had that many eyes on me,” she said. “People were honking and telling me it looked great and cheering me on...it was great to be able to interact with this community because to me every community is so different.”

It seems as if the positive vibes are already spreading. Be sure to stop by the Exxon and see it for yourself, it looks just as good up close as from afar!