WARRIORS LIVE HERE
CITY OF POCOMOKE +
CYPRESS ROOTS BREWING COMPANY
A downtown mural celebrating the natural character, local pride and community spirit of Pocomoke City.
Pocomoke City, Maryland
Exterior Mural
Community-Informed Public Art
2024
POCOMOKE PRIDE, ROOTED IN PLACE
Commissioned by the City of Pocomoke and painted on the side of Cypress Roots Brewing Company, Warriors Live Here transformed a downtown wall into a colorful reflection of the city and its surroundings.
The mural looks through towering cypress trees toward a glowing waterway filled with bald eagles, a deer and other imagery inspired by the area’s natural landscape. Vertical “POCOMOKE” lettering and a hand-painted “Warriors Live Here” sign connect the scene directly to the identity and pride of the city.
The result is artwork that feels connected to both its location and the larger community it represents.
SHAPED BY THE PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THE SPACE
The creative direction was shaped through input from the City of Pocomoke, Cypress Roots Brewing Company and community members who responded to online polls and social-media posts.
Cypress Roots’ vision played a significant role in determining the imagery and overall direction of the mural. WALS worked to honor those ideas while creating a design that could represent Pocomoke more broadly and remain achievable within the available project budget.
This collaborative process helped ensure the mural did not feel imposed on the space. It grew from the perspectives of the people who understood the property, the downtown area and the community surrounding it.
BRINGING THE POCOMOKE LANDSCAPE DOWNTOWN
The design draws viewers into a cypress-lined landscape where water, wildlife and sunlight create a sense of depth within the narrow brick wall.
Bald eagles move through the sky above the water, while a deer stands near the shoreline below. The trees frame the scene and lead the eye toward the bright horizon, creating the feeling of looking through the forest toward the river.
Rather than attempting to capture a single landmark, the mural brings together natural imagery, local identity and the atmosphere of the area to create a broader portrait of Pocomoke.
CREATING WITH LOCAL TALENT
The project also created an opportunity to bring a young local artist into the mural-making process.
Eva, a homeschooled student from the area, joined the WALS mural team during the installation. She helped draw and develop portions of the artwork both onsite and at home as the mural progressed.
Her contributions allowed the design to continue evolving during production and brought a meaningful local voice directly into the creation of the finished artwork. Although this was not a community paint project, involving a young artist from Pocomoke made the installation itself more connected to the place it represents.
CREATING WITH LOCAL TALENT
The project also created an opportunity to bring a young local artist into the mural-making process.
Eva, a homeschooled student from the area, joined the WALS mural team during the installation. She helped draw and develop portions of the artwork both onsite and at home as the mural progressed.
Her contributions allowed the design to continue evolving during production and brought a meaningful local voice directly into the creation of the finished artwork. Although this was not a community paint project, involving a young artist from Pocomoke made the installation itself more connected to the place it represents.
CELEBRATING A NEW PIECE OF POCOMOKE
The completed mural was welcomed with a community ribbon cutting that brought people together to celebrate the new artwork and everyone who helped make it possible.
A bench was also placed in front of the mural, creating a spot where residents and visitors can sit, gather, take photographs and spend time with the artwork. Its addition helps the mural function as more than something to pass while walking or driving downtown.
Together, the mural and seating area created a small public destination on a previously underused wall.
A DISTINCTIVE DOWNTOWN LANDMARK
Warriors Live Here turned the side of Cypress Roots Brewing Company into a recognizable piece of Downtown Pocomoke.
Its natural imagery reflects the character of the area, while the lettering and title express a strong sense of local identity. The mural brings color and visual interest to the property while giving residents and visitors another reason to pause and experience downtown.
The project demonstrates how municipalities, local businesses, artists and community voices can work together to create public art that feels rooted in its surroundings and achievable within a defined budget.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project: Warriors Live Here
Client: City of Pocomoke
Property and Creative Partner: Cypress Roots Brewing Company
Location: Downtown Pocomoke City, Maryland
Completed: 2024
Creative Direction: Brandon Bell
Mural Design: Brandon Bell with input from the City of Pocomoke, Cypress Roots Brewing Company and participating community members
Muralists: Brandon Bell, Deserea Martin, Kayla Allen, Kyle St. Peter and Eva Cashman
Services Provided: Community input, creative direction, mural design, artist coordination and large-scale exterior installation
COULD YOUR PROPERTY CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO THE COMMUNITY?
WALS works with businesses, developers, municipalities and organizations to transform visible walls and shared spaces into meaningful public-art experiences.
From identifying the right opportunity and developing the concept to coordinating artists, equipment and installation, we can guide the project from its earliest idea through completion.
HAVE A WALL OR PUBLIC SPACE IN MIND?
Whether you are planning a single mural, improving a commercial property or exploring a larger placemaking initiative, WALS can help turn your idea into a project that feels connected to its location and meaningful to the people who experience it.