Downtown Sanford’s latest mural is complete, marking the seventh arts project of its kind in what is fast becoming Mural City USA.
The newest addition honors Fairview Dairy, a Sanford mainstay since 1928. Located on the west-facing portion of Yarborough’s Ice Cream at 132 McIver St., the mural is the first in the city to include three-dimensional elements, with cows coming out of the frame and milk and ice cream popping out of the facade.
The mural is the work of artist Chris Dalton, who also painted the World War II mural on Moore Street across from Wenger’s Restaurant. Dalton told The Rant she designed the Yarborough’s piece back in January after a call for artists was made in September 2016 by the “public arts” arm of the City of Sanford Appearance Commission. Dalton, who’s also a sculptor, said the project allowed her to blend her artistic abilities.

“This was the first mural I’ve done with dimensional elements,” she said. “I carved the cows’ heads and milk bottle and carton out of foam, and my son-in-law welded an armature for me to adhere the foam [to the wall]. After coating it, we bolted it to the building and started painting.”
Dalton said she received a lot of positive feedback on her World War II mural, which was completed in 2015.
“I had a lot of response from so many who remembered what that time was like,” she said. “It was only after I finished that I learned that the place of the mural was actually [formerly] a recruiting office.”
Sanford’s other murals were done by artist Scott Nurkin, who according to the City of Sanford Appearance Commission, will be refurbishing three existing Coca-Cola murals downtown on the soft drink company’s dime.
More photos (click for larger versions):
Update: The call for artists was made by the public arts arm of the City of Sanford Appearance Commission. A previous version attributed the wrong group.
Great info. I think the next time I’m in Sanford I will definitely look 👀 for those.
The call for Artists was from the City of Sanford Appearance Commission- Public Arts Committee. Can you please correct this. Thank you so much