A splash of color. A nod to history. A reflection of today.
This beautiful mural, titled Beginnings, is on display at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center (7632 Warren Park Dr.)
Local artist, Missy Pardue, and her partner, Jason, brought this incredible piece to life, fusing wood and resin to capture the charm of Lewisville's small-town culture and natural beauty.
Heartfelt gratitude extends to the Shallow Ford Foundation for their generous grant for this project, and the Town for matching it.
Beginnings was unveiled at a reception on May 16, 2025.
About the Artist
Missy has lived in Yadkin County since 2000. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Wingate University. With twenty-two years of educational experience, she currently teaches art at Starmount High School. Missy does commission art, including pet and people portraits, wall murals, and set design for the Yadkin Arts Theater.
Whimsical Addition to the Community Center
The Town of Lewisville is proud to showcase a beautiful new art piece created by longtime resident Betty Tysor, whose journey into art is just as incredible as her work. Her piece was selected as a permanent fixture by the Public Arts Advisory Committee.
About the Artist
Born in 1933 in Siler City, NC, Tysor has led a full and vibrant life. As a dedicated professional, she worked for many years as a bookkeeper for Glenola Frame Works in High Point before launching her own successful furniture company, Salem Square, which sold 18th-century hand-rubbed mahogany furniture. She worked there well into her 70s. More than three decades ago, she moved to Lewisville to be close to her daughter and has quickly become an active member of the community. She is a member of Shallowford Presbyterian Church and has been a choir member there for many years. Tysor also frequents the Lewisville Branch Library and has a love of reading. Finding herself with extra time on her hands, Tysor checked out
a few books on painting from the Lewisville Branch Library and decided to try something new. It was then, in her 80s, that she discovered a new passion for painting. Since then, she has been featured in many art shows at the library and is always thankful to share her artwork with the community. Her piece, Painting Away, now has a permanent place in the Great Wagon Room at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center. Not only
does it enhance the space, but it also celebrates the lifelong learning and vibrant spirit of our town.
The Frank Holder Collection in Lewisville
Step into the fantastical world of metal giants with local artist Frank Holder. Opal the ostrich (pictured right) can be seen welcoming visitors at the entrance drive to the Mary Alice Warren Community Center. Be sure you stop by to see her!
Holder also created the two dinosaurs (pictured below) that can be found towering behind the community center. In 2021, the students at Lewisville Elementary School voted to name the dinosaurs Lewissaurus and Elliesaurus when they were brought to their new home.
Cliff Lewis, a Lewisville resident, donated these three pieces of Frank Holder’s artwork to the Town in memory of his mother, Elizabeth Baer Lewis. We are grateful to Mr. Lewis for his generous donations of these wonderful works of art.
About the Artist
Frank Holder (1931-2009) was a metal sculptor and Lewisville resident. Holder was a professional welder who retired from R.J. Reynolds Co. He created countless fanciful figures from scrap metal, many of which express Holder’s subtle sense of humor: giant insects that hold mailboxes, a whale that spouts water, a provocative mermaid, and a madcap roadrunner. He celebrated the natural world with towering daffodils, a soaring eagle, a leaping ram, and many others. Holder was an active member of the Lewisville area and arts council. His work was displayed at area galleries and craft events in various states.
Blend of Abstract and Reality
The Public Art Advisory Committee has acquired a beautiful Rita Long painting to permanently reside in the Great Wagon Room at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center. Long's piece,
Back Pasture, is a stunning watercolor landscape featuring graceful trees and soft, open countryside. The painting draws inspiration from her personal experiences, observed landscapes, and a blend of abstraction and reality.
About the Artist
Rita Long, a Lewisville resident for 30 years, has always had a passion for art, but like many people, the demands of work, family, and everyday life have gradually left less time for creativity. Unfortunately, in 2019, she was diagnosed with cancer. After receiving this difficult news, she found comfort and purpose by returning to her artwork.
“I picked up my paintbrush again and haven’t put it down since,” Long said. Today, watercolor is her favorite medium, allowing her to capture the beauty and emotion she finds in the world around her. Through her artwork, Long continues to share her creativity, resilience, and appreciation for charm in this world.
Bringing History to Life
Lewisville-based artists Paul and Pat Spainhour collaborated to bring a piece of history to the Square, showcasing where Lewisville began and, as we move forward, why we are here. The custom Shallow Ford relief sculpture now stands proudly at Shallowford Square.
The Sculpture
The "Shallow Ford" represents the progress of Lewisville and the continuity of our community. This landscape features the historic Shallowford at the nearby Yadkin River. One side of the piece is lined with trees, facing the other showing plowed farmland. The ripples of the water surround the natural ford passageway through the great Yadkin that made for the easy passing of settlers.
About the Artist
Paul Spainhour, owner of Spainhour Iron in Lewisville, began his career as a mechanical draftsman. Spainhour's 44 years of experience in design, fabrication, and installation have earned him his current status as a master blacksmith. Through diligent study under master blacksmiths and countless hours of practice, he has developed his distinctive style that blends traditional techniques with artistic innovation. Paul's artwork graces homes, institutions, and galleries throughout North Carolina, and his contributions to the John C. Campbell Folk School and numerous festivals have inspired his peers.
Pat Spainhour, Paul's wife, has also played a crucial role in helping to design and prepare this piece. Her experience as an accomplished painter and art educator brought forth the inspiration of colors, textures, and rhythms of rural North Carolina to this sculpture. Pat's artwork has been exhibited in galleries and celebrated by collectors, and her lifelong commitment to creativity and education continues to enrich both her students and the artistic community of Lewisville.
Thank You
This piece is funded by the Shallow Ford Foundation and the Town of Lewisville.
Blend of Abstract and Reality
The Public Art Advisory Committee has acquired School Days2, an amazing watercolor piece by Terry Johnson, to display in the Great Wagon Room at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center.
School Days2, is a vibrant oil painting that captures a touching moment between a father figure and a child in a raincoat. Surrounded by colorful trees, the scene captures a warm nostalgia and the beauty of everyday life.
About the Artist
Terry Johnson discovered his passion for art as a freshman in high school. He credits his art teacher, Rebecca Hanner, with nurturing that interest by introducing him to the works of legendary artists and encouraging his creativity. By his senior year, he was already selling artwork to friends and had even completed pieces purchased by the Surry County School Board. After graduating, Johnson married his high school sweetheart, started a business in Winston-Salem, and raised four children. In 2018, he and his family chose to make Lewisville their home. A few years
ago, after watching a documentary on Impressionism, his passion for painting was rekindled, inspiring him to return to the canvas.