Art Mural Honors Local Mom and Son Lost to Fire
A new mural recently completed at Dowdy Park in Nags Head celebrates the life of a beloved local mom and her young son who were lost to a fire earlier this year, honoring them with a bright and colorful tribute through art.
Dare County Arts Council and the Town of Nags Head have partnered on a special mural at Dowdy Park to honor the lives of Ravann Horton and Sebastian (Sebi) Lopez, who tragically passed away in a house fire in May.
The mural was painted on the peek-a-boo wall at Dowdy Park by local artists who donated their time to the project, including Fay Davis Edwards, AmyLynn McCabe, Dawn Gray Moraga, and Kayleigh Trott, as well as Ravann and Sebi’s family and close friends.
“AmyLynn, Kelley (Ravann’s mother), and I created a list of ideas that represented Ravann and Sebi – their loves, their beliefs, and their connection to this community,” said artist Fay Davis Edwards. “From that list I created images for a mural that could be both universally appealing while also having specific meaning if you knew them. The goal was to create an uplifting and vibrant space to brighten up the world – much like Ravann and Sebi did when you were with them. I was incredibly honored to be a part of this project, and hope we have created something that will reflect the joy they brought to everyone.”
Every piece of the mural has a special meaning. For example, the music notes outlining the holes in the peek-a-boo wall represent always being able to see Ravann and Sebi through music, the waves represent their love of the beach, the Shel Silverstein quote is from their favorite book “The Giving Tree,” and the clasping hands represent unity.
“The mural celebrating Ravann and Sebi is a true representation of their lives, and the One Love that they shared for each other, their family, and this place we call home,” said Ravann’s mother and Sebi’s grandmother Kelley Grider Horton. “We would love to thank all that were involved in making this beautiful tribute, especially the three main artists Fay Davis Edwards, AmyLynn McCabe, and Dawn Gray Moraga. The literal sweat and tears that went into this project was selfless and full of passion, just as they were selfless in giving to this community. Let us all carry on their ways and continue to give to those in need and truly care for one another. Feel the music and let it flow through your acts of kindness. Honor their ways. Nina, Victor, and I want to thank the Town of Nags Head, Dare County Arts Council, and all involved for providing this sanctuary, a place for us and the community to come and reflect on our own lives and to feel the love of Ravann and Sebi.”
Ravann and Sebastian were a big part of the Outer Banks community, known for giving back and celebrating the arts, especially music. Ravann was the founder of Ravra Productions, a music production business that helped organize concerts and community events, including Dare County Arts Council’s Artrageous Kids Art Festival, which has been held at Dowdy Park since 2017.
“To say that Ravann and Sebi meant a lot to us is a huge understatement,” said Dare County Arts Council Executive Director Chris Sawin. “Ravann served on our board of directors in 2012-14 and organized all of the music for Artrageous every year since 2012, including a tour-de-force stage show for the grand opening of Dowdy Park in 2017. Art has a way of healing and connecting people, and we hope that this mural provides comfort for the family and for our community. I would also like to thank Kelley, who made a generous donation to Dare County Arts Council in honor of Ravann.”
Everyone is invited to visit Dowdy Park in Nags Head to see the new mural.
“I’m so happy that Dowdy Park is home to such a beautiful expression of our community’s love,” said Town of Nags Head Mayor Ben Cahoon. “Yes, we miss Ravann and Sebi, and feel pain for their family, but the power of love shown here goes a long way toward salving that pain. Thank you to everyone who participated.”
Dare County Arts Council and the Town of Nags Head hope to host an event at Dowdy Park where everyone can gather to celebrate Ravann and Sebi’s lives once the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.
Mural at Dowdy Park (Photo courtesy of George Wood.)
Mural at Dowdy Park (Photo courtesy of George Wood.)
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