Trinity Roberson has been chosen by the Town of Thayne as the artist to complete the Thayne Community Center Mural Project. Roberson is now commissioned to paint a mural on a portion of the south exterior wall of the Community Center.

The project developed from the town’s hope that has grown over the past few years to have a mural painted on the exterior of community center. Rebecca Hutchinson, who serves as a member of the Thayne Town Council, explained that the town made this dream a reality by applying for and receiving a grant offered by the State of Wyoming in celebration of the Semiquincentennial Birthday of the United States in 2026. The grant was awarded to communities that wanted to create a special project in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday.

In partnership with the Star Valley Arts Council, the town put out a call for artists to apply and submit a sample design for the mural. Of the twenty-four applicants, a few were from outside the state and from communities throughout Wyoming, but most were local. “Trinity’s design fit our vision best, and it was kind of cool that she is from the Thayne area,” said Hutchinson.

Thayne’s judging panel included Kevin Voyles with the Wyoming State Arts Council, Doug Mason with the Star Valley Arts Council, Thayne Mayor Devin Simpson, Town Council Member Joe Heward, and Town Beautification Committee Member Mikan Kinder. In a blind selection process, where the identity of the artists was masked, Roberson’s design was selected as the one that most accurately represented the Town’s vision for the mural.

A 2022 graduate of Star Valley High School, Roberson was raised in a home teeming with art exposure and education. She has always enjoyed participating in art and developing her talent. She feels her home and family provided “an environment to harness that talent.”

Roberson designed her mural with Thayne’s heritage in mind. “I wanted to use stuff that was central to Thayne like the cutter racing, and the cheese factory and the dairy farms – things that were meaningful to Thayne.”

Roberson and her brother, Bridger, will partner in painting the mural, and plan to begin painting this week.  They are expecting to have the mural completed by mid-September. “I’m so excited to do this. I hope people will come and stop to see the progress of the project as we go along.”