A stunning new three-story mural has been unveiled in Downtown Huntsville, adding vibrant artwork to the city's cultural landscape. The impressive painting, located next to Jefferson Street Umbrella Alley, was revealed this past Friday and serves as a celebration of the Junior League of Huntsville's 75th anniversary milestone.

The mural, titled 'Together We Rise,' was created by local artist Ann Moeller, who designed the piece specifically to honor the organization's significant anniversary. The Junior League of Huntsville is dedicated to helping women in the community develop leadership skills while providing them with tools to apply their talents toward community service and improvement initiatives.

According to Ann Moeller, the Huntsville artist behind the work, the mural was created 'to honor not just a milestone, but the story of service and vision that has touched lives across this community for generations.' Working alongside several assistants, Moeller brought the piece to life using a variety of vibrant colors, with each element carefully chosen to symbolize the growth and impact of the Junior League of Huntsville.

The mural incorporates innovative technology in its creation process, as Moeller utilized VR goggles to assist with outlining the design. Each section of the artwork carries specific symbolic meaning related to the Junior League's community work. At the top of the mural, butterflies take flight alongside a graduate climbing steps toward an open door, representing the Butterfly Project, which helps young women step confidently into their futures through initiatives ranging from providing prom dresses to offering scholarship opportunities.

Throughout the painted branches, viewers can discover various symbols of service and community impact. A small birdhouse represents the Harris Home, which provides safety and shelter for children in foster care. A basket of apples symbolizes the numerous meals provided through hunger relief programs. Additionally, a girl holding a balloon evokes Panoply, the arts festival that was originally founded by the Junior League to celebrate creativity and arts that bring joy and unity to Huntsville.

The centerpiece of the mural features a staircase made of books, with each step serving as a reminder of the organization's commitment to literacy and education initiatives that lift individuals while strengthening the entire community. At the base of the composition, a watering can pours life into the roots of a tree, symbolizing how service, care, and vision nourish the foundation of a community in a quiet, steady manner with lasting impact.

The artist behind this impressive work, Ann Moeller Steverson, is a Madison, Alabama native who began her oil painting journey at the University of Montevallo in 1999. Since then, she has built an impressive career selling her mood-filled figures, portraits, and still life paintings both nationally and internationally. Her career achievements include receiving the Bold Brush Award, a distinction that an artist may achieve only once in their lifetime, and being selected as a finalist in the Art Renewal Center competition.

Moeller's work has been featured in several Oil Painters of America exhibits, and she has received awards from both the National Acrylic & Oil Painters Society and the Portrait Society of America. Art enthusiasts can view more of her work at Studio 271 at Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment, and she maintains an active presence on social media platforms including Instagram and Facebook, as well as through her personal website.

The unveiling of 'Together We Rise' adds another significant piece of public art to Downtown Huntsville's growing collection of murals and cultural attractions. The three-story scale and vibrant color scheme make it a notable addition to the Jefferson Street area, where it joins other artistic installations in creating an engaging urban art experience for both residents and visitors to explore and appreciate.