Marlie Ramey’s “Soar” Mural Honors America 250 in Central City

Last Updated 9/15/2026 • Posted in Quilt Trail 2026

Marlie Ramey is a local artist from Hurricane, WV, and said they introduce everyone they can to Central City. “Central City is a place I love and a community that I feel represents the true WV experience,” Marlie said. Now, as one of eight artists selected for the Central City Quilt Trail Reimagined, Marlie can show their friends their latest mural, “Soar,” which Marlie said honors those who have served in the military while also celebrating America’s 250th Birthday.

Marlie said they have always loved Central City and wanted to be part of making it a brighter place. They’ve been creating art for 10 years, specializing in printmaking and oil pastels. Marlie, also the owner of their small business, Crowded Cat Studio, is no stranger to Central City’s creative efforts, as they have worked with RenewAll and the Old Central City Association through special events such as Winter Arts Fest and West Arts Fest.

Nearly 17 million Americans are veterans, with West Virginia ranking 3rd among states with the most veterans, with 7% of the population having served in the military. Marlie shared that their great-grandfather served in the military and their family has always honored and supported Veterans in a variety of ways. “I’ve grown up always supporting my local VFW through its Girls Poppy Program, where I once received an award for raising the most money for Veterans in my group,” Marlie said. Through this project, Marlie is proud to have created something so meaningful to themselves and their family.

Marlie’s mural, “Soar,” showcases a bald eagle soaring across red, white, and blue patterns to honor our veterans and celebrate America 250. “I searched for old quilts that had an eagle represented on them and used that as inspiration for the basis of my design,” Marlie said. “I wanted to keep things geometric to call back to the simplicity of barn quilts,” they added.

Marlie said that they learned the importance of keeping distance in mind when creating a large-scale piece. “My original design had some aspects that just wouldn’t have communicated well on that large of a scale and from that height,” they said. Marlie added that they enjoyed collaborating with Allison Broome and their mom, Wendy, to install the mural. “I felt so supported and loved watching it go up,” Marlie said.

View the “Soar” mural on your next trip to Central City, located on the Glow Studio Building at 520 W. 14th Street, Huntington, WV. You can check out Marlie’s business website by visiting www.shopcrowdedcat.com or following on Facebook and Instagram @crowdedcatstudio. Learn more about the Central City Quilt Trail and other artists involved with the project by visiting the project page online.

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