STATESVILLE, N.C. -- It has been 11 days since his Royal Badness, Prince Rogers Nelson, ascended to the purple heavens. A mural in his honor went up in Statesville on the side of the New South Gallery and Studio the following Monday, and since then fans have been flocking to the wall to get a glimpse of the purple one.
"He's an icon," said Cittorie Wilkins.
"His music is just awesome, awesome," Len McNamara declared.
"I love Prince," said Menika Wilkins.
That love for Prince has turned the mural into a must-see attraction in Statesville.
"It looked exactly like the 'Purple Rain' cover," said Tiffany Ashemore.
"This is a work of art, it is beautiful," Wendy Baird reacted.
Rogelio Calvo, owner of the New South Gallery and Studio, commissioned the mural for the town's jazz festival. Initially it was supposed to showcase Jazz great Louis Armstrong, but Prince's untimely passing prompted a change of plans.
"The response has been overwhelming, people just love Prince," he said.
Calvo admits he never got permission from city officials to put the mural up, but he says he never intended to make Prince a permanent fixture. He say he told the city he planned to remove it after last Saturday's jazz festival. However, fans of the mural have started a petition to keep it up. So far they have more than 1,500 signatures.
"I think it is very good right now, but I don't think it needs to stay forever," Calvo contended.
Menika Wilkins posed in front of the larger than life Rock legend.
"Hopefully they don't take it down, but if they do, I got my picture," she said.
It's a steady stream of fans coming to see the mural, taking selfies and posing in front of Prince while they can.
"It makes me feel good, because you aren't going to get music like this no more, not in our generation," said Cittorie Wilkins.
No date has been set for when the mural will come down.
The Mayor released the following statement on Tuesday: