HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. – Orange County is tapping into its creative side thanks to a local artist.

Carlos Gonzalez, 41, got an idea to create a giant mural made up of individual mosaics. He put out the call and received more than 150 submissions from local residents this summer. Gonzalez has a passion for mosaics, even studying the craft in Italy for a few years.

"Any person, given the opportunity, can make something," he says.

Each square contains a heart made up of different items like broken glass and seashells. Gonzalez hopes it takes people's minds of the COVID-19 pandemic and other societal issues.

"With these times, it just makes it seem like it's necessary to have something like this because everybody is just very stressed out," he adds.

The mural will eventually spell out "Love Hillsborough." Gonzalez hopes to put up the mural in the town's downtown parking garage by the end of this month. 

Gonzalez partnered with the Orange County Arts Commssion on the mural to help secure funding and find a location to place the artwork.