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Calls for artists, permit applications, and more.
Custom Events List
Santa Rooftop Rescue
DUE TO WEATHER, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL DEC. 20.
December 20 | 5:30-7:30 PM
140 West Plaza on the corner of Church and Franklin Street
We’ve heard that Santa might find himself in a tricky situation in downtown Chapel Hill this December – and you’re invited to see how he makes out! Join us at the 140 West Plaza for holiday music, hot cocoa, and treats – and keep your eyes peeled for Santa on a nearby rooftop. We’ll call in the Chapel Hill Fire Department’s brave firefighters to rescue Santa and bring him safely down to earth. Stick around after the rescue while Santa and the firefighters greet children and hand out candy canes. Hot beverages and treats available for purchase from Tenco Coffee truck.
Elise Alexander
Titled Open Secrets
Media |
Created by Elise Alexander
Maria de Bruyn
Titled Bumble bee gathering pollen on St. John’s wort
Media | Photography
Created by Maria de Bruyn
Sharon Hardin
Titled Sunspots
Media | Watercolor
Created by Sharon Hardin
Jean Kaplan
Titled Crooked Creek
Media | Weaving
Created by Jean Kaplan
Lilly Langer
Titled Red Roof Barn
Media | Oil
Created by Lilly Langer
Duncan Lewis
Titled Pig
Media | Cast Bronze
Created by Duncan Lewis
Wayne Marcelli
Titled Untitled (martyr)
Media | Oil on canvas
Created by Wayne Marcelli
Miriam Sagasti
Titled Beautiful Peonies
Media | Watercolor
Created by Miriam Sagasti
Farid Sani
Titled Shepherd
Media |
Created by Farid Sani
Eric Serritella
Titled Unfurled
Media | Ceramic
Created by Eric Serritella
Old Well
By Rachel Herrick
Installed March 2017
Located at the intersection of Cameron Avenue and Wilson Street. This crosswalk depicts one of the most iconic symbols of UNC-Chapel Hill, the Old Well. Herrick chose to portray the Old Well because of its importance to the history of the school and surrounding area.
Barcodes
By Mary Carter Taub
Installed March 2017
Located at the intersection of East Rosemary and Henderson. The lines are intended to replicate UPC barcodes with pedestrians “scanning” the UPC barcode as they walk across mimicking a real-life barcode. The UPC barcode has local roots in the surrounding Triangle — it was invented in the 1970’s by IBM in Raleigh’s Research Triangle Park.
Walk
By Lope Max Diaz
Installed March 2017
Located across from Shortbread Lofts on West Rosemary Street. His design incorporates minimalist geometric patterns with colors and symbols of Chapel Hill and the University. If you look closely, the design abstractly spells out “walk.”
Bricks
By Amy Hoppe
Installation currently being installed January 2020
Located at the intersection of Rosemary St. & Church St, this is the newest of the four projects. Hoppe’s design references a historical element in Chapel Hill’s architecture — brick sidewalks and buildings throughout downtown and campus.
Cathylee Mahin
Titled At The Disco
Media | Watercolor
Created by Cathylee Mahin
Willow Grove Motif
By Ingrid Erickson, 2018
Installed 2018
Located at the bus shelter on South Columbia St. at UNC Health Sciences Library.
Erickson created stencils that were spraypainted and paired with bendable foam to create the look of willow branches.
Evolving Attitudes
By Ross Ford
Installed 2018
Located at the bus shelter on Eubanks Road at Park & Ride Lot.
What Just Happened?
By Ron Liberti
Installed 2018
Located at the bus shelter on Southern Village Park & Ride Lot (no longer on display)
Ron Liberti’s What Just Happened? features altered stills from the final scene of the 1967 The Graduate where a bride runs out of her own wedding and hops on a city bus another suitor.
Chapel Hill Monuments
By Tarish Pipkins
Installed 2021
Located at the bus shelter on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd & Stateside Dr.
Tarish Pipkins’ recently updated this bus shelter. Chapel Hill Monuments portrays in bright acrylic hues well-known UNC-Chapel Hill landmarks like The Bell tower and The Old Well.
Who We Are
By Chloe Strauss
Installed 2019
Located at the bus shelter at Franklin Woods Apartments.
Strauss’ art is inspired by diversity and helping others “to see aspects of themselves shown as beautiful and important.”
Umbrella
By Sarahlaine Calva
Installed 2019
Located at the bus shelter at Airport Gardens (no longer on display)
Using a signature style and vibrant color palette, Calva weaves in raindrops and flowers to depict how one must face trials and obstacles in order to grow and bloom. Growth is a beautiful thing that requires effort and patience.
“I believe it would be a nice touch to the city while also serving as a reminder to persevere.” – Sarahlaine Calva
Star Crossed Lovers
By Britt Flood
Installed 2019
Located at the bus shelter at University Place (no longer on display)
Star Crossed Lovers is a continuous line piece that depicts two figures connected by line and color, symbolizing connection and fate.
Kindness Matters
By Helen Seebold
Installed 2019
Located at the bus shelter at Caldwell St by Northside Elementary.
In Kindness Matters, Seebold explores how we can make a difference in our community by stopping and taking a moment to be kind. She hopes the mural can help people shift their perspective and invite the viewer to become part of a movement to enlighten our minds and open our hearts.
The Ooom Pah Band
By Joel Sobelson
Installed 2019
Located at the bus shelter at Glen Lennox Shopping Center.
“To bring a smile to both young and old how about a circus-like sense of fun, color and enjoyment. I don’t know about you but If you look closely you can actually hear the fun um-pa-pa of the band. ” – Joel Sobelson on The Ooom Pah Band
I Raised My Hand To Volunteer
Photo by Jim Wallace
Installed 2019
Located at the bus shelter in front of Moe’s Southwest Grill on Franklin Street.
I Raised My Hand To Volunteer features a quote from Karen Parker, the first African American woman to graduate from UNC- Chapel Hill.
“On Saturday, the 14th, I decided to go to jail. It was not fun at all.” This was in December 1963 during a time when hundreds of people were arrested for protests and when those protests occasionally turned violent.
We Were Troublemakers
Photo by Jim Wallace
Installed 2019
Located at the bus shelter in front of The Graduate Hotel on Franklin Street.
We Were Troublemakers features a quote from Harold Foster, a leader in the Chapel Hill Civil Rights movement.
“We were troublemakers. We questioned authority and challenged it head on.”
A Mouthful of Sand
Photo by Jim Wallace
Installed 2019
Located at the bus shelter at the Rosemary St. & Columbia St. Parking Lot.
A Mouthful of Sand features a quote from Harold Foster, a leader in the Chapel Hill Civil Rights movement.
“Man, this town is hard to crack. It’s called a liberal place, but that’s a mirage man. When you go to get water, you just get a mouthful of sand.”
Quote from Harold Foster, from John Ehle’s book, The Free Men.
The Universe Moves Us
By Daniel LeClair
Installed 2018
Located on the Bolin Creek Greenway Tunnel that passes underneath Pritchard Avenue.
Daniel LeClair teamed up with high school students from the Boomerang and Volunteers for Youth Programs to create this vibrant and eye-catching mural.
Florifauns
By J Massullo
Installed 2020
Located on the Bolin Creek Greenway tunnel that passes underneath M.L.K. Jr. Blvd.
Inspired by traditional graffiti spray paint techniques, artist J Massullo incorporated elements from the natural world including stylized insects, animals, flora, and fauna.
In 2021, we commissioned J Massullo to work with Chapel Hill High School students to paint the OWASA pipes near the Florifauns mural. The result was a collaborative creative experience.
Have A Really Good Day
By Jermaine Powell
Installed 2020
Located at the bus shelter at Shadowood Apartments on M.L.K. Jr. Blvd.
In Have A Really Good Day, Powell hopes to remind people to enjoy the ride and make friends along the way. “I think my paintings are a beautiful example of where I live and the people who make my life worth living.” -JP
Distant Futures
By Charles Chace
Installed 2021
Located at the bus shelter on Pittsboro Street.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“In this work I’m attempting to create a digital image with a series of analog procedures. Starting by cutting sheets of paper into small triangles. The triangles are then unidirectionally stacked creating a three dimensional surface that allows an interplay of light and shadows. I’m less concerned with developing shapes or predetermined images than I am with developing random and intuitive patterns. These patterns create a digital landscape that approaches an image similar to scrambled television.”
Connected
By Gabriela Amaya-Baron
Installed 2020
Located at the bus shelter at the Harris Teeter in Meadowmont.
Connected uses network imagery and street map patterns to symbolize ways that humans connect, whether to place, to information and data, to history and culture, or to each other.
Pillar
By L Jámal Walton
Installed 2020
Located at the bus shelter at Brookside Condos on Hillsborough Street.
Pillar features the Greek Goddess Athena, who is on the Town of Chapel Hill seal. According to history, the Town leaders chose her to symbolize Chapel Hill as she represents civilization, knowledge, reasoning, logic, and wisdom. For this project, Athena is illustrated in a comic book style sharing her stories while watching over the “Southern Part of Heaven” that embraces the shape and colors of the Chapel Hill flag.
Shakti – The Power Within
By Sampada Agarwal
Installed 2020
Located at Que Chula Tacos
Sampada wrote a wonderful blog sharing her intention behind the piece. Read the full story here.
Stronger Together
By Loren Pease
Welcome Furriends
By Julienne Alexander
Slay Today America
Water’s Perfect Memory
By Max Dowdle
Installed 2020
Located in the meadow where the Lower Booker Creek Trail connects with East Franklin Street.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The water of Booker Creek runs day and night, trickling along with sunrise and sunset. While deer feed, raccoons scavenge, squirrels nibble, foxes sneak, coyotes hunt, birds watch from above, and humans enjoy their walks, the water continues to travel its well-worn cut in the earth, remembering all that occurs around it.
About CJ Suitt
CJ Suitt (he/him/they/them) is a performance poet, arts educator, and community organizer from Chapel Hill, N.C., whose work is rooted in storytelling and social justice.
CJ co-directed, produced, and starred in a historical reenactment of the 1947 Freedom Rides, performed at many national and local music festivals, including Gnarnia, Shakori Hills and Bonnaroo, and acted in a production of Hands Up: 6 Playwrights, 6 Testaments.
His career as an educator has allowed him to work with young people awaiting trial at the Durham Youth Home, older inmates whose voices have been silenced within the Orange County Correctional Facility, and high school and college-aged men pushing to redefine masculinity in their schools and communities. Additionally, he has collaborated with organizations such as Transplanting Traditions, Benevolence Farm, and Growing Change on the intersection of storytelling and food justice.
CJ most recently was appointed as the first Poet Laureate of Chapel Hill. He is committed to speaking truth to power and aims to be a bridge for communities who can’t always see themselves in each other.
The Re/Collecting Chapel Hill podcast features CJ on a new occasional series episode, Voices.
Elizabeth Cotten Mural
By Scott Nurkin
Installed 2020
Located on the 111 N. Merritt Mill Road on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro line.
As part of the North Carolina Musicians Mural Project, the Elizabeth Cotten mural honors the local blues legend and her lasting impact on the community. Ms. Cotten is renowned for her distinctive musical style, created by playing left-handed on a right-handed guitar. Many of her songs reference her early life in North Carolina, including her most iconic song, “Freight Train.” This mural is a collaboration between the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership.
Chapel Hill Public Library staff tell Elizabeth Cotten’s story on Episode 8 of the Re/Collecting Chapel Hill podcast.
Joe Herzenberg Memorial Bench
By Waller Foushee Studios
Installed 2018
Located on the Bolin Creek Greenway just west of the MLK underpass.
This art bench is dedicated to Joe Herzenberg, the first openly gay elected official in North Carolina. Listen to the Re/Collecting Chapel Hill podcast to hear more about the bench and the person who inspired it.
Tanyard Branch Bridge
By Leo Gaev
Installed 2018
Located on the Tanyard Branch Trail.
In 2018, metalsmith Leo Gaev was commissioned to create art for the bridge on the Tanyard Branch Trail connecting Umstead Park to the Northside neighborhood. Lining the bridge are 43 steel silhouettes inspired by folks going about their daily lives.
Freedom Fighters Gateway
Installed 2017
Located at the corner of W. Rosemary St. and Roberson St.
The Freedom Fighters Gateway shares a glimpse into the Civil Rights movement with photos and oral histories, marking the entrance to the Northside Neighborhood. Built of Chatham stone and features eight black, granite slabs.
Chapel Hill Nine Historical Marker
By Stephen Hayes
Installed in 2020
Located at 452 W Franklin St.
After community engagement and a series of design workshops, the marker was envisioned as a fusion of public art and historical monument. Designed by Durham artist Stephen Hayes, with project management by Alicia Hylton-Daniel, it features documentary photography from the era, the names and ages of the Chapel Hill Nine, and a base that evokes the rock walls of the Northside neighborhood where this and many other demonstrations and actions were planned.
Merritt’s Pasture Bike Racks
By Al Frega
Installed 2011
Located at Merritt’s Pasture.
Made from recycled brake drums from Chapel Hill Transit buses.
Magnolia Exotica
By Carl Regutti
Located at Homestead Park.
Inspired by the many colors of a peacock, Magnolia Exotica is made of an innovative type of stainless steel that produces different hues in the light.
New Voices
By Victoria Primicias
Installed 2021
Located at Peace & Justice Plaza.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“My design is a graphic montage using familiar, contemporaneous motifs of peace and justice. I incorporated local elements such as the Chapel Hill postmark – a nod to the old post office building – and dogwood, the state flower. A bright color palette energizes the Peace & Justice Plaza and reinforces the Chapel Hill brand by complementing the Town seal. The intent of my design is to provide a welcoming space for those who enter the Plaza and to lift their spirits while enjoying the venue.”
Successions
By Renzo Ortega
Installed 2021
Located at TOPO Distillery.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Successions” mural is about the different cycles and transitions that families go through over the years. They are experiencing departures, absences, breaks, and reconciliations that are part of the family bond dynamics. This artwork tribute the relatives who left and did not return and the hope of a reunion.
HOPE
By Luis Franco
Installed 2021
Located at 501 W Franklin Street.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The art displays a woman wearing a face mask, with a message. This message is the word “Hope” to inspire everyone who is persevering through this pandemic. Right now we can use some hope as the world has experienced loss and quarantine.
We, Too, Sing America
By Antonio Alanis
Installed 2021
Located at 161 E Franklin Street.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The piece titled “We, Too, Sing America” pays homage to Langston Hughes’ poem “I, too.” I dedicate this piece to all the essential workers and people of color who continue to keep the United States afloat before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Oasis in the Middle of a Storm
By Kiara Sanders
Deinstalled 2021
ARTIST STATEMENT
This artwork is based off of a real life scene that I caught in downtown Durham. It was November 7th, and the election results had everyone anxious. It was then announced who the projected winner was, and everyone flooded the streets. The pandemic had been an entirely joyless experience, from unrest to protests, but to see dancing people, waving arms out cars, and to remember what hoped looked like will always live in my memory.
Infinite
By L Jamal Walton
Installed 2021
Located at the former Blue Spoon Creamery
ARTIST STATEMENT
As penance for their last caper, Captain Evil and Diabla used their community service hours to create a short PSA about love and hope. Find out more at evildiabla.com
Green Way StoryWalks
Chapel Hill’s Green Way StoryWalks® feature diverse, culturally-relevant, environmentally-themed books to inspire learning about the earth and the environment, and to create connections between literacy, nature, exercise, and family time.
Find the Ents on Bolin Creek Trail
During Earth Week, April 18th-24th , be amongst the trees, read a good book series from the Chapel Hill Public Library, and along your journey see and collect images of a few Ents!
What are Ents? Lord of the Rings fans might already be familiar with these mythical tree creatures. You’ll find them among the trees along Bolin Creek Trail between Umstead Drive and Hillsborough Road.
Send at least one image of an Ent with you and/or your friends and family to be entered to win a prize! Send photo to goch@townofchapelhill.org #ChapelHillEnts
Elemental Landscapes
By Laura Haddad & Tom Drugan
Installed 2009
Located at Southern Community Park.
A series of landscape art installations created from natural materials found at the space. Made from salvaged boulders and trees, the installations reveal and surround different elements of earth, air, water, and flora. Installations include:
- Water The boulder-ringed wetlands bowl
- Air A circle of large rocks creating a community gathering place
- Cairns Sets of stacked stones marking the park entrances
- Stone markers Etched with references of historic and contemporary places of Chapel Hill
Go Birdwatching
Migration has begun! Grab your binoculars and your camera and head over to the new Bird Blind in Pritchard Park, behind Chapel Hill Public Library. Made possible through the generosity of New Hope Audubon Society.
#BuyBlackCHC Scavenger Hunt
June 14 – 20
Hosted by Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP
Support Black-owned businesses, learn Black history, and win prizes in the #BuyBlackCHC Virtual Scavenger Hunt! Activities will include in-person, curbside/pickup, and virtual options.
Participants can join the game by following these simple steps:
- Download the GooseChase iOS or Android app.
- Register for a personal account with a username & password of your choice.
- Search for and select the Juneteenth BoB Scavenger Hunt game, or search by game code VJ9WKX, password is #buyblackchc.
- Follow the prompts to select or create your player profile.
Thanks to co-sponsors EmPOWERment and the Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill – Carrboro, top point earners will win prizes from local businesses! Follow @chcnaacp_econ and hashtag #BuyBlackCHC for tips, teasers, and bonus points!
Kaze4Letters
Kaze4letters is a Durham based Rap artist who has experience in many aspects of the music industry. Kaze was a founding member of UNC student organization Hip-Hop Nation, which promoted local MCs, DJs, poets, and graffiti artists. He is now co-owner of Vibehouse 405 a recording studio and creative space, dedicated to the creation and expression of music, art, media and culture. He is also the director of arts and culture for the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership. He has collaborated with many local organizations and musicians coordinating the Save the Music series which strives to support the local artist community, bring attention to local talent and bring people out to enjoy what’s going on downtown. His latest album ‘A Thousand Shades of Black’ touches on his journeys with creativity, identity and the diversity of Blackness in all forms.
Souls of Joy
Souls of Joy sings current and old school gospel music that will uplift, inspire, and bring joy to the souls of our community.
SunQueen Kelcey
SunQueen Kelcey has two things at the center of her music: body positivity and radical self love. Her musical style is a genre-bending collage of hip-hop, soul, rock, and contemporary R&B, call it soul-rock. She delivers an energetic and passionate performance complete with her live band The Soular Flares. Kelcey grew up in a small North Carolina town called Southern Pines, absorbing a broad range of music from Mary J Blige, Nina Simone, and Jill Scott to Queen and Rage Against the Machine. She has overcome a series of obstacles to get to where she is now, rising above loss and personal setbacks to find her own voice and pursue her artistic dreams. Her commitment to empowerment is what helped Kelcey sign a record deal with indie label, Smart Mouth Records LLC based in Durham, NC. Her new album, “See Attached” explores her interpretation of heartbreak, toxic relationships and mental health.
Lydia Salett Dudley
Lydia Salett Dudley is a jazz and gospel pianist and singer living in the Raleigh-Durham area. Her first exposure to music came from the local Baptist church in Cleveland Ohio which was instrumental in providing experience in playing for various groups of children and adults. Her nonprofit organization The Salett Art Center, Inc. is geared to serve at-risk youth by provide music education that empowers each individual to express their own voice. She currently sits on board of The Heart of Carolina Jazz organization. She often performs with her band Jazz Xpressions, which consists of music educators and performers. Her 2020 single ‘Whatcha Gonna Say’ addresses racism, political issues and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Booklist: Juneteenth For Kids
Explore a book list from Chapel Hill Public Library staff! Learn more about the history of Juneteenth through books in the CHPL collection
Storytime With Ms. Frances
Ms. Frances from Chapel Hill Public Library will read a couple of stories to celebrate and commemorate Juneteenth.
LGBTQIA+ Booklists
Explore Chapel Hill Public Library’s recommended reads to celebrate PRIDE month! Lists include titles and topics for all ages.
A Playlist For Pride
Compiled by local musicians, curators, and staff, Tracks Music Library is featuring a PRIDE playlist celebrating belonging, loving who you love, and giving visibility around the fight for equality.
PRIDE Month Proclamation
In Carrboro & Chapel Hill, we want everyone to know we oppose homophobia and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community. Chapel Hill’s Town Council proclaimed June at LGBTQ+ month. Our communities are proud to have adopted non-discrimination ordinances in the past year, and we call on all on all residents to be champions of inclusivity and equality for everyone.
Check out Twitter for a video of Carrboro raising the LGBTQ+ Pride flags you’ll see around Town this month!
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Tracks in the Stacks: A.yoni Jeffries
With her soulful, spiritual sound, A.yoni Jeffries takes listeners on a journey through the depths of emotions. With her unconfined range, the afro-indigenous singer/songwriter spans multiple genres adding her own soulful twist. As a talented songwriter, her music is driven by strong melody – featuring upbeat records and ballads that takes listeners to the most beautiful, yet forgotten places internally. Her vocal style stresses love and creativity and provides the listener permission to feel. Soulbounce notes that “A.yoni’s work intersects with her art as she creates accessible spaces, fosters community, and encourages people to hear, see, and feel themselves in her music.”
Tracks in the Stacks: Austin Royale
Austin Royale the rapper, producer, songwriter from Durham, North Carolina constantly recreates himself. As he continues experimenting with various musical styles, and blending genres. Currently he is prepping the upcoming release of his debut album, “PLAN | A”. Previously performing under the name A-10, at the age of 24 Austin has been an ongoing influence in the local music scene for almost a decade. He has performed all over North Carolina as well as nationally, collaborating and sharing stages with numerous national recording artists.
Tracks in the Stacks: XOXOK
Keenan Jenkins, XOXOK, began his musical career during his Ph.D. studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he played open mics and local showcases at venues such as Jack Sprat, Local 506, and The Station between long days on the third floor of the psychology building. XOXOK crafts atmospheric soul music that is conceived on the fretboard, cultivated at the microphone, and cradled in headphones. The guitar and vocal influences are far-flung, but cohesive—see Jeff Buckley, Moses Sumney, and Anna Calvi, among others. His live performance is a model of intimacy and presence; armed with “sweet, ringing vocals” (Queen City Nerve), XOXOK delivers impassioned songs with unabashed conviction.
BIPOC Elected Officials Read the Juneteenth Proclamation
The BIPOC electeds from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough are proud to present the Juneteenth Resolution Reading.
About the Host | Rowdy
Kevin “Rowdy” Rowsey is a National Recording Artist, Writer, Actor, and Educator based in the North Carolina Triangle Area. Rowdy has been featured on BET, NPR, PBS Kids, and has given a TEDX talk on the importance of Hip Hop Culture. Rowsey is a U.S. Hip Hop Ambassador through the U.S. Department of State and the Next Level Hip Hop Program. On stage Rowsey is part of the national collective No9to5 Music, and plays with a live Jazz Band (J) Rowdy & The Night Shift which was nominated for a 2017 Carolina Music Award. They’ve been able to share the stage with the likes of Rakim, Busta Rhymes, Ari Lennox, Childish Major, Snow Tha Product, Murs, 2 Chainz, Juicy J, and a plethora of other national recording acts. Currently Rowdy is the founder of two triangle area cyphers – The UNC Cypher (UNC-CH) and the Med City Cypher (Downtown Durham). He also holds the position of Program Director at the Downtown Durham – Afrofuturist Teen Center Blackspace. Through UNC Greensboro’s Masters of Arts in Teaching Program Rowsey continues his mission to spread southern hip hop at a national and international level through performance, writing and educational workshops inspiring the culture through the craft.
Support Rowdy on Tracks Music Library
Tracks In The Stacks Booklist
Interested in the book titles on the set? Chapel Hill Public Library has curated a custom booklist on Black musicians, performers, comics, and more.
Birds of Different Feathers
By Victoria Primicias
Installed 2021
Located at the bus shelter at Eastgate Shopping Center.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Birds of different feathers flock together on electric wires and light poles. It is a metaphor for inclusion, community, acceptance and diversity. The birds depicted include a cardinal, blue jay, mockingbird, woodpecker and goldfinch. All are common backyard birds found throughout the year in North Carolina. Other North Carolina references include a dogwood tree peeking out from the bottom left, and prominence given to the cardinal, the state bird.”
Chill Chapel Hill
By Ian Wenstrand
Installed 2021
Located at the bus shelter at MLK Jr. Blvd at Chapel View
ARTIST STATEMENT
“My goal for this artwork is to create a scene combining all of Chapel Hill’s unique landmarks and buildings. Places such as Morehead Planetarium, Franklin Street, and the Varsity Theater appear together in one street corner representing Chapel Hill. Lastly, I wanted to show people getting out of the house and enjoying the town with each other, something we all haven’t been able to do in the past year.”
Ian Wenstrand is an artist & illustrator located in the Raleigh area. He creates obsessively detailed, colorful, fine line illustrations. Ian’s work blends modern cities with sci-fi, video games, and other fun graphical elements to create an imagined version of a place.
Have a Great Day
By Jermaine Powell
Installed 2021
Located at the bus shelter at Shadowood Apartments on M.L.K. Jr. Blvd.
This shelter pairs with Have a Really Good Day.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“I simply wanted to bring honor to the diversity of people who ride the bus. My goal was also to make both the bus riders and the bus drivers feel appreciated throughout their day. I really got a unique opportunity to engage with my local community while working on this project in realtime. They gave me honest and encouraging feedback along the way. They are the ones that make creating public art so enjoyable.”
Plants are Resilient
By Antonio Alanis
Installed 2021
Located at the bus shelter at Fire Station #3.
Antonio created this piece titled “Plants are Resilient,” a plant-themed bus shelter vinyl piece. He placed multiple-color leaves that people can enjoy as they wait for the bus and go on their day. This particular piece will invite the people waiting for the bus to take a moment to meditate, to turn to nature to uplift their spirits, and offer a space for healing and reflection. The different leaves symbolize Antonio’s commitment to fighting for diversity and inviting audience members to think critically about recognizing everyone’s humane interconnectedness regardless of race and ethnicity.
Random Joys
By Ms. TT & RedApple School students
Installed 2021
Located at the bus shelter at Abernethy Hall on UNC Campus. This shelter was made possible through a partnership with RedApple.
Made by RedApple students ages 5-9, guided and edited by the art teacher Ms. TT, and inspired by New York artist Keith Haring. Because social distancing must be kept, none of the lines in the pictures touch, besides the doctors and nurses working together to save lives. And because masks have to be on faces to protect our mouths and noses, everyone (person or animal) in our pictures have a mask.
Pride and Power
By Charlie Dupee
Installed 2021
Located at the bus shelter at Adelaide Apartments on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“This diptych is an expression of LGBTQ+ pride in Chapel Hill, beyond the month of June. The blue panel on the left reimagines Athena, the goddess on Chapel Hill’s seal, as a genderqueer deity. And the pink panel on the right is in solidarity with our Black Trans community.”
Ansimit
By Sampada Agarwal
Installed 2021
Located at the bus shelter at Airport Gardens Apartments on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“This artwork is quite close to my heart, where I highlight the various facets of womanhood. We come in all shapes and sizes and colors – each one to be celebrated; encouraging all towards forging a gender equal world and building inclusive workplaces so that women thrive! It is rightly said – “Empowered women empower women”. It is quite serendipitous that the style of the art I have used, called Mithila art, is a folk art from the state of Bihar in India and has been practiced primarily by women and passed down generations from mothers to daughters. Its hallmark is colorful, busy, yet esthetically pleasing compositions.”
A Space for All of Us
By Peri Law
Installed 2021
Located at Lula’s
ARTIST STATEMENT
“This piece is about creating a space that celebrates Asian American existence. It acts as an altar for the community, inspired by Chinese traditions with oranges symbolizing good fortune, a chrysanthemum to represent longevity, and plum blossoms as a sign of perseverance and hope.”
A Tapestry of Rogers Road
By Kiara Chatterjee
Installed 2021
Located at the bus shelter on Rogers Road
ARTIST STATEMENT
The four figures on the left are Sam Rogers and his grandsons, who were part of the establishing of Rogers Road and the family who lived there. There is also a woman and child in the middle frame, they were unnamed but part of the Walker family who also had connection to Rogers Road. Then there is Robert Cambell who is on the right and a young girl holding a protest sign regarding environmental justice with the landfill. The background is the Faith Tabernacle church. I intended to superimpose a map of Rogers Rd and lower the opacity in the background.
The idea is the unification of the ancestors to the present day, and the connection of memories to history. Also, an acknowledgement of how a historic Black neighborhood dealt with trauma from the poisoned groundwater.
Rise Above Racial Injustices
By Debi Drew and NAACP Youth Council members Kennedy Lytle, Sol Ramirez, and Anthony Swann
This project was made possible through partnership with Orange County Arts Commission and and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Working with NAACP youth for a bus wrap design against racial injustice was a wonderful opportunity. The timing was ideal for these youth to have their voices heard as they witnessed in the media (and maybe in person) the constant reminders of negative racist views and acts of hatred against black people and other people of color which filled media reports across the nation. My goal was to provide a comfortable space for them to be heard and be motivated to create visual art productions inspired by our discussions in these sessions. Self Concept, Racist Viewpoints and Unity in Diversity were the themes in our workshops and a work of art created by each of the youth is displayed on their apparel of their images on the bus. Important and meaningful statements they communicated encircle their images, as well. The design that fills the background of the bus is symbolic of an African mud cloth design. The diversity of the artwork and size of the youth images of the youth artists, Kennedy Lytle, Sol Ramirez and Anthony Swann help spotlight their young voices and I am so proud that they contributed such sound advice against racial injustice.
Hard Drive
Hard Drive is a hard-driving aural modern traditional old time authentic millennial bluegrass collective made up of Tatiana Hargreaves, Aaron Tacke, Sonya Badigian, and Nokosee Fields. From brother duets to raging fiddle tunes, Hard Drive brings a sense of deep intuition and silliness to the world that encompasses old-time, country, and bluegrass. The Bluegrass Situation describes the band as “a delightful subversion of our expectations of what traditional bluegrass is supposed to be.” Hard Drive serves up a “high-octane bluegrass-old-time style, delivered with deep intuitive insight, manic exploratory zeal and seriously powerhouse instrumental (and vocal) chops but also, importantly, with an abundant and overwhelming sense of fun.” [Folk Radio UK]. They float gently around a Bermuda-Triangle-type spacetime warp in central North Carolina, and they are constantly expanding at the approximate pace of the universe.
Honey Magpie
Honey Magpie is an indie-folk band from Chapel Hill, NC whose sound is both traditional and modern, blending classical string instruments and three part harmonies with pop, rock, and indie influences.
Heat Preacher
These Chapel Hill, NC natives, influenced and inspired by their town’s storied musical history, fuse elements that made the artists and bands before them stand out then build upon the formulae. The result is a seamless blending of pop, rock, folk, and soul music, which creates a new and exciting experience for the listener.
Jack The Radio
Raleigh, North Carolina roots-rockers Jack the Radio blend rock and blues sensibility with Americana, folk, and country to create a tapestry of swampy southern-tinged sounds on their latest album release, Creatures. All of the songs on the album were written by singer George Hage with a common thread that weaves its way through telling us to stand strong as we ride out the highs and lows of what life throws at us. Over the years, the band has shared the stage with The Avett Brothers, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, George Thorogood, Cold War Kids, Rayland Baxter, and American Aquarium to name a few. Their music can be heard in countless commercial, film, and TV projects including Modern Family, Boardwalk Empire, as well as in sports programming for NASCAR, NFL, PGA among others.
Rowdy
Performance time: 5:00-5:40 PM
Kevin “Rowdy” Rowsey is a National Recording Artist, Writer, Actor, and Educator based in the North Carolina Triangle Area. Rowdy has been featured on BET, NPR, PBS Kids, and has given a TEDX talk on the importance of Hip Hop Culture. Rowsey is a U.S. Hip Hop Ambassador through the U.S. Department of State and the Next Level Hip Hop Program. Rowdy hopes spread southern hip hop at a national and international level through performance, writing and educational workshops inspiring the culture through the craft.
KAZE4LETTERS
Kevin “Kaze” Thomas has been a part of the Chapel Hill and North Carolina music scene for almost 20 years.
As a hip-hop artist he has been signed to major labels Universal/Motown and Rawkus Records, as well as having his own label, Soul Dojo, independently distributed by Brick Records in Boston. His debut album, “Spirit of 94” produced entirely by producer legend 9th Wonder is considered a classic amongst the hip-hop community, and is known for being one of the founding fathers of the North Carolina hip-hop scene. He was touted one of the “8 Great Acts” of our area by David Menconi in 2005, and is currently the co-owner of VibeHouse 405.
Kaze is invested in our community scene and is committed to helping the next generation of artists from our area succeed.
Katharine Whalen’s Jazz Squad
Katharine Whalen formed JazzSquad many years ago to, frankly, provide herself with a crash course in HOW TO SING JAZZ! Her first ever band Squirrel Nut Zippers took off so quickly that she felt unprepared and quite uneducated. A member of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band whom she was touring with at the time, instructed her to go home and learn thirty jazz standards. She was lucky enough to know Griffanzo and his hip piano playing became the basis for the sound of the band. Danny Grewen, Austin Riopel, and Danny Abrahms are the other member of the squad, performing on trombone, guitar, and baritone.
Dreamroot
Dreamroot is a band/musical collective from Durham, NC. Dreamroot released their debut album Phases in May 2020, hoping to put out positive energy during a dark time. The band consists of Theous Jones (drums), Serena Wiley (saxophone/flute/spoken word/vocals), Ittai Korman (acoustic and electric bass), Lynn Grissett (trumpet) and Joe MacPhail (piano and keyboards).
The album, Phases, was collectively composed and arranged by the members of Dreamroot. The performance style combines pre-written and improvised sections, creating what Indy Week calls “One of the distinctive strains of the Durham jazz scene, melding R&B forms with modern jazz solos that all fit nicely into the length of a longish pop song.”
African American Trailblazers
By Kiara Chatterjee
Installed 2021
Located at 111 S. Merritt Mill Road
ARTIST STATEMENT
“The composition that I had in mind was strongly influenced by the artworks of Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas. His figures often had auras that seemed to radiate from them, giving them a powerful presence that I feel would be fitting for the trail-blazing African-American people this mural is dedicated to.”
Clark Blomquist
5-8 PM
Country Singer/Songwriter
StoryUp! Aerial Theater
5-7 PM
at Peace & Justice Plaza
Poetry Fox
1-4 PM
Durham poet Chris Vitiello writes custom poems on-the-spot on a vintage typewriter. Give him a word, get a poem!
Rock Balancing
4-8 PM
By Mara Gardner Art
Imagine Circus
1-6 PM
Be mesmerized by giant soap bubbles and show off your hula hoop skills at our Interactive Hula Hoop Jam — a crowd favorite and silly family fun for the whole family.
Living Arts Collective
1:30-3:30 PM
The Living Arts Collective will offer a variety of art experiences including live painting, drumming, a winged dancer, and more.
Tre. Charles
6-8 PM
Tre. Charles is a singer-songwriter who dives into the depths of his soul to try to bring you into his world with an expressive blend of warm and soulful undertones.
Music supported by Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership
Paperhand Puppet Intervention
2-4 PM
Be on the lookout for a Paperhand Puppet roaming the market for all to enjoy!
The Bird
4-6 PM
Local performer Katie Rebich will join us as The Bird — a stilting spectacle!
Catchfire Collective
4-6 PM
Catchfire Collective presents innovative, powerful, and inspiring performances that reignite the chamber music experience. Catchfire’s members represent a dynamic background of artistic approaches, offering unique performances that capture the ethos of twenty-first century music. Their innovative programming has been met with audience and critical acclaim, praised as “magical” and featuring “relentless pulse, contrasting textures, and beautiful individual playing.”
Live music brought to you by Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership
Story Charlemagne
1-3 PM
Story Charlemagne is a lover of stories being told through music. A blend of folk, fingerpicking, progressive rock and indie pop sounds in collaboration with a more soulful voice, meld to create a blend of music that feels organic and leaves you guessing where the song and the story being told will lead.
Bring Items for a Food & Supply Drive!
TABLE and Inter-Faith Council for Social Service will be collecting items for donations:
- Non-perishable food items
- Winter accessories
- Scarves
- Gloves
- Hats
- Socks
- Sleeping Bags
- Toiletries
- Bath Towel
- Wash Clothes
- Razors
- Deodorant
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
Community Bike Ride
Join Triangle Bikeworks from 11 am – 12 pm for a family-friendly bike ride before the event! All are welcome.
The Power of Persistence
By Max Dowdle
Installed 2022
Located at 140 West Franklin Street
ARTIST STATEMENT
“The natural, enduring surroundings of Chapel Hill help make it the special place that it is. The mural takes inspiration from the four rivers (the Eno, Haw, Deep and Rocky Rivers) in the immediate environs, overlaid in colorful, dynamic harmony to create an abstract symphony of form and movement. It’s my intention that this painting brings the life and beauty of land and water into the 140 West courtyard, reminding visitors and viewers of the natural treasures found all around us. Like the immutable, persistent rivers, the power of these people and this place can overcome any obstacle.”
Learn About Our Climate Action Plan
The Town’s Climate Action and Response Plan has 97 actions that are designed to lower the emissions that cause climate change, help us adapt to our changing climate, protect our local environment, and strengthen our community’s resilience.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Did you know the Town has added charging stations across the community? Plug in, free of charge, at one of the following locations:
- Homestead Aquatic Center
- 140 West Franklin – Located in the public parking level (P-1) of the underground garage. Note: Parking in the garage is $1/hour.
- Orange County Skills Development Center
- Robert and Pearl Seymour Senior Center
Compost Crazy
One meaningful action each of us can take is to commit to producing less waste. By reducing what we need, reusing as much as we can, recycling what’s possible, and composting the rest, we help reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Orange County Solid Waste Management offers compost bins for sale and you can download this handy Do’s and Don’ts guide to get you started.
Medication Take Back
Drop your unused and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications in the drop box at Chapel Hill Police Headquarters so they don’t end up in our waterways or in the hands of someone they are not meant for. The drop box is in the Police Headquarters lobby at 828 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., which is open between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Chapel Hill Police will also collect medications at the Wegmans at 1810 Fordham Boulevard on Saturday, April 30, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Storm Drain Murals
This April three area artists will be painting colorful murals around select storm drains in Chapel Hill to highlight the importance of clean stormwater management:
- Nyssa Collins at the Southern Village Park & Ride lot
- Elisabeth Flock at Chapel Hill Public Library
- Mayanthi Jayawardena at Northside Elementary
Refreshing Connections
By Holly Felice
Installed 2021
Located at Booker Creek Basin Park
Large iridescent stainless steel sculptures towering about 12 feet above the trail. Each piece resembles a different inspect species that can be found in the space – butterfly, dragonfly, and ladybug.
Radical Futures
By Charlie Dupee
Installed 2022
Located at Peace & Justice Plaza.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The Vera Institute of Justice found that as of 2017, “In North Carolina, Black people constituted 23% of state residents, but 48% of people in jail and 52% of people in prison.”
“Once we accept justice as a racialized struggle, the question becomes what is the role of the visual artist? In the book On Decoloniality: Concepts, Analytics, Praxis, Walsh and Anzaldúa put forth the question, “how [do we] write (produce) without being inscribed (reproduced) in the dominant white structure and how [do we] write (produce) without reinscribing and reproducing what we rebel against.” Of course, there is no single or simple answer, but I do believe there is an approach in imagining an untethered, future solidary. The raised fist, a global symbol instantly recognized as call for collective liberation, adopted and propagated by people in times of struggle, strife, and resistance. What is the future of this symbol? My piece, radical futures, is an attempt to visualize a future for this symbol and continue its lineage as an emblem of abolition.”
About CURRENT ArtSpace + Studio
CURRENT ArtSpace + Studio, CPA’s immersive arts venue and studio space, opened to the public in February 2018. Located in the Carolina Square mixed-use development on Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill, CURRENT connects campus and community via the arts.
CURRENT’s 7,000-square-foot state-of-the-art space features an adaptable black box-style theater and a multi-purpose studio. In addition to hosting immersive performances and installations by cutting-edge artists, CURRENT serves as the physical and intellectual home for our Fellows and artists-in-residence to collaborate with faculty, students and the community. Visitors can find everything from artist talks to post-performance gatherings, workshops, and other artistic and community events.
Year Of Jubilee: 1865
By Candy Carver
Installed 2022
Located at Hargraves Community Center
Bike racks and benches designed after the iconic rockwall in the historic Northside neighborhood. Candy Carver is a self taught, North Carolina based artist.
Artist Statement
“I create electric and brightly colored contemporary artwork that encompasses bold colors and utilizes abstract design, alongside figurative subjects. My work is intuitive and begins with a specified feeling as the goal. The colors I choose are therapeutic and enliven me as I create. Often, the themes broaden as I work through each piece. Creating allows for me to refill my reservoir of joy and impact others in a similar way. I leave every canvas feeling full in a way that I can only compare to meditation.”
BANGZZ
Genre: Punk
Bangzz is garage punk true to the riot grrl era that dishes out loud and fast songs with in your face feminist themes. Guitarist, vocalist and songwriter of BANGZZ, Erika Libero, is also the co-founder of local Chapel Hill music festival Manifest, alongside Sarah Shook of Sarah Shook and the Disarmers.
3:00 PM | Anne-Claire
Genre: Pop
My name is Anne-Claire and I live in Carrboro. I write music about experiences I’ve had growing up in the Triangle. I have been able to collaborate with amazing local musicians such as Phil Cook (Megafaun), Libby Rodenbough (Mipso), and Ari Picker (Lost in the Trees). All of my music is recorded in NC. I feel so lucky to live here.
3:50 PM | Dissimilar South
Genre: Folk
North Carolina-based Americana band, Dissimilar South, uses tight harmonies and acoustic instruments to explore the bittersweet nature of relationships and queerness with honesty and whit. Dissimilar South’s music pays homage to country folk elements, while leaping into the indie pop world of synthesizers, drum kits, and electric guitars.
4:40 PM | Treee City
Genre: Electronic
Treee City is the electronic music project of Durham-based DJ and producer and Patrick Phelps-McKeown. He has released music on labels Raund Haus and Maison Fauna, is a founding member of club night and DJ collective Party Illegal, and runs a regular internet radio show called the Rainforest Café that focuses on music from North Carolina artists.
5:30 PM | Austin Royale
Genre: Hip Hop
Austin Royale the rapper, producer, songwriter from Durham, North Carolina constantly recreates himself. As he continues experimenting with various musical styles, and blending genres. Currently he is prepping the upcoming release of his debut album, “PLAN | A”. Previously performing under the name A-10, at the age of 24 Austin has been an ongoing influence in the local music scene for almost a decade. He has performed all over North Carolina as well as nationally, collaborating and sharing stages with numerous national recording artists.
FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT
SATURDAY MAY 21 | 3-7 PM
CURRENT ARTSPACE + STUDIO IN DOWNTOWN CHAPEL HILL
Save the date and join us for a local music showcase of artists from the Tracks Music Library collection! Each act will play a 30 min set starting at 3pm.
Red Salamander
By Nyssa Collins
Installed 2022
Located at Southern Village Park & Ride
ARTIST STATEMENT
“The most fascinating creatures are our neighbors in wooded areas, creeks, and meadows across the piedmont of North Carolina. The brilliantly colored Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) looks like it belongs in the Amazon Rainforest, but is actually native to wooded streams of the eastern United States. North Carolina is home to more salamander species than any other place in the world due to the huge variety of agreeable ecosystems from the coast to the mountains. Salamanders are considered a bioindicator species, which means that their presence in a watershed indicates a clean and healthy creek. Water from city storm drains flows directly into the watershed without filtration (this storm drain flows to Wilson Creek and Morgan Creek before reaching Jordan Lake), so it is crucial to monitor non-permeable surfaces like driveways and roads to prevent pollution flowing to delicate habitats.”
Nyssa Collins is a painter, sculptor, puppeteer, and musician living in Durham, NC.
We Are All Connected
By Mayanthi Jayawardena
Installed 2022
Located at Northside Elementary
ARTIST STATEMENT
My design is based on the connection that clean storm drains have with a clean and flourishing environment. I thought this would be a great design to celebrate Earth day and show clean water entering the storm drain. I created the whimsical landscape for the students at Northside to share the magic in nature.
Stormwater Education
By Elisabeth Flock
Installed 2022
Located at Chapel Hill Public Library
ARTIST STATEMENT
These larger-than-life critters are designed to draw your attention towards storm drains and how they are connected to natural waterways and wildlife. A river otter points to the drain while holding a book called “Hydrosphere,” and a very fancy crayfish clasps “Creek Critters” in his claws. Both of these books are on the library’s “Clean Water is Precious!” reading list. The catfish reads a page (from the Nc-Clearwater.org website) that clearly states how stormwater is not treated.
About Spray J (Dr. Sarah Wilson)
Spray J is everyone’s favorite Southern drag king with a PhD. He is known for his engaging and family-friendly fun. Spray J is the proud parent of a vivacious toddler, and is excited for you to join in the fun this Pride Month — whether you are a kid or a kid at heart!
About Stormie Daie (Raafe Purnsley)
Stormie Daie, first of her name 4th of Durham’s finest and first drag family The House of Coxx, is a torrential force of energy, education, and entertainment. Whether a whirling wind of sequin on stage, a merry madam of mirth behind the mic, or a science and history educator always sharing the importance of our natural world and queer ancestors. Stormie is a queen for community first and a good time always!
About Dustin Reams (Natalie Watson)
Dustin Reams, local Durham Drag King, has been performing since 2018. He loves to perform old school R&B then switch it up and sing rock or country. He likes high energy songs that make the crowd jump and dance and then will slow it down to share a nice chill moment with the crowd. From childhood on, Dustin has always loved to read and is always excited to share his craft through song, dance, and books.
Coming Soon: Art + Transit Installations
Community Arts & Culture and Chapel Hill Transit commissioned local LGBTQ+ artists to create two new installations for the Art + Transit program. Be on the lookout for a new art bus and artistic bus shelter — more information coming soon!
Mickey Mills & Steel
With Zion Project
Performance time: 4:00-4:40 PM
Zion Project was formed in the year 2010 as a praise team at Faith Tabernacle Oasis of Love Church in Chapel Hill. The members are Malika Mills (lead singer), Cheryl Long (back up singer), and Dianne George (back up singer). We the sister’s of Zion are apart of Mickey Mills and Steel. Were excited to give thanks and praise in our unique style of Caribbean Soul, and uplifting message in song.
CJ Suitt
Performance time: 2:00 PM
CJ Suitt (he/him/they/them) is a performance poet, arts educator, and community organizer from Chapel Hill, N.C., whose work is rooted in storytelling and social justice. Suitt was appointed as the Town of Chapel Hill’s first poet laureate in 2019.
Fred Joiner
Performance time: 5:50 PM
Fred Joiner is a poet and curator based in Chapel Hill, NC. He is 2019 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow and the current Poet Laureate for the Town of Carrboro.
Gospel Winds
Performance time: 2:15-2:45 PM
Gospel group from Chapel Hill
Finesse
Performance time: 3:00-3:40 PM
Finesse consists of a group of talented musicians who have been performing over a span of twenty years in the triangle area and beyond. Our goal is to touch and inspire hearts and souls throughout our communities as music has done for generations around the world.
Bouncing Bulldogs
Inside the gym
Performance time: 4:00-6:00 PM
The Bouncing Bulldogs Jump Rope Team is comprised of 160 boys and girls from the Research Triangle Park (RTP) area of North Carolina, ranging in age from 5 to 26. Their innovative jumping style includes fancy footwork, flips, and other acrobatic skills with ropes of various lengths.
A Journey of Reconciliation
Photo from the Library of Congress as part of the group of photos included in the writings of Bayard Rustin
Installed 2022
Located at the bus shelter at the Rosemary St. & Columbia St. Parking Lot.
This shelter commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Journey of Reconciliation, also known as the First Freedom Ride. 75 years ago, an interracial group of civil rights activists set out on “The First Freedom Ride” to test a Supreme Court ruling declaring segregation on interstate buses unconstitutional. Chapel Hill was the only stop where the group was met with violence.
The photo from 1947 depicts Journey of Reconciliation riders Worth Randle, Wally Nelson, Ernest Bromley, Jim Peck, Igal Roodenko, Bayard Rustin, Joe Felmet, George Houser, and Andy Johnson holding suitcases and coats outside standing outside the office of Attorney S.W. Robinson in Richmond, Virginia.
We Knew Intersectionality Was The Way Forward
By Jane Cheek
Installed 2022 as part of Small Town Pride
Located at the bus shelter at Carolina Apartments
ARTIST STATEMENT
“As a bisexual woman from the South, creating work that makes Queer Pride more visible and increases representation in our communities is important to me. My transit shelter design is based on the concept that progress needs to be intersectional, and the colors are inspired by the inclusive Progressive Pride Flag. The design is simple and whimsical, with overlapping colorful circles in which the overlapped areas will have blended colors. There are gold accents to add a painterly effect to the work and give it a celebratory vibe.”
Rise Above Racial Injustices Art Bus
By Debi Drew and NAACP Youth Council members Kennedy Lytle, Sol Ramirez, and Anthony Swann
Installed 2021
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Working with NAACP youth for a bus wrap design against racial injustice was a wonderful opportunity.
The timing was ideal for these youth to have their voices heard as they witnessed in the media (and maybe in person) the constant reminders of negative racist views and acts of hatred against black people and other people of color which filled media reports across the nation. My goal was to provide a comfortable space for them to be heard and be motivated to create visual art productions inspired by our discussions in workshop planning sessions.
Self Concept, Racist Viewpoints and Unity in Diversity were the themes in our workshops. A work of art created by each of the youth is displayed on their apparel of their images on the bus. Important and meaningful statements they communicated encircle their images, as well. The design that fills the background of the bus is symbolic of an African mud cloth design. The diversity of the artwork and size of the youth images of the youth artists, Kennedy Lytle, Sol Ramirez and Anthony Swann help spotlight their young voices and I am so proud that they contributed such sound advice against racial injustice.”
This project was made possible through partnership with Orange County Arts Commission and and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Orgullo Latino Art Bus
By Georges Le Chevallier
Installed 2020
ARTIST STATEMENT
“As a Latinx Artist, I believe that is extremely important to represent Latinx people in a positive image. Even though the majority of Latinx immigrants are extremely honest and hard-working people, that is not how they are seen by many people. Being born from a Puerto Rican Mother and having lived most of my childhood in Puerto Rico, I can personally understand the great pride we have towards the many Hispanic people making a constructive impact on our society. Today thousands of Hispanics now call the Traingle their home.
Celebrating the great moment that Hispanic culture is having here in North Carolina, I am proposing to create the “Orgullo Latino / Latinx Pride” Bus for Chapel Hill Transit.
In “Orgullo Latino / Latinx Pride” Bus I juxtapose visual patterns of colors with Spanish words that characterize Latinx people living at the beginning of this new millennium. Nothing divides people more than language, so my aim is to bring people together by showing them Spanish and English words coexisting together.The “Orgullo Latino / Latinx Pride” Bus also pays tribute to the many colorful buses in Latin America, from Chiva Buses in the Andean region of South America to the famous “Chicken Buses” in Central American countries like Guatemala.”
Can’t Stop Pride Art Bus
By Wutang McDougal
Installed 2022 as part of Small Town Pride
ARTIST STATEMENT
“My first Pride was in 2018, and also the year I really explored my queerness. I created this design from what I saw and the feelings I had at Pride. Surrounded by collective love from my community. I love 80’s glam and I feel the palette I chose will be interesting and eye-catching. I also wanted to show representation of pride in Black queerness, Trans community and queer love”. I feel really good about what I’ve created and hope to spread the feeling of Pride wherever the bus goes.”
Carolina Flora
By Taylor Bragg
Installed 2022
Located at the bus shelter at 1211 East Franklin Street
ARTIST STATEMENT
“The Flowering Dogwood, Honeysuckle and Red Maple tree are all natural staples of North Carolina’s ecosystem. Native plants are such a crucial factor in keeping North Carolina’s landscapes healthy and beautiful. My hope with this piece is to highlight some of the state’s most important plants, even if they aren’t nearby.”
Home Is Where The Hill Is
By Mayanthi Jayawardena
Installed 2022
Located at the bus shelter at Ashley Forest Drive
ARTIST STATEMENT
“My goal with this art is to show that home can be anywhere, no matter where you are from or who you are.”
Blooms Over Chapel Hill
By Sara Roberts
Installed 2022
Located at the bus shelter at South Columbia Street at Westwood Drive
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Blooms Over Chapel Hill was inspired by the textures, colors, art, businesses, patterns and murals that are found in and near Chapel Hill. Each petal is created from individual photographs from the area. The historical buildings include the theatre, castle, well, church and graveyard. The print media tells about various aspects of the development and transportation of Chapel Hill. This piece invites the passengers in to connect with and celebrate familiar objects, while enjoying art dedicated to the best parts of Chapel Hill.”
Barning Around In North Carolina
By Sally Gregoire
Installed 2022
Located at the bus shelter at Ridge Road at Eringhaus Hall
Sally Gregoire of Mountain Shadow Designs created the artwork entitled “Barning Around In North Carolina” as a nod to the agricultural history of North Carolina. Depicted are four local barns that watch over the landscape and tie together our rural and urban existences as we drive by them everyday. Sally uses both traditional and digital art techniques to document these buildings and artistically present them before they disappear from our landscapes. Mountain Shadow Designs can be found at www.mountainshadowdesigns.net. Barn Around with me on Instagram: @mtnshadowdesign
Sun
By Antonio Alanis
Installed 2022
Located at bus shelter at South Columbia Street at Mason Farm Road
ARTIST STATEMENT
“My image titled Sun belongs to my “Healing Through the Arts” series, which explores how bold color, Latin-American-inspired graphics inspire happiness, warmth, and optimism. As society grapples with so much destruction, I believe that artists like me can counteract this havoc and help create spaces where people can feel a brief break from everything happening.” Instagram: @AntonioAlanisArt
Unity Flight
By Loren Pease
Installed 2022
Located at bus shelter at the Carrboro Post Office
ARTIST STATEMENT
“These butterflies represent todays youth coming together from all parts of the world and cultures to help the environment heal.” (Original art- 24″x48″ Acrylic on Wood)
Roller Rink
By Natasja Bresenski
Installed 2022
Located at Chapel Hill Community Center
ARTIST STATEMENT
“As an abstract artist who is inspired by bold, vibrant colors, I am thrilled to be able to share my work with the Chapel Hill community. I love the idea of “beautifying” public spaces and objects that are often overlooked by the everyday public. I like to explore the ways color can interact to create playful compositions and evoke different moods.
I think the most important part of public art is accessibility. Oftentimes art can feel out of reach to the community when it is in museums guarded by pretension and often a paywall. When art is displayed in a communal space, it is open for everyone to see and share and enjoy together.”
It Was Always The Perfect Day For A Swim
By Jane Cheek
Installed 2022
Located at Homestead Aquatics Center
ARTIST STATMENT
“My work memorializes personal moments and memories in immersive formats. I offer these glimpses into my daily life as a queer Southern woman to help create connections. I use simple geometric forms and familiar imagery to create universally accessible artwork that challenges the perception that our differences have to be larger than life, and I hope to create spaces and conversations that help bridge those differences. The bike rack design at Homestead Aquatic Center was inspired by my love of water, swimming, and the joy those spaces bring.”
The Bear Truth
By Victoria Primicias
Installed 2021
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Fires, floods, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, drought, and high temperatures. It can’t be denied. Climate change is here, and it affects everyone. I hope to increase awareness about global warming while giving hoping that it’s not too late to change our ways and be a part of the solution.”
Lady Freedom
By Luis Franco
Installed 2021
Growth Of Life
By East Chapel Hill High students Selema De Bellis, Chia Liu, and Lan (Alice) Gao
Installed 2022
Located at the bus shelter at East Chapel Hill High (no longer on display)
Students from the ECHHS Art Appreciation Club designed this work inspired by the growth and resilience of a tree, even in some of the most unforgiving environments. The seed panel was made by Selema De Bellis. The sapling panel was designed by Chia Liu (Sapling). The Tree panel was create by Lan (Alice) Gao.
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Magic Tuber Stringband
Genre: Experimental folk
Magic Tuber Stringband is an experimental old-time-related duo from Durham, NC comprised of Courtney Werner on fiddle and Evan Morgan on guitar and banjo. The duo forges links between the dialects of traditional tunes and free-folk improvisations. We have three records out currently, with a fourth coming out this year on Feeding Tube Records.
Godric
Genre: Rap
I moved to Raleigh at the end of 2018 to pursue music & writing. I released my first full project last September coming off nearly losing my life in a car accident. Ever since, my passion’s steeled itself and being native to NC and making it from here is a principle of sorts for me because I know explicitly the talent that’s refined and produced only in places like this.
VSPRTN
Genre: Dance & electronic
VSPRTN is a DJ/Producer from Durham, NC. VSPRTN is known for their eclectic essential DJ style infusing hip-hop, techno,deep house, afrobeats genre bending at an electronic basis. Ves’ unique approach to music is originally profound by new familiar.
Alicia Marie
Genre: Hip-hop
I go by the name Alicia Marie. I am a rapper, singer songwriter, poet. I have been making music and writing all of my life. Chapel Hill supported me and my art heavily when I first began performing years ago and continues to support me many years and breaks later. The artist scene in Chapel Hill has always held a special place for me because it was behind the people there I was able to find my voice.
Bonies
Genre: Indie rock
Music is our safe haven. Our home. We are explorers in this chaotic place we call earth! Music is our wonderland, it’s our life. When we are not playing music we are going to record stores, eating good food or discovering cool spots. We moved here from Arizona, looking to connect with other musicians. We appreciate every little thing about music entirely. Michael and I met from mutual musicians a few years ago. We have jammed here and there and got serious last summer. We worked on our music almost ten hours a day. We do it because we genuinely love it. We love seeing people’s creative sides! We are excited to see and experience as much as we can before we bite it.
Larry & Joe
Genre: World music
I have recently returned to my home state of NC after 14 years abroad. I am from Winston-Salem but just moved to Durham. I have built a couple ensembles in the area in the past few months. One a duo with a Venezuelan folk musician, a quartet with three local guys. But the album I’m submitting features musicians from across the state. It was recorded by Jason Richmond in Durham.
Luren Grotto
Genre: Hip-hop
Luren Grotto is an artist who believes in the people and who is for the people. He grew up in the projects of Pittsburgh, PA and moved down to the south to Durham, NC to reside. He’s heavily involved in the community work in Durham through his organization, helping young adults of various ages, and giving everyday people hope and inspiration through his music. His music reflects what he does and what he loves in life, which is being apart of the everyday community.
jstory
Genre: Dance & electronic
Josh Story, also known as jstory, is an artist, producer and engineer based out of Durham, NC. His music is a mixture of live electronic improvisation with sound design and beats inspired by the greats of hip hop and electronic music history. He has worked alongside producer No ID to engineer tracks for Common, Vince Staples, Jhene Aiko and the Cocaine 80s. Josh moonlights as a product manager for the music technology company, Output. He releases music under the name jstory and can be found online @jstorymusic.
The South Got Something To Say
By Artie Barksdale
Installed 2022
Located on the 108 Henderson Street
We partnered with Carolina Performing Arts on this mural to celebrate the Hip Hop South Festival. The location was selected because of its proximity to the site of a former hip hop club, The Hideaway, which was a key stop on the Southern hip hop circuit in the early 2000s.
Marshall Sidbury
4-6 PM
Marshall Sidbury has been writing songs since he left home in the New Mexico desert to work as a cattle hand on the rodeo circuit. One night after the rodeo, he was stabbed by a jealous husband in an Arkansas juke joint and had a spiritual awakening. He quit the rodeo and left the next day to play the piano in a traveling Pentecostal revival, until he was bitten multiple times by a venomous snake and could not travel to the next destination. After he recovered, he took a job in a tobacco warehouse near Durham, North Carolina, where he lives today. Along the way, he’s picked up songs and musical styles. From the corridos of Mexican border towns to the work chants he learned as a prisoner during a brief stint in a Texas penitentiary, Marshall blends them all into his own brand of American music.
Angela & Will
1-3 PM
Angela DiPaolo is a violinist and music educator. William Woltz worked for years in classical radio but holds an abiding passion for the music of Buck Owens and Billie Holiday. Together, Angela & Will bring their vocal harmonies and instrumental skills to bear on a growing body of original tunes plus interesting songs from the American landscape, making for a compelling and entertaining musical experience. They are based in Wake Forest, NC.
The UNC Tarpeggios
3-4 PM
Founded in 2010, The Tarpeggios, affectionately known about campus as the Tarps, are a mixed-voice a cappella group at the UNC-Chapel Hill. The Tarps pride themselves on creating a space where individuals from all backgrounds can come together and find family, both through music and beyond with many trips, retreats, and socials. They have released two albums, Carolina State of Mind and The Teal Album, which can be found on Apple Music and Spotify. They’ve also released singles such as G Train and Before He Cheats, and plan to release more soon!
Ari Pappalardo
4-6 PM
Raleigh-born singer songwriter with a lot of life experience and the tracklist to prove it. Ari released his first solo album in March of this year. The release chronicles a decade plus of relationships, traumas, groove and soul. Ari delivers a variety of Rock, pop, alternative rock, blues, soul, and jazz to his audience.
Vito Di Bona
1-3 PM
Vito Di Bona lives with his wife and two kids in Durham, North Carolina, the city where he was born. His roots in classical, Piedmont blues and Brazilian folk music are heard in Songs of the Tao Te Ching and his recent Gaian music EP, The Living Earth. He serves on the board of the North Carolina Songwriters Co-op and grows medicinal plants.
Tar Heel Voices
3-4 PM
Tar Heel Voices, established in 1988, is UNC’s oldest co-ed a cappella group. Since its founding, THV has played a pivotal role in Carolina’s music scene. From performing at Late Night with Roy as the 2017 National Championship banner was presented to competing in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, THV continues to leave its musical mark on audiences at UNC and the surrounding area. THV records an album every other year and tours the country annually.
Live music provided by Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership
Magic Ballard
1-6 PM
Magic is a fiery free spirit, bringing healing and inspiring energy to everything she does. Stop by to add sparkle and shine to your Festifall experience! Check out her Glam Bar for complimentary fairy hair and face painting to help bring out your inner light and shine bright like a diamond.
Magdalena Scholle
Chapel Hill Town Hall
Magdalena Scholle, née Czubak, was born and educated in Poland. In 2005 she earned her PhD in Religious studies at the Institute of Philosophy at the University of Warsaw, where she joined the faculty as an assistant professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy. In 2010 she married an American and moved with her husband to Raleigh, NC. The exchange of her academic career in Poland for an unwritten American journey led to Magdalena becoming an artist. In 2013 she enrolled in her first courses at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She has found some early success placing annually in the juried art competition at the North Carolina State Fair from 2014 through 2022. Magdalena’s art has also been recognized at several of the Academy of Art University’s art shows. In 2017 her painting, Honey Lemon Tea, won Best Online Still Life at the Academy of Art University’s Spring Show. She continues to be inspired by the Medieval mystics, and she now feels she may have found a means to pursue philosophy through art. Her current project is a series of representational still-life oil paintings, which examine
the culture of tea and coffee.
Uniquely Henna
1-6 PM
Shanta Allard of Uniquely Henna will be offering complimentary henna tattoos.
Screen Printing with Robby Poore
1-6 PM
Take home a screen printed Festifall poster. Screen printing is provided by UNC Arts Everywhere.
The Bird
2-4 PM
Local performer Katie Rebich will join us as The Bird — a stilting spectacle!
Moonlight Dance Crew
4 & 5 PM
Watch open style choreography from UNC’s premier dance crew. Brought to you by UNC Arts Everywhere.
Carolina Ukulele Ensmeble
1-2 pm
Watch a short performance from the world’s first collegiate ukulele ensemble. Brought to you by UNC Arts Everywhere.
Community Mural Making
1-6 PM
Create your own art as part of a community mural. Led by a different artist each week!
October 8: Mayanthi Jayawardena
October 15: Britt Flood
October 22: Loren Pease
J Candeed
4-6 PM
J Candeed is the musical embodiment of the optimistic spirit. With an upbeat and evolving sound, he blends elements of the hill-country blues, traditional bluegrass and psychedelic groove using a mandola, kick and snare drum.
Steamroller Printmaking
1-5 PM
UNC professors Bob Goldstein and Beth Grabowski will be leading steamroller printing in street!
DJ Set with WXYC
UNC-Chapel Hill’s radio station WXYC will be providing the soundtrack for the event.
Electronic Recycling with Kramden Institute
Kramden Institute will be accepting used electronics for recycling at their exhibit booth. Bring old devices like laptops, monitors, cell phones, and tablets. Once in their care, data-bearing devices will be wiped three times with a DOD-approved process.
Lotus Rising – An Ode To Women
By Mayanthi Jayawardena
Installed 2023
Located on the 423 West Franklin Street
Created during Women’s History Month on the side of Lantern Restaurant, a women-owned business, the mural creates a community space that celebrates and uplifts women and marginalized voices. Themes of gold and lotus flowers are seen throughout the design symbolizing resilience, illumination, and wisdom. The lotus flower, or water lily, is the national flower of Sri Lanka, representing the artist’s native culture.
Many partners supported this project including the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture, Lantern Restaurant, and the Orange County Arts Commission.
Still Together We Rise
By Janvika Shah
Installed 2023 as part of Women’s History Month
Located at the bus shelter on South Road at County Club Road
ARTIST STATEMENT
Drawing from softness, resilience, strength, and intuitive wisdom, this piece aims to inspire women from all backgrounds to come together to lift each other up in the name of equity.
Goodness Sakes
By Alice Holleman
Installed 2023
Located at Chapel Hill Town Hall
ARTIST STATEMENT
My concept for the mural on the storm drain depicts the native wildlife that are directly affected by what we put in North Carolina waters. Having grown up in North Carolina, our state’s natural beauty is endangered by the disregard of our resources. The catchy rhyme I wrote “For all our sake, take care of our creeks and lakes!” is meant to be a helpful reminder of what is at stake when we do not take care of our world. Being mindful of the environment is beneficial for the animals and humans alike.
Water Connects Us (A Reminder)
By Jesse White
Installed 2023
Located at Chapel Hill Town Hall at North Columbia Street
ARTIST STATEMENT
It’s easy to forget that our community is part of a dynamic ecosystem that includes both the natural and built environment. Our actions have a direct impact on the plants and animals around us: we are like pieces of a living, breathing puzzle. Instead of allowing that knowledge to guide and enrich our daily lives, we often operate as if we are totally separate from nature. As soon as water disappears down the drain, we stop thinking about where it will end up. This mural uses color, shape, and visual movement to remind viewers of our interdependence, as well as the responsibility that comes with it. The design features a large semi-circle shape, filled with flora and fauna of North Carolina that are impacted by creek pollution. The images are carefully arranged in a radiating pattern to represent the ripple effect of even the smallest change within our environment, and the arrow shapes symbolize water as a connective tissue within that environment.
Only Rain Down The Drain
By Anna Payne Rogers Previtte
Installed 2023
Located at the intersection of West Rosemary Street and Mitchell Lane
ARTIST STATEMENT
For years I have responded to themes of nature, environmentalism and climate change in my work. This piece of public art was particularly exciting for me to create as part of a clear effort to change one of our more damaging habits that directly effects our local surroundings. The composition of the mural consists of four projecting planes that represent the layers of our experience on Earth from cloud to creek. As a celebration of natural beauty this is a colorful illustration of the most fundamental purpose of these storm drains; to redirect rainfall and runoff. Anything that goes down these drains goes directly into our local creeks and natural habitats. Making sure the public is aware of this is important and designing these storm drain murals with this in mind is a tangible way to enact change, bringing a call to action into people’s daily lives and neighborhoods. Initiatives like these are exciting for artists to participate in where they can help actualize a shared vision that is inline with the communities existing goals. I sincerely hope this piece is a bright, enjoyable addition to the street and helps people to remember, only rain down the drain!
I’ve Got Pipes On It
By Kelly Schrader
Installed 2023
Located at Airport Gardens Housing Complex
ARTIST STATEMENT
Prior to drawing out a concept, I researched past examples of storm drain murals as well as the storm drain system and waterways of Chapel Hill. I noticed every previous design I found was a direct representation of local wildlife, water, fish, etc. I decided to try to go a different route while maintaining a connection to the environmental theme in the call. My design showcases a system of pipes, tubes, and other transport methods for water, with bright colors that are eye-catching and in a cartoonish style. I hope people walking by will stop to consider the network of water delivery systems rushing right below their feet. What goes down the storm drain travels through these systems to our waterways.
Leeman Smith
Chapel Hill Public Library
ARTIST STATEMENT
My name is Leeman Smith and welcome to my installation called “The Lovers”! I am a Raleigh-based artist and textile designer and I have a passion for all things textiles! I love crafting, and designing, and I am inspired by gorgeous, vibrant colors and organic shapes. My art is a reflection of who I am and what I am trying to explore and I hope you enjoy it! Please feel free to look at my Instagram and my digital portfolio to learn more about my process and stay up to date with my current works!
From Asia to Chapel Hill with Love Art Bus
By Gabriel Eng-Goetz
Installed 2023
ARTIST STATEMENT
“My design celebrates the growing Asian American community here in the Triangle. My ancestors immigrated to America in the late 1800s, just prior to the Chinese Exclusion Act, leaving Southern China to start a Chinese vegetable farm here in the South and sell their exotic produce at markets in NYC. There are countless stories of change and sacrifice that all of our ancestors made to set us up for the opportunities we have today. The cultural identity of Asian Americans in the Southern United States continues to evolve in new and beautiful ways.
“This piece visually fuses ancient symbols with modern aesthetics and materials to recognize the amazing contributions Asian communities bring to the area. The left side of the bus features a leaping dog, which in Chinese culture symbolizes loyalty, honesty and friendship. The right side of the bus features an eagle to symbolize strength, freedom and vision. The back of the bus reads ‘From Asia to Chapel Hill with Love’, while Cantonese characters reading with ‘With Love’ are featured on the back and front of the bus.”
Serendib Creative
Chapel Hill Town Hall | October – November 2023
ARTIST STATEMENT
Mayanthi Jayawardena, the founder of Serendib Creative, is a proud Sri Lankan-American artist of all trades. She channels her passion through murals, digital illustration & design, fine art painting and children’s book illustrations. Mayanthi’s award winning art is internationally recognized and has been featured from North Carolina to Australia. Her art is an expressive blend of her Sri Lankan culture and her life experiences.
Mayanthi has blended her art and her advocacy to continue to impact the communities she serves. Many of her pieces celebrate the beauty and power of being a woman, while others express her Sri Lankan pride and pain, her latest draws awareness to the importance of mental health and self-love, and others share a world of beauty, color, and life through her eyes. Mayanthi is forever grateful for the opportunities and support that she has received and will continue to appreciate the serendipity of her journey.
Harmony in Nature
Installed 2023
Located on Booker Creek Trail
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Immersed in the rich tapestry of tribal art, this earthy composition is broken down in three different parts, yet comes together cohesively as a whole. It beautifully intertwines the harmonious connection between mankind, the life-sustaining element of water, and the captivating allure of the verdant, green North Carolina trails.
“These monochromatic, simplistic, yet expressive paintings are made using a basic set of geometric shapes – a circle, a triangle, and a square. Jivya Soma Mashe, a highly accomplished Warli artist, who introduced Warli to the world as an art form and inspired many tribal youths to practice Warli as commercial art, summed up the deep feeling which animates the Warli people, saying ‘There are human beings, birds, animals, insects, and so on. Everything moves, day and night. Life is movement.'”
Water Your Garden
By Mayanthi Jayawardena, Serendib Creative LLC
Installed 2023
ARTIST STATEMENT
“I created Water Your Garden to bring awareness to how important taking care of our mental health is. I wanted to visualize how important it is to practice self-care and be kind to yourself. As someone who is a mental health advocate with a background in public health, and who has struggled with anxiety and PTSD in my life, I wanted to create artwork that is beautiful, positive and encouraging to destigmatize such an important subject. One side of the illustration shows the power of healthy thoughts (written in the persons long hair) through affirmations and the other side of the illustration is about ways that you can practice self-care and seek support within your community symbolized through the words and multiple watering cans collectively watering the garden growing from the other person’s head. In the center is a brain with one side illustrated in the same design as the positive thoughts side and the other is illustrated as a garden. I believe that artwork has the power to change the way people think and I believe that imagery and messaging like this in the Chapel Hill buses could have a positive impact on its riders.”
The Trail Mural
Installed 2023
Located on Booker Creek Trail
ARTIST STATEMENT
The Trail Mural depicts four separate scenes, each located on a different pipe along the trail. The idea for this work revolves around showing the different biomes and fauna that inhabit the area and depicting them in a classic, scientific-illustration style. Each pipe has a specific scene, such as Treetops and Upper Branches, Forest Floor, Creek Bed and Banks, and The Forest at Night. Within each scene, the animals depicted correspond to their environment.
Motherland
By Dain Kim
Installed 2023
ARTIST STATEMENT
“When I imagined what I would like to see on a bus ceiling, my thoughts turned to nature. On passengers’ daily commute, this image might provide a short trip to a peaceful place, with perhaps a splash of fantasy and daydream. This landscape is inspired by Korean folk art, with the cranes being symbols of long life, and the sun and moon as symbols of balance. By sharing this work, I wish for well-being and vitality to all bus passengers in Chapel Hill.”
Toya Bonita Wallace
Chapel Hill Public Library | October – November 2023
ARTIST STATEMENT
Toya Bonita Wallace is a North Carolina-based mixed-media artist, painter, poet, public artist, and sculptor. She was born in South Carolina but has lived in North Carolina since the age of two. Her artwork explores her relationship with her African Heritage, the Beauty of Blackness, and the Complexities of being a Black Woman from the South.
Many of Toya’s art pieces protest societal injustices. Her latest series of paintings, entitled, “In The Spirit of My Ancestors” celebrates her connection with her African Heritage and pays Homage to her formerly enslaved Ancestors from South Carolina.
Toya has won multiple visual art awards and has exhibited her art at prominent art galleries, across the country including, The Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, NC, The Durham Art Guild, The Frederic Jameson Gallery, at Duke University-Durham, NC, and The Equity Art Gallery in New York, NY. Toya is a recent graduate of Duke University’s Graduate School, graduating in May 2023
Jim Huegerich Memorial Bench
By Jim Gallucci
Installed 2023
Located on the Bolin Creek Trail
This bench honors the late Jim Huegerich, a dedicated public servant who made significant contributions to the community. Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation, Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture, the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation, and artist Jim Gallucci collaborated with the Huegerich family to bring this unique bench and lasting tribute to the Bolin Creek Trail.
Asja Milak
Chapel Hill Town Hall | December 2023 – January 2024
ARTIST STATEMENT
My art focuses on the repetitive patterns of geometry. It is a beautiful fusion of wood, nails, and string. The process of creating a piece varies. Some have a repetitive pattern, while others I develop the pattern as I work. Each piece is made with love and is unique and can be interpreted in various ways. It is fascinating to me to come up with patterns and designs. They are so intricate and the process of repetition gives this therapeutic feeling of letting go of all the worries of the day and focusing on what is in front of you. These pieces draw people in and they are great conversation starters. There is this feeling of huge accomplishment when you see your pieces on individual walls. I hope my pieces make you as happy as I was making them.
Mara Johnson
Chapel Hill Public Library | December 2023 – January 2024
ARTIST STATEMENT
I was inspired by all that touches my heart. I enjoy travel, exploring new places, meeting people, and new cultures. I will always have a deep love for my home country and its natural beauties, so I painted fireworks in Brazil and made figure paintings of my indigenous ancestors. I have also shared my visit to the Grand Canyon that marked my soul deeply and the birth of my first child with “Reborn,” a piece that was finished while in labor. There is also the second piece I have created with wood for string art. This piece granted me the opportunity to participate in the Illuminate Art Walk in Downtown Raleigh.
Mara Luisa Carvalho Johnson is a North Carolina-based artist, painter, public artist, and Engineer. She was born in Brazil but has lived in North Carolina for the last 6 years.
BLAC: Work Inspired by Gordon Parks
Chapel Hill Town Hall | February – March 2024
SHOW DESCRIPTION
Gordon Parks is an American icon whose photographs captured the lives of both those seen in the limelight and those who were often overlooked and unseen. Sharing a well-rounded view of his people in black communities was close to his heart. He said, “I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs.” Though drawn to exposing social concerns in his vast body of photographs, he also worked in the fashion industry, film, writing, visual art and more. In BLAC: Work Inspired by Gordon Parks, we have included a sampling of art reminiscent of his dynamic art throughout his long and gifted career.
BLAC stands for Black League of Art Creatives, and the show exhibits work by Ashley Armstrong, Kevin Bell, and Debi Drew. It was curated by Debi Drew.
Caretaker (The Cardinal)
By Britt Flood
Installed 2023
Located at MLK Jr. Blvd. at Timber Hollow (Southbound)
ARTIST STATEMENT
“This is a whimsical ode to the backyard birds of my new home since moving to Chapel Hill. I feel lucky to hear the birdsong of cardinals every morning, and this is an ode to how nature positively shapes and takes care of our mental health and wellbeing.”
Photo by Fly Squirrel Films
Chromatic Commute
By Max Dowdle
Installed 2023
Located at MLK Jr. Blvd. at Homestead Road
Photo by Fly Squirrel Films
Flower Power
By Kelly Schrader
Installed 2023
Located at North Greensboro Street at Shelton
ARTIST STATEMENT
“This design focuses on ‘flower power,’ how the queer community historically has been tied to certain types of flowers, from Oscar Wilde’s green carnations to Lincoln’s ‘streak of lavender,’ even back to Sappho’s violets. There have been many floral terms used derogatorily towards LGBTQ people, such as ‘pansy’ or ‘buttercup,’ and even sayings like ‘horticultural lad’ and ‘evening botanist’ to refer to same-sex attracted folks. Time and time again, the LGBTQ community reclaims these terms as a form of empowerment, and today the association between queer culture and flowers is a positive one. Flower types included: lavender, violets, green carnations, pansies, buttercups, white lilies (popular reference to lesbianism in Japan), roses, and other flowers that are specifically mentioned in Lord Alfred Douglas’ famously gay poem, ‘Two Loves’ (crocuses, fritillaries, pervenches).”
Photo by Fly Squirrel Films
Secret Psychic Bus Pass
By Stella Rosen
Installed 2023
Located at South Columbia Street at Frat Court
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Through eight panels connected by a central winding visual element, Secret Psychic Bus Pass depicts, in bright colors and bold linework, a journey from a bus stop in Chapel Hill through several North Carolina landscapes. The connection between panels takes the viewer on an imaginary journey from the bus stop bench to high in the night sky, back down to earth along the back of snakes, along a winding river, through a field of windflowers, through a dark bat cave, and then finally back to the bus stop bench. The last panel is a foil to the first, showing how the character, and viewer, may incorporate fantastical memories of the journey into their daily lives.”
Makala Aayana
Chapel Hill Public Library | Mid-February – Mid-April 2024
ARTIST STATEMENT
Makala Aayana is a Caribbean-American, mixed-media artist from Atlanta, Georgia, now rooted in Durham, North Carolina. Her creative journey centers on promoting well-being and sustainability through art, fostering connections, exploring identities, and sparking conversations. Her work celebrates curiosity and contemplation, it is a reflection of how and what she sees around her. With the pieces in this show, she hopes that viewers are called to question and explore their life experiences and their stories, just as she has when creating each piece.
Makala is also a host and curator for A Concept: You (ACY), a podcast and community that focuses on encouraging people to be the best version of themselves. Through ACY, Makala highlights holistic wellness, uniting generations through shared wisdom and experiences, and encouraging an understanding of who you are and how you want to show up in the world.
Relief Map
By Christopher Williams
Installed 2023
ARTIST STATEMENT
“For my design, I am attempting to evoke a sense of dreaming and fantasy, a portal of sorts that looks beyond the confines of the bus and into another world. Toys and overgrown flowers tower above, with a watercolor sky full of stars peeking through. The idea is not to convey a certain message to the passengers of the bus, but to give them a few minutes to let their imaginations wander. Between our daily responsibilities and the events of the past years that weigh on us and guide us through our everyday life, the sense of childlike wonder and imagination can get lost or shut down. I hope that, through this image, passengers can take a moment to reconnect to that.”
Suijin Li
Chapel Hill Town Hall | April – May 2024
ARTIST STATEMENT
In recent years, I’ve discovered the captivating world of painting—an art form that allows me to express intricate designs through the interplay of colors and shapes. Drawing inspiration from Josef Albers’ pioneering studies on color, I’ve found myself delving deep into the realm of hues and their dynamic relationships. Many of my compositions pay homage to the breathtaking beauty of my native Venezuela, capturing the vivid colors found in its landscapes and the graceful allure of its native birds. This exhibit serves as a testament to my passion for color and the boundless creativity it allows me to explore.
Gina Harrison
Chapel Hill Public Library | April 16 – June 17, 2024
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT: Jaunts, Journeys, and Flights of Fancy
Journey has likely been used as a metaphor for as long as people have told stories. Whether describing youth to age, innocence to enlightenment (or less optimistically, disillusion), or simply the path down a road less traveled, journey shines a light on the things we learn and see and do along the way.
Similarly, these works document a variety of personal journeys, big and small. Some reference musical works. Some are inspired by a memory, a morning walk, or a trip to the other side of the world. At least one is a journey interrupted, a musing on what might have been. They are primarily in a square format, of which the majority are abstracts. Even when working with no particular end in mind, if the brain can identify a line or mark as a horizon, I inevitably find myself in a landscape of sorts. I can’t tell you how to get there, except perhaps in dreams. Enjoy your journey.
Destiny
By Renzo Ortega
Installed 2024
Located at the basketball court at Umstead Park.
ARTIST STATEMENT
This mural is about whatever directions people take, going north, south, west, or east. There will always be something unexpected on the horizon that will give a new meaning to their lives.
Where The Water Goes
By Luke Vandergriff
Installed 2024
Located at Chapel Hill High School
ARTIST STATEMENT
Where does the water go? This piece is an attempt to answer that question. It’s not enough to say it goes to a creek. Rather, it goes to places of peace, serenity, and natural beauty that are enjoyed by those living in the forest.
Basketball Bike Racks
By Freddie Bell
Installed 2023
Located at Southern Community Park
ARTIST STATEMENT
I looked to the nearby basketball courts to inspire the abstracted pattern on these bike racks. I love using color, pattern, and repetition to reflect on the human experience. I wanted these bike racks to speak to what people are in the park for – gathering together to play!
Think Outside the Box
By Adam Cooley
On display through June 2024
Located at 140 West Franklin Plaza
MEANING & INTENTION
“Think Outside the Box” is a very large, awe inspiring, fun sculpture that embraces the importance of being proud of who you are, in particular the LGBTQIA+ community. It challenges you to look past the labels that both society and that we ourselves attach to ourselves. “Think Outside the Box” is for everyone and depicts scenes of diverse communities coming together in unity and joy, symbolizing inclusivity and the beauty of human connection. We are all bound together sharing the same planet, all of us with different perspectives and experiences. It is unfortunate, but research shows that LGBTQIA+ youth are at much higher risk of suicide. “You Belong, You Matter” is present because it is important for all people to feel like they have a place and they matter. “Think Outside the Box” encourages all people to become part of the artwork’s ever-evolving narrative of positivity.
help flowers blossom, not algae bloom
By ~buffy
Installed 2024
Located at Eubanks Park & Ride
ARTIST STATEMENT
My concept is inspired from reading “Algae in Stormwater ponds and wetlands” from the Town of Chapel Hill’s website. While the visual concept is presented as a vibrant and whimsical scene, featuring flora and fauna interacting with the storm drain, it draws upon the importance of stormwater ponds and wetlands in water pollution treatment. The concept style, particularly the water and a water slicked tunnel (drain) is in direct correlation to what I learned of the algae and algae blooms. Of course, “blooms” leads me to think of flowers especially since it is spring and flowers are blooming all around.
Queer Leaders of Chapel Hill
By Iris Gottlieb
Installed May 2024
Bus wrap on a Chapel Hill Transit bus. Part of Art + Transit.
ARTIST STATEMENT
This bus represents some of Chapel Hill’s queer activists and artists who shaped the community and its politics and enriched the creativity and culture of the area. Some are nationally known, such as writer and civil rights activist, Rev Pauli Murray, and writer, Randall Kenan. Others are locally famous for their impact such as UNC professor, Gerald Unks, gay activist, Lightning Brown, and Joe Herzenberg, the first openly gay elected politician in North Carolina. The legacy of their work and lives all hold significance to the triangle and beyond and their memory will be riding around their old stomping grounds for a few years.
We’re All Connected
By Rich Gurnsey
Installed 2024
ARTIST STATEMENT
My colorful, birds-eye view designs celebrate the vital role public transportation plays in a flourishing Chapel Hill. Whether riders are heading to work, a park, the doctor’s office, school, or a friend’s house, Chapel Hill Transit provides a reliable and equitable way for people to connect with places and people. The three designs depict vibrant, letter-shaped buildings that spell out “Chapel Hill,” “UNC Chapel Hill” and “Carrboro” surrounded by interconnected streets adorned with inspirational messages (oriented so they can be read from all seat perspectives) and traversed by a small fleet of buses. Leafy, mature trees dot the landscape, and puffy clouds hang in the air above it all. I’m hoping my art will add more vibrancy and whimsy to riders’ commutes, while offering a reminder of how public transit not only provides mobility, but reduces traffic and pollution, helps to create a sustainable local economy, and brings people together.
Comic Awareness
By L Jámal Walton
Installed 2024
ARTIST STATEMENT
Comic Awareness is the celebration of Jamal’s many years of creating original comic book characters. It follows his comic characters in order of creation as they share their outlook with us. The characters are Mike and Rick (from the Miami Mice), Nate and Leroy, Glacier (from Madness), Axon, Rasta (from ungoodwise), Captain Evil & Diabla, and Ninjareen (with Cthulhu). More of Jamal’s comics can be read online at ljamal.com/comics
Interconnected
By Elemental Choice
Installed 2024
ARTIST STATEMENT
Scientifically, the natural world is built of shapes and patterns on both micro and macro levels. Spiritually, many cultures over time have translated their beliefs through symbolism and storytelling. I create intricate patterns in pen and ink that reflect how I view the layers of interconnectivity within our human experience.
Each epicenter represents an individual with patterns outstretched that depict their choices, beliefs, and experiences within their own lives. Each person then comes into contact with those around them creating a patchwork of unique interactions impacting their collective story and personal evolution.
Umstead Park Bike Racks
By Al Frega
Installed 2024
Located at Umstead Park
ARTIST STATEMENT
These bike racks are a continuation of two other sets I did for the trail system in Chapel Hill. The foundations are Chapel Hill bus brake drums sunk into the ground with concrete. The uprights are heavy-gauge recycled stainless steel industrial material. These differ from the previous racks by being slightly wider at the request of the cycling community. The sculptural components on the tops were constructed to reference five branches of the military as requested. The symbols are simplifications and abstractions of branch emblems.
This project was a collaboration with Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation, Chapel Hill Transit, and Go Chapel Hill.
Rubbish the Raccoon
By Nyssa Collins
Installed 2024
Located at the Chapel Hill Community Center
This piece was originally installed in Downtown Chapel Hill in March 2024 at the 140 West Franklin Plaza. Looking ahead to Earth Day on April 22, the piece focused on environmental sustainability. It is a raccoon with skin and fur made from recycled materials, such as plastic bottles and aluminum cans. The raccoon quickly became popular during its stay downtown and has now been relocated to the Chapel Hill Community Center. Read the press release.
Jacqueline S. Dulin
Chapel Hill Town Hall | June 4 – August 5, 2024
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT: LIMINAL
As an Asian American artist, my work explores the human experience through the lens of faith, culture, and identity. My paintings are the visual documentation of my personal story allowing me to process the interchange between my inner and outer worlds.
This body of work is inspired by the 1980’s homecoming and prom dresses my mother sewed for me. These 35+ year old dresses hold the memories of an American teenager growing up with misguided perceptions of beauty and status. My insecure teenage self understood little about womanhood while my middle-aged self attempts to embrace the insecurities of the natural progression of a decaying body and mind. Despite still fitting into these dresses, my body has aged and shifted. These dresses remain the same through the years but my body cannot. Which one has become more out-of-date and irrelevant? The dress? Or me?
Influenced by the biblical book of Ecclesiastes that life is a vapor, the Liminal series expresses the delicate, sacred, humbling, and beautiful human experience of growing old.
Journeys of the Daily Transit
By East Art Appreciation Club
Installed 2024
Located at East Chapel Hill High School
ARTIST STATEMENT
This artwork features the Chapel Hill transit bus traversing diverse landscapes, from a golden horizon to a fantastical seascape to an enchanted mountain range. The juxtaposition between the magical elements of the landscape with the natural scenery represents the beauty of finding magic in the ordinary, whether it’s waiting at a bus stop or taking the bus to school.
Created by East Art Appreciation Club members Richia Liu (left panel), Eva Zinn (center panel), and Heidy Flores Linares and Neval Cakmakci (right panel).
Watershed
By JR Butler
Installed 2024
Located at Hargraves Community Center
ARTIST STATEMENT
For this design I wanted to relate visually that the creek and storm drains are connected. I did this by creating a fun, environmental scene where the central painting of the creek connects directly to the physical storm drain. I then used red lettering to contrast and stand out from the environmental scene. The wording I chose is “This supplies our watershed. Let’s keep it clean.” I think the word “watershed” helps to emphasize that not only does it connect to the creek but it’s also a source of water for the community.
Jackie Sanders
Chapel Hill Public Library | June 18 – August 12, 2024
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT: Sunrise & Shadows
Encouraging others to actively choose the future they are creating, Jackie’s mission is to help others feel more connected to their minds, bodies, and the spaces in which they exist.
By layering and manipulating abstract gestural marks with crisp geometric lines, this body of work explores the in-betweens – the space between tension and calm, light and shadow, and the resistance and release of control allowing the viewer to travel in between elements as they seek stability in the chaos.
Further encouraging an ever-evolving conversation between the viewer and the piece of work, the title of each painting is also a question. Extracted from its context, these questions are pulled from journal entries, notes, or thoughts the artist had around the time of creating it. When read in a sequence, the titles of these works reflect a narrative of one’s mental state as they question the world around them. Much like a sunrise, these questions impact each of us throughout our lifetime as experiences repeat like a spiral staircase – recognizable but in a deeper, more informed, way.
Unpacking the constant push and pull that each of us face in our day to day lives, Jackie’s work gives the viewer an opportunity to transform one of life’s mundane moments into a memorable experience.
B3 Coffee
$5,000 Award
Project summary: A series of 10 artist-led workshops for people with disabilities and their allies. Workshops will be followed by at least one disability–themed art showcase featuring the art created by workshop participants.
Bridging the Gap
$7,500 Award
Project summary: A series of workshops with High School Students exploring how to build youth coalitions and creatively, powerfully, and visually communicate their message. Participants will brainstorm, select materials, and learn fabric dying and printing skills to create banners and build giant puppets that amplify their message. “Chapel Hill Children’s March” will participate in upcoming Town events.
Chinese School at Chapel Hill
$3,500 Award
Project summary: Free community festival for everyone to experience traditional Chinese arts and culture, including Peking Opera, paper-cutting, calligraphy, painting, and music. The Spring Festival will take place in Chapel Hill at a location TBD.
Keep Our Waterways Clean and the Earth Evergreen
By Molly Chopin
Installed 2024
Located at 136 E Rosemary St #100, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
ARTIST STATEMENT
Considering how evergreen North Carolina is and the symbiotic relationship between waterways and forestlands, I was drawn to create a landscape inspired by the slogan “keep rivers clean and the earth evergreen.” Depicted is a forest of evergreen long leaf pines, a very common species of trees found in NC, next to a body of water that’s sparkling with a beauty that can only exist without pollution. The design around the sun is the Seed of Life, a geometric symbol comprised of seven overlapping circles, that represents the interconnection that exists between systems of the earth, sky, and cosmos. A rainbow frames the scene to catch eyes and celebrate the beauty of sunlight and water coalescing, and an eastern box turtle, the state reptile of NC, represents the spectrum of species (besides us humans) that depend upon clean and consciously cared for waterways. Sparkles in the forest, on the water, and spilling out onto the sidewalk are designed to draw viewers in and reinforce a reminder – that from a grand perspective, it’s all starlight, and we are all connected.
Hannah Ruth Foundation
$5,000 Award
Project summary: Conduct Living Legends 4.0, a 6–8-week oral history preservation project for local Black youth and elders. Youth will learn about oral history techniques, conduct research, and create video recordings. Community celebration will showcase the video and participants, and recordings will be made available online afterwards.
Inter-Faith Council (IFC) for Social Service
$7,500 Award
Project summary: Expansion of IFC / Bridges Art Therapy “Art Hive” program to include shelters in Chapel Hill. Art Hives are monthly sessions where people come together as community to create art. An art therapist facilitates the program by providing art supplies in a safe and inclusive space.
Orange County Rape Crisis Center
$5,000 Award
Project summary: A series of (4) Zentangle workshops for participants to experience empowerment, grounding, and mindfulness with community in a safe and inclusive space. The artist-facilitator will construct a collaborative art piece assembled from participants’ work and display it publicly as a symbol of the triumph of spirit over hardship and the bonds of community.
Prism Design Lab, Inc.
$10,000 Award
Project summary: Organizers will work with local artist Tarish Pipkins, aka Jeghetto, to bring his puppetry performance of 5P1N0K10 (Spinokio) to the students of all Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) Middle Schools.
Keiko Genka
Chapel Hill Town Hall | August 6 – October 3, 2024
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT: ORDINARY BEAUTY
Just as we tend to overlook our simple daily routines in favor of the grand plans we dream about, life is full of wonder and intrigue that we pass off as insignificant and mundane. If we can find the beauty so abundant in every moment, we will not need to search for happiness and contentment.
Unfamiliar places reveal everyday life on each street corner. From the faces of people engaged in daily activities to the signage directing folks to local offerings, I feel a connection to the realities so easily missed by residents and visitors alike. What is offered in my paintings, however, is totally controlled by the viewer.
Dain Kim
Chapel Hill Public Library | August 15 – October 8, 2024
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT: Nature’s Abundance
Inspired by the botanical beings I encounter wherever I am, this journal documents living organisms on this divine earth, demonstrating abundance and appreciation. Seeking out nature’s individual beauty and its harmonic balance with surroundings is a meditative action. By taking the time to closely observe plants, we discover a whole universe within nature’s form. Ultimately, we are part of nature, interconnected with all life.
After relocating to the other side of the world, I began reflecting on the meaning of “Home.” The concept is simple yet symbolic, wrapped in layers of meaning. Just as hermit crabs test various shells to find a suitable home, I too experience a longing for an ideal “Habitat.” This search for a perfect home is a common experience among many beings on Earth, driven by preference or necessity. While there may be no definitive answer, there is intrinsic value in the journey of searching.
Make Yourself at Home
By Alison Hawkins
Installed 2024
Located at West Main Street at Carrboro Town Hall
ARTIST STATEMENT
When do we take moments to daydream in our day? This illustration depicts a homey and intimate interior that invites bus riders and pedestrians to rest in a meditative moment. Comfy, worn-in chairs, stories that are ready to explore, and a cup of coffee provide a welcoming refuge for all. Bus riders can rest, observe the world around them, and feel at home in the community.
Fluidity
By Tori Celeste
Installed 2024
Located at East Franklin Street at Estes Drive
ARTIST STATEMENT
My piece is an expression of dynamic change and the pathway to hope. I wanted to create something fun with the use of bright vivid colors. The shapes represent an interconnectedness and fluidity of forms and bonds.
A Brighter Future
By Suijin Li
Installed 2024
Located at West Franklin Street at Columbia Street
ARTIST STATEMENT
A brighter future awaits us, driven by human ingenuity and resilience. Imagine sustainable cities powered by clean energy, where green spaces thrive and technology enhances our lives. Education becomes a universal right, empowering everyone and fostering empathy across cultures. Health advancements eradicate diseases, and personalized medicine ensures longer, healthier lives. Social justice and equality transform from ideals into realities, with diverse and inclusive societies celebrating our shared humanity. Every act of kindness and innovation brings us closer to this vision. Together, we can illuminate the path to a brighter, more hopeful future.
Bare Necessities
By Schrader Art
Installed 2024
Located at Old Fayetteville Road at Autumn Woods
ARTIST STATEMENT
My design features four figural scenes with bright colors and bold outlines, using circles and symmetrical forms within asymmetrical compositions. Each figure is participating in a simple activity while finding joy in the small moments. This piece is about practicing everyday joy as a strength. Working the land, hula-hooping, swimming, eating ice cream – all are broadly accessible forms of leisure and entertainment that can connect us back to the simple things in life.
Under the Stars
By Rashmi Krishnappa
Installed 2024
Located at East Franklin Street at Couch Road
ARTIST STATEMENT
Featuring some of Chapel Hill’s beloved monuments this artwork is inspired by Van Gogh’s starry night. Mandala’s and Patterns are used to create the depth and flow in this piece. Hues of “Carolina Blue” are used to depict the starry night. The original art is mixed media including markers and acrylic.
In the distance, I saw an orange glow
By Audrey Garton
Installed 2024
Located at East Franklin Street at Morehead Planetarium
ARTIST STATEMENT
My paintings and digital art explore aspects of the human condition that we as humans tend to hold back from expressing. There’s a sense of empowerment in acknowledging your current situation and opening yourself up to others – and it opens a door to see ourselves in one another. Within my artistic endeavors, I strive to elicit emotions that motivate individuals to take meaningful actions.
This artwork is inspired by the idea that even when we feel surrounded by darkness, there’s still hope and signs of light that we might miss if we’re not looking for them.
Pollinator Mandala
By Sara Beaman
Installed 2024
Located at Umstead Drive at Bolinwood Apartments
ARTIST STATEMENT
This piece is a celebration of the local pollinators that support our food web, and the native plants that support them in turn. Each of the images depict a pollinator creature or plant indigenous to our area arranged in a six-sided array mimicking a snowflake or spiderweb. Our ecosystem is a fragile and unique treasure. What might this web look like in twenty-five years? What can we do to nurture it, as it nurtures us?
She Dares to Daydream
By Carlye C. Daugird
Installed 2024
Located at South Columbia Street at Purefoy Road
ARTIST STATEMENT
I paint Hope with bold vibrant colors and gutsy strokes.
This piece is about the progress of feminism and the Joy of a little girl who dreams big. There is something really beautiful about how powerful the innocence of a little girl’s daydreams can be. She knows with confidence she can become a Justice seeking (hence the RBG collar) Queen (crowned) of the Mermaids (the belief in the once thought fantastical, has given women rights many wouldn’t have believed possible). The other side, honors and calls us to remember women who have modeled out new possibilities for us all; powerful humanitarian leaders like Tsai Ing-Wen (1st woman president of Taiwan) and Angela Merkel (1st woman German Chancellor) , the Justice seeking leadership of women like Pauli Murray (civil rights advocate, lawyer and activist) and Sonia Sotomayor (1st Hispanic & 1st Woman of color to be a Supreme Court Justice), the courageous leadership of women like Ida B. Wells (journalist activist who led anti-lynching crusade & suffragist) & Malala Yousafzai (Pakistani activist who spoke out against prohibition of education of young girls) .
When I was a little girl, 40 years ago, I was never taught these names. Now, my daughter grows up in a world where she knows their names and so many others. My hope is that the even on those days that it is easy to believe the lies of hate, that positive social change will never really take root, that this bus shelter art will be a reminder of Hope to the unfettered Daydreams of a young girl and to the Wisdom of the still young at heart.
Exhale
Mikyoung Kim, an environmental artist, designer, and sculptor, created a phenomenon that attracts crowds of people. The Exhale sculpture is an event-based experience that considers the scarcity of water in the region. The mist is a welcome refreshment for passersby and people who want to linger in the square.
Unbound
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Susan Brown
Executive Director
Meeghan Rosen
Interim Director
Steve Wright
Public Art Coordinator
Rachel Bass
Administrative Assistant
Darien Cropper
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Xavier Vallejo
Special Events Coordinator
Atlas Logan
Director
Ellie East
Public Art Assistant
Our values
In addition to the Townʼs RESPECT values, we champion values that speak directly to the work of Community Arts & Culture:
Inclusion
Arts and culture are for the many, not the few. We embrace diversity and advance equity within our community and the world.
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