Director

Story: The Innovation Barn is a cool facility that is part of the Envision Charlotte program to create a more competitive, sustainable, and impactful community. It has programs to showcase circular economies, a café, teaching kitchen, composting center and lots more. Ann Duarte and Sydney Duarte are a mother and daughter artist team with murals on our uptown, NoDa, and Plaza-Midwood Artwalks. Their fun, interactive murals with messages of positivity and love are adored all over the city of Charlotte. Key Formal Elements:·     Visible spectrum colors in the rainbow·     Asymmetrical balance Make the Connection: Duarte Designs celebrates our planet with a figure of Gaia, the Greek mythological goddess of the earth. Covered in flowers, leaves, and stems, she creates the rainbow flowing across the wall. The artists believe in taking care of our planet and invite you to see all of the color and beauty of our world.

Once you pass under the railroad underpass, you will see the next brightly colored mural on the side of the Innovation Barn. The artists of this mural are much loved in Charlotte and are know for their positive energy. Title: “Gaia”Location: 932 Seigle AvenueArtist: Ann Duarte and Sydney DuarteDate: 2020Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @duartedesigns, @travelinggypsy

Gaia mural

The "Threading Through" Greenway Trail was produced through a partnership with Brand the Moth and funded with an AARP Community Challenge Grant.  The new mural at the Cordelia Park Tunnel underpass is part of the grant project and was painted by artists Doris Kapner and Laurie Smithwick with help from the community during a painting day.  This trail connects the four surrounding neighborhoods of NoDA, Villa Heights, Optimist Park & Belmont through the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.

"Threading Through" Greenway Trail

Story: Oh boy, does this have a story. So way back in 1991 this sculpture was funded as part of the City of Charlotte’s Percent for Art program. The artist was paid $15,000 for his large, three-piece archway sculpture installed originally at the front entrance of Spirit Square on Tryon Street. By 1999, there was a push to move it as folks wanted a more-lively Tryon Street. As the neighborhood of NoDa was becoming an arts destination and Cordelia Park was recently approved, the entrance of Cordelia Park seemed like a great spot for a gateway piece. And so on a quiet Sunday morning, it moved across town.Many thanks to Charlotte’s favorite historian Tom Hanchett for help with this research. Key Formal Elements:·     Free-standing sculpture·     Negative space of the area under the top ribbonMake the Connection: The original intent of the artist was that the archway represented the curtain rising up on opening night thus connecting the abstract sculpture to its original place in front of Spirit Square. In its different location, can it still be seen with the same intent? Is the curtain raising on the NoDa arts district? With it’s performing arts venues, galleries, and incredible murals, NoDa is the arts neighborhood of Charlotte so perhaps the sculpture has found its forever home.

This is the first artwork on the "Threading Through" Greenway Trail. It is located at the corner of North Davidson and Parkwood Avenues and it stands at the gateway to Cordelia Park.

Opening Night Sculpture

In discussing this work, artist Gus Cutty indicated that he wants his audience to think and explained that he prefers for his work to initiate conversation. For many residents, this mural has led to both. the mural features the words “La Patria” meaning homeland in large letters which helps to provide a frame of reference. Viewers naturally ask questions such as "Whose homeland?" The viewer can take in the close-up of a chain-link fence, a historic sailing vessel, and a figure of a Black male. The artist hopes that viewers will consider these and other questions about identity as they view this mural.

This mural by Gus Cutty was commissioned for the Inaugural Talking Walls mural festival on the former Abari Games wall. Cutty is an Asheville-based artist and an active member of the mural community of the Southeast. Talking Walls is an annual mural festival celebrating street artists by bringing local, regional, and nationally known mural artists to create new work.  This mural is located on the wall facing uptown and one should be sure to back up far enough to take in the scale of the mural.

"La Patria"

Story: Over the past couple of years, locally owned business NoDa Deli &amp; Markes allowed their building to become a canvas for artists. A lot of these artists are part of the Southern Tiger Collective which supports street art and mural painting in our community.  Key Formal Elements:·     Strong outline in the BLM mural·     Highlights on the face of Baby YodaMake the Connection: Baby Yoda and a Black Lives Matter mural together? Sure, art is an expression of our community. Baby Yoda, a character from the Disney Mandalorian series, by Alex DeLarge dates to 2019. The BLM mural dates to 2020 during our collective year of racial reckoning. The “Say My Name” mural on the second story also dates to 2020 and includes a list of Black and brown persons who lost their lives as a result of racial injustice. Art sparks conversation and there is plenty to talk about

Take some time to enjoy all the murals in this location. Make sure you look up also. And thank the business owners for supporting local artists. ﻿Title: NoDa Deli and Market muralsLocation: 1721 N. Davidson StreetArtists: Alex DeLarge, Southern Tiger Collective, Dustin Moates, Aubrey Hedrick, @euuuuuliDate: 2019 - 2020Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @alxdlrg, @southerntigercollective, aubreyhedrick, @dustinmoates, @euuuuuli

Murals at NoDa Market and Deli

Story: Charles Partin is a Nebraska-based architect and sculptor and he applied for this project through the Arts &amp; Science Council. Once chosen, he began outreach through community workshops and settled on a design that celebrates the historic architecture and textile mill history of the area. Partin sculpts wet bricks of different depths, numbers them to aid in the installation, and installs on site once the bricks are fired.Key Formal Elements:·     Abundant texture·     Low-relief sculptureMake the Connection: The simple mill houses constructed by the historic Louise Mill are celebrated by the artist. Humble dwellings made for factory workers feature gable ends and front porches. The mill constructed around 72 of these houses and while many remain today, gentrification has meant many are now lost.

From the NoDa Deli and Market, cross over N. Davidson St and then cross Parkwood to the corner. Notice how this sculpture is so different from the yellow, abstract sculpture across the street where the walk began. Title: “Belmont Markers”Location: Corner of Parkwood and N. DavidsonArtist: Charles PartinDate: 2011Media: Iodized brick relief panels in brick piersArtist Info: www.partinstudios.com

Belmont Markers

Story: This mural is part of an AARP Community Challenge Grant awarded to Brand the Moth in partnership with ArtWalksCLT. Working with Park and Recreation, this tunnel site was chosen as a way to brighten the experience of walkers, runners, bikers and all using the neighborhood greenway. Local artists Doris Kapner and Laurie Smithwick designed the mural in a ‘coloring book” fashion so that community members could paint the mural during a Community Paint Day. Over 60 people came and helped to paint the circles on the mural. Key Formal Elements:·     Implied motion of the flow of circles·     Use of outline around the animals Make the Connection: This combination of abstract geometric circles and realistic animals delights the eye and brings color and play to your experience in the greenway. Sunny, energetic yellow greets you at both ends while over-sized animals invite you to celebrate the nature of our greenways. The grey squirrel, opossum, marbled salamander and red cardinal are all North Carolina state symbols. Find the turtle and then be on the lookout in the creek for them. This 100-foot-long mural represents the people, communities and nature that “threads through” our wonderful greenway.

Head down to the greenway and take time to stop at the mural located in the tunnel underpass at Parkwood Avenue. It's so bright and cheery and you'll want to see all the fun creatures on the wall.Title: “Threading Through”Location: Little Sugar Creek Greenway Parkwood TunnelArtists: Doris Kapner, Laurie SmithwickDate: 2021Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @doriskapner, @lauriesmithwick

Threading Through mural

Story:  Look at that date. This one is an oldie but goodie. Will Puckett is one of the original artists painting murals in Charlotte. Maybe the first. Puckett did early work adding iconic murals to places in NoDa like the Neighborhood Theatre and Jack Beagles. For this mural, he worked with Trips for Kids, a non-profit organization, providing cycling experiences for underserved youth. The mural project was funded with a grant from the Arts &amp; Science Council. Key Formal Elements:·     Heavy use of outline·     Cool colors of sky and green grassMake the Connection: Puckett and his wife built the pallets and installed them on the side of the building. Then he outlined the entire composition in paint-by number form and on April 16, 2010, community volunteers came and painted the mural. This is such an early mural in Charlotte’s mural history. It’s great to see early work that still remains.

From the greenway, walk up 15th Street to the intersection with N. Davidson. Cross carefully. This is a very important early mural. Also check out how it is made and notice the pallets. Title: Trips for Kids muralLocation: 516 E. 15th StreetArtist: Will Puckett, Lauren PuckettDate: 2010Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @mr_puckett, @glassaeroplane

Trips for Kids Mural

Story: Jen Hills loves pop art, pin-ups, and all things colorful and cute. Hills is a local artist with a degree in art from East Carolina University. Her other murals are in Camp North End and South End and this wall was painted for Talking Walls 2021. Take a closer look at the brick of this older building. Notice how textured and uneven the brick appears. Hills called this a “thirsty wall” meaning that is took a lot of paint to get the really saturated colors of her composition. Key Formal Elements:·     Scale·     Geometric shapes of mirror tilesMake the Connection: Jen Hills loves glitter. And if she can’t put glitter in a mural it will be sparkly and shiny for sure. The “Disco Ball” sits slightly off center and twirls in the light creating lots of vibrant colors. Notice how the artist’s design integrates with the windows of the building. Pro Tip: Catch the mural late afternoon or early sunset for the best light and color.

Head to the end of the street and look to your left to see a giant surprise on the back of this older church building. You will want to get up close to see this one. Title: “Disco Ball”Location: 420 E. 15th StreetArtist: Jen HillsDate: 2021Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @2hills

Disco Ball

Story: Local fine artist Alexandra Loesser Schoen, produces studio art with a style rooted in the study of nature but with a touch of magical realism and mystery. Through a contact she got a lead on a mural. But since she’d never painted a mural before she reach out to friends. Her long-time friends just happened to be mural super-heroes, Matt Hooker and Matt Moore. With a collaborative design, aerosol work by Hooker and Moore, and brushwork by Shoen, a fun, colorful, animal-filled wall is added to the street .  Key Formal Elements:·     Focal point of the Great Dane·     Implied motion of the parrot at upper left Make the Connection: Queen City Animal Hospital celebrated their opening with a mural. It is also very cool that they converted an old grocery store into a vet’s office. Coolness abounds here and make sure that you peek around the corner to see the furry little fellas on the other wall. This business treats a lot of exotic pets so make sure you find the furry, scaley, feathery creatures that are not cats or dogs.

From the Greenway, walk a couple of blocks up to Seigle Avenue. Cross Seigle Avenue and the mural will be on your right. Title: Queen City Animal HospitalLocation: 920 Belmont Avenue Queen City Animal HospitalArtist: Matt Hooker, Matt Moore, and Alexandra Loesser SchoenDate: 2019Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @hookermedia, @puckmcgruff, @alex.schoen.art

Queen City Animal Hospital mural

Story: SHE is a Charlotte native and contemporary artist with training in Germany, who is now back in Charlotte. This mural at Sweet Lew’s Barbeque is her first mural in Charlotte. Funds from the CARES act allowed artists all over Charlotte to paint murals and this one was commissioned by the NoDa Neighborhood Association with support from the business. Sweet Lew’s Barbeque moved into the neighborhood in 2018 when they renovated the former Belmont Car Care Center building. Key Formal Elements:·     Heavy use of outline, contour lines·     Variety of different icons helps move your eye around Make the Connection: If SHE was not a painter, it is possible SHE would be an historian as you will quickly find if you get a chance to talk to her. SHE loves her Charlotte history and in this mural the artist is celebrating all things NoDa, Belmont, and Optimist Park, the three neighborhoods that jointly form the Mill District. So many fun clues and landmarks are represented in the mural. Make sure you can find some of them, including the bright yellow sculpture at the entrance to Cordelia Park!

Walk across the street to Sweet Lew's Barbeque and you will see the mural covering the entire side wall of the building. Be prepared to spend a bit of time at this stop to see all of the detail in the mural.Location: 923 Belmont Avenue at Sweet Lew’s BarbequeArtist: SHE OriginalsDate: 2020Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @sheoriginals

Sweet Lew's Barbeque mural

Story: This one was a mural mystery. Not much information was available about these murals painted on plywood panels other than the names of the artists. But through a conversation with artist and muralist Curtis King, a little bit of history made things clearer. These panels were originally painted by King and others for a community meeting space in Belmont. The panels were removed and re-installed as the trash enclosures for Sweet Lew’s Barbeque. King is an educator and muralist with murals in Uptown and the West Side. Key Formal Elements:·     Heavy use of outline around figures and shapes Make the Connection: The artists highlight area businesses, icons, and heritage. Look for the old Charlotte trolley, hornet’s recalling the reputation of Charlotte during the American Revolution, the historic railroad supports, and other items that celebrate community.

Head to the parking lot to see this old mural with quite a back story. This mural was originally in a different location and what a great idea to use it to cover the trash enclosure.Title:  “Love Endures”Location: 923 Belmont Ave at Sweet Lew’s Barbeque Trash EnclosureArtists: Curtis King, BDZ, DJ, ricky JDate: 2017Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @piecesofceekay

Love Endures mural

Story: Sometimes the fantastic mural duo of Matt Hooker and Matt Moore will work solo. In this mural for the Culture Shop, Matt Hooker paints a fun, and completely original mural of Russian nesting dolls floating across the wall. Key Formal Elements:·     Implied motion·     OutlineMake the Connection: Have you ever seen a mural of Russian nesting dolls? That is a very specific design, but Hooker thought it would be fun way to highlight a few important women in history. From left to right, Clara Barton, Shirley Jackson, Nellie Bly, and Yoyoi Kusama are depicted. Each of these are pioneering women and worth a google search. Personal pick is Kusama and her art-filled world of innovative installations. What women would you put on a mural if you were an artist?Also, cross the street to see the traffic-calming mural by Darion Fleming. Commissioned by Open Streets, Fleming’s fish anchors the curve and is meant to slow traffic at this intersection.

This is a little bit of a walk but work it. Turn left on Pegram and then walk to Kennon. Follow Kennon to Hawthorne. This is a very unique mural with nesting dolls and it is by Matt Hooker, one of the early mural artists in Charlotte. Location: 1425 Kennon StreetArtist: Matt HookerDate: 2020Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @hookermedia

Nesting Doll mural

Story: The City of Charlotte loves murals. The Urban Design Center and the Office of Sustainability supported local artists and filled Charlotte's streets with murals during the summer of 2020. Artists from the City's Placemaking Artist Pool installed street murals that captured the impact of COVID-19 and the resiliency and sustainability of our city. Rosalia Torres-Weiner is an "artivist," an artist and activist who loves combining bright colors and shapes to be an activist for feminism, immigration issues, and the uplifting of unheard voices.Key Formal Elements:<ul><li>Polychromatic color scheme</li><li>Lack of negative space as the artist fills the mural with shapes</li></ul>Make the Connection: During the pandemic, the artist was inspired by her community and this mural represents that community. In this mural she celebrates the support, strength, and resilience of diverse community members as a way to get through difficult times. Note the circular shapes with the spikes on them as they represent the COVID-19 virus but also somewhat look like flowers. Find the crown for the City of Charlotte connection.

You'll have to look down to see this artwork since it is a mural on the street. Local artist Rosalia Torres-Weiner has two murals in the Belmont neighborhood so see if you can find elements in each that reflect her colorful, flower-inspired style.Title: Belmont Street muralLocation: Harrill Street at Belmont AvenueArtist: Rosalia Torres WeinerDate: 2020Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @redcalacastudio

Street Mural

Story: This mural was funded by the City of Charlotte Placemaking Program and marks an important corridor in the Belmont Neighborhood. Rosalia Torres-Weiner is an “artivist,” an artist and activist who loves combining bright colors and shapes to be an activist for feminism, immigration issues, and the uplifting of unheard voices. The Belmont Community is located on Charlotte’s Northeast edge and is surrounded by NoDa, Villa Heights, Optimist Park, and Plaza Midwood. Key Formal Elements:·     Polychromatic colors Make the Connection: Much of the public art by Torres-Weiner tells a story. And here the story is about the Belmont neighborhood. The artist anchors the center of the neighborhood with the historic mill and includes some of the mill houses. Flowers, rays of sun, and decorative patterns all point to the revival of the neighborhood. Sadly, a part of the mural was defaced recently. On the right side, the artist added an image of her mother as a protector of her mural. Mural are in public space and occasionally are targeted by vandals. Thank you Rosalia for making this beautiful again!

Located near the Railroad underpass, this is a welcoming mural for the Belmont neighborhood. The artist depicts alot of historical structures and celebrates this community. Rosalia Torres Weiner is an important artist working here in Charlotte.Title: Belmont MuralLocation: Seigle Avenue at Van Every StreetArtist: Rosalie Torres-WeinerDate: 2021Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @redcalacastudio

Belmont Mural

Story: This is the second artwork installed at the Innovation Barn and you will want to touch the art for this one. Amy Hart is a “found object sculptor.” She has a BFA from Syracuse University in Surface Design and Metalsmithing and has sculptures on our South End ArtWalk and in the Matthews area. Working with all types of found objects and lots of welding, it took the artist about 5 weeks to complete this sculpture. Key Formal Elements:·     Variety·     Texture Make the Connection: The name “Louise Cotton Bunny” was voted on by the community and honors the name of the original Louise Cotton Mill in the community. TRASH TIP: The Bunny is blowing air bubbles, note the bubble wand made of a basketball hoop, to raise awareness that you can-not put bubble wrap in your curb-side recycling. But rather the Innovation Barn accepts your bubble wrap and recycles it with the original manufacturer.

Halfway down the building, you will find a super fun sculpture that helps us remember to recycle. Make sure you get close enough to see all of the items used to make the sculpture. Title: “Louise Cotton Bunny”Location: 932 Seigle AvenueArtist: Amy HartDate: 2021Media: Scrap metal, found items, mixed mediaArtist Info: @amyhart0224

Louise Cotton Bunny sculpture

Story: During the Fall of 2020, this large building-sized mural was funded in part with COVID funds and help from the NoDa neighborhood and the Belmont neighborhood. Advent Co-Working and Paper Plane Deli worked with the artist to come up with imagery for the mural. Nico Amortegui is an artist, sculptor, and muralist with early murals in Charlotte in NoDa and the Elizabeth neighborhoods. His abstract, Cubism-inspired work is easy to recognize around town. Key Formal Elements:·     Heavy use of outline·     Limited palette of Black and whiteMake the Connection: History abounds in the mural so let’s take a look. Scattered around the mural are dates and clues around important events in the history of Charlotte. If you know one or two, tag us in an Instagram post. For example, find the 1985 date and the hornet for a reference to the then new NBA Charlotte Hornets. At the top center of the mural Amortegui paints a Black and white profile with a crown as a reference to the missed heritage of Queen Charlotte. Have fun figuring out all of the references!

From the Innovation Bar, continue walking down Otts Street and then look to your left and you will see the Paper Plane Deli. Artist Nico Amortegui has murals in lots of areas of Charlotte and this is one of his Black and white murals. ﻿Title: Advent Co-Working muralLocation: 933 Louise AvenueArtist: Nico AmorteguiDate: 2020Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @nico_malo1

Advent Co-Working mural

Story: Local artist Melissa Wineman applied to a City of Charlotte grant making program to celebrate Charlotte’s 250-year anniversary with a big idea.  As a child growing up around this area, she had a vision of painting this exact wall one day. Wineman’s project was one of 10 selected in 2018 and in 2020, she completed painting the wall. It took her 17 days to paint the mural, her largest project to date. But it took a very long time to get permission from the state to paint the wall.  Key Formal Elements:·     Scale. Just gonna leave that there.·     Polychromatic color schemeMake the Connection: Wineman’s art is magical, whimsical and allows you to live in a world full of fairies and flowers. Not a bad thing. This wall was one of the worst looking walls before she painted it and in fact it was the childhood dream of the artist to paint a mural here. Armed with color and designs for native wildflowers and butterflies and bees, the artist celebrates her world and invites you in. Slow down and enjoy these flowers!

Head back to the greenway by heading back on Otts, turn left on Seigle, then right on 10th till you see the long mural. This spot marks the beginning of the greenway and is a prominent mural by a loved local artist. ﻿Title: “Wildflowers”Location: Intersection of E. 10th Street and E. 12th StreetArtist: Melissa WinemanDate: 2020Media: Acrylic paintArtist Info: @owlymo

"Threading Through" Greenway Trail

Gaia mural

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context