New Raleigh Murals book remembers the creations of local artists throughout DTR from last summer.
With great turmoil after the nationwide protests-turned-riots following the death of George Floyd in May 2020 came a plethora of inspirational murals splashed across the boarded-up businesses throughout Downtown Raleigh. Now, on the anniversary of Floyd’s death (May 25), local artists Akira Dudley and Laura Pfaff’s new coffee-table book, Raleigh Murals, will be available for preorder—immortalizing those pieces—and their significance. Though the murals directly followed the DTR riots, Dudley says the book isn’t solely in response to what happened here in Raleigh. Spanning more than 100 pages and including the works of 60-plus local artists, Raleigh Murals solidifies and further spreads the messages created by these artists, serving as a reminder of the necessary changes in equality that need to be made both here and across the country.
“What sparked [Raleigh Murals] in the first place was police brutality across America,” says Dudley. “I didn’t want it to be like, ‘Yeah, we put up art because of the riots.’ We put up art because we felt like a message needed to be sent about something bigger than the riots. But if the riots didn’t happen here, I’m sure we would’ve put up art because they were happening everywhere else.”
Dudley himself created five murals at Junction West. Though he was staying in Boone at the time the riots happened Downtown, he jumped at the opportunity to contribute to the beautification of the city, working on his pieces between attending virtual summer classes. “It was such a moving experience to be able to be a part of,” he says. “The murals definitely made a difference.”
When Pfaff approached Dudley about creating the mural book, he again jumped at the opportunity. Together (and with the help of The Raleigh Murals Project and contributing artists), they gathered photos of the hopeful wall art woven across DTR in an effort to showcase it long after the boards came down.
All proceeds from Raleigh Murals will be donated to Emancipate NC, which works to dismantle structural racism and mass incarceration across North Carolina; and the African American Atelier, a nonprofit art gallery in Greensboro that promotes awareness and appreciation of the arts and culture of African Americans.
In addition to availability at local retailers Father + Son and House of Swank, Dudley’s goal is to extend the book’s reach beyond Raleigh via Amazon. “If more people see this, it’ll bring the community together—not only based around the art, but around the message,” he says. After all, in the famed words of Leon Brown: “History repeats itself endlessly for those who are unwilling to learn from the past.” Preorder May 25; official release Juneteenth (June 19); amazon.com
TOP: From left: Lord Phly, Matthew Scofield BOTTOM: From left: Jalel Ronin, Thirty Sixth Murals Company, Akira Dudley, Grace Ownbey
Midtown Raleigh just got a beautiful face-lift thanks to two local artists. Kelly Schrader and Rich Gurnsey are the winners of Midtown Raleigh Alliance’s second annual Midtown Banner Art Contest, which aims to support and engage local artists while enhancing the area’s visual community appeal. Their vibrant designs—Schrader’s a colorful, psychedelic-esque fountain (a North Hills icon), and Gurnsey’s a majestic blue heron—will be displayed at 26 locations along St. Albans Road, Wake Forest Road and Six Forks Road for a full year.
In response to the contest theme, Wish You Were Here, Gurnsey took inspo from the natural beauty found in Midtown—especially Crabtree Creek, Lassiter Mill Park and the various Greenways. “And it’s not just people that flock to these various locations,” says Gurnsey; “many wild birds like blue herons can be seen taking a dip in front of the waterfall or flying gracefully overhead.”
In her take on the theme, Schrader’s funky design actually depicts a fountain painted by artist Britt Flood. “So, in selecting the two designs we did, we’re actually highlighting the work of three artists,” says Tara Robbins, MRA executive director. Schrader says she wanted her piece to focus on the public art in the area, so she also included motifs from two lesser-known murals—and two of her favorites—located at Midtown’s Dartmouth Apartments and the Main District parking garage.
This year’s banner contest was especially important for MRA as a way to shine light on local artists who experienced struggle during the pandemic. “2020 was a year like no other and has left many in financial hardship,” says the MRA organization. “Like many other nonprofits, [we’re] working to alleviate the economic stress many are experiencing in our community.” Along with getting their works displayed at North Hills, Schrader and Gurnsey also scored a cash prize for beating out three other finalists—plus, super-awesome bragging rights (do you know how many people drive through Midtown each day and peep those banners?!). So, really, the public wins too.
VAE’s 2021 Mutual Aid Art Auction gives back to local artists at a time when they need it most.
WEB EXCLUSIVE Calling all creatives! This year’s VAE gala is all about local artists who, like many, have been hit hard by the pandemic. Instead of throwing its annual party, VAE is holding the first-ever Mutual Aid Art Auction, which will provide all participating artists with 100% of the commission for the sale of their work. Can we get a hell yeah?!
“VAE believes the core of our work is to put our people first, and our people are the artists that make our communities worth living in,” says VAE director Brandon Cordrey. “We decided to forego the big party out of safety and to forego ticket sales and commissions on artwork sales in order to direct all of the attention to our artists and to put as much money in their pockets as possible.”
Any artist who has previously exhibited with VAE, been a member or donated artwork to VAE’s annual gala since January 2017 is eligible to submit up to two original works in this year’s auction. The deadline for registration and artwork delivery is March 1. Better get those creative juices flowing!
“What Grows” by Hannah Surace
Many local artists have already begun submitting their works to VAE. Starting bids are as low as $25, making the auction accessible to almost everyone.
On March 3, the virtual auction will open to sponsors; on March 6, the public will be able to bid until March 24 or 25. And don’t miss VAE’s Virtual Auction Party on March 23, where the nonprofit organization will celebrate all the artists who participated—and name the winner of VAE’s 2021 Margot Richter Legacy Award. The anticipation!
Cordrey maintains that VAE would not be in a position to provide this level of financial support for artists without the backing of such sponsors as presenting sponsor PNC, and grantors, including the City of Raleigh’s office of Raleigh Arts.
And if you’re looking to spruce up your home (ya know where you spend so much time these days), VAE’s auction is the perfect opp to snag an original piece while supporting local. A win-win! vaeraleigh.org/auction-art
Charlotte Russell Contemporary Fine Art Gallery opens in Cameron Village.
WEB EXCLUSIVE Curator and arts writer Charlotte Russell has always been passionate about bringing more inclusivity into the art world. Her new pop-up gallery in Cameron Village does just that, highlighting the quality works of underrepresented artists, female artists and artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Charlotte Russell
Charlotte Russell Contemporary Fine Art Gallery‘s inaugural exhibition, On the Horizon, is a two person exhibition by local female artists Grace Clark and Alexandra Chiou. The series of photographs and hand-cut paper artworks explore our connection with nature, the horizon line and its symbolism of hope and possibility. On the Horizon will be on display until March 26, 2021.
“During the global pandemic, people spend a lot of time outdoors in nature in a way usually designated for weekends or vacations,” says Russell. “For my first exhibition at CRC Gallery, I wanted to draw the natural world in through this selection of [Clark’s] photographs. I selected Alexandra Chiou… because her hand-cut paper artworks are rooted in hope, possibility and new beginnings. Her conceptual narrative fits perfectly with my vision for CRC Gallery and my hopes for 2021.”
Curiosities is a solo exhibition of sculptures by another Raleigh artist, Kelly Sheppard Murray, also on display at CRC Gallery until March 26, 2021.
Be sure to come back and check out the new collection, Art Ritual, on April 9. This exhibition will focus primarily on contemporary art and explore the ritual of art making. Featured artists include King Nobuyoshi Godwin, Rebecca Kaufman, Joy Tirade, Ethel Revita and Evelyn Reyes.
“Art has the power to change the way we view the world and our role within it,” says Russell. “Focusing on inclusivity in the arts allows for new voices, fresh perspectives and innovative art practices to be heard in the art world and beyond.”
CRC Gallery opened at 419B Daniels St. on Jan. 8. The gallery is open to the public at a limited capacity Sunday through Friday and Saturdays by appointment only. charlotterussellcontemporary.com
WEB EXCLUSIVE Positive change is the mantra of 2021, and thanks to two new businesses, the Oakwood Historic District has a lot of it coming its way. B Side Hair Studio, a cutting-edge salon by Jenny Jones and Stephanie Watson offering locally-made Virtue Labs products, opened at 222 N. Bloodworth St. earlier this month, and local artists Skillet Gilmore and his wife Caitlin Cary announced they’re opening The Pocket Gallery in the same building on Feb. 1.
Gilmore and Cary are widely known in the Raleigh arts community for their involvement in the Whiskeytown band in the 90’s, their individual visual arts careers and their widespread activism efforts in the local arts community. The Pocket Gallery will act as a studio and art gallery featuring Cary and Gilmore’s work, as well as a rotation of other local artists.
“After 25 years as musicians and working artists in Raleigh, Skillet and I feel really excited about becoming an official little link in the beautiful chain of Raleigh’s arts community,” says Cary.
Gilmore adds that they’ve been searching for a place of their own for a few years now, and the location was too perfect a size for them to pass up. Sure, opening in the middle of an international pandemic isn’t ideal, but Cary and Gilmore are optimist about their future endeavor.
“It’s hard to know when we will be able to be fully the ‘open’ studio and shop we want this to be, but starting now gives us time to hone our vision, gather our compatriots and rev our solar-powered engines a little,” Cary says. “For now we will be open by appointment, working on a strong web presence and offering curbside pickup and sidewalk showings.”
The building at 222 N. Bloodworth St. was originally renovated by Louis Cherry in 2017. Louis Cherry Architecture occupies the third space in the building and signed over the remaining two spaces to B Side and The Pocket Gallery after Little Shop Sweets closed on January 10.
“It’s been a wonderful experience to help an old corner grocery from over 100 years ago come back to life,” says Cherry. “And that includes the amazing tenants we’ve had the opportunity to work with. B Side and The Pocket Gallery will bring new energy to Oakwood’s business district, which people both inside and outside of the neighborhood will have the opportunity to enjoy in the years to come.”
According to Cherry’s wife Marsha Gordon, who is deeply involved in the creative community and in the signing of Cary and Gilmore, this step was a no brainer.
“Caitlin and Skillet are longstanding contributors to Raleigh’s art and music scene, and we were thrilled when they expressed interest in coming to 222 N. Bloodworth St. Caitlin and Skillet are dream tenants because they are collaborative and kind; down-to-earth but driven to make and do; talented and creative; and, most importantly, they care deeply about Raleigh and the arts community here.”
