Greensboro Daily Photo

Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art

Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art is located in the Cultural Arts Center on Davie Street. Since 1974, they have been showcasing great art in the Triad. Approximately 175 North Carolina artists a year either show their art, share their knowledge through workshops and events, or sell artwork through Green Hill. The center also has an extensive community outreach program and an interactive gallery for children, ArtQuest.  Currently, they are featuring an exhibit of four artists, entitled, Word Maps. If you are looking for something to do, head on over and immerse yourself in art*

In the above photo, the double doors on the right lead to the gallery, the art in the front is available for purchase in the gift shop. The table and chairs in the foreground are for the public to come and relax and are also used during special events. The man on the left is trying to get a couple of minutes of alone time while his children were at a birthday party held at ArtQuest. Fun was had by all and visual stimulation was everywhere.

*For hours of operation, directions, and other details, access Green Hill's website here.

Taylor Art Gallery at NC A&T, The Student Show

In the above photo: Twas the night before February 1st at the Taylor Art Gallery at Dudley University Galleries on the campus of NC A&T University. Students and staff alike were working diligently to have the Annual Student Art Exhibition ready for viewing the following day. February 1st is an extremely important day on the NC A&T campus.  Yesterday, the three living members of the Greensboro Four* and the son of David Richmond** were on campus for a breakfast and presentation. University students, faculty and staff; public school students; and community members alike had an opportunity to be part of this great event. Given all of the visitors and media attention regarding the remembering of the NC A&T community's contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, it was a day for the campus to look its very best.

Hopefully, visitors on campus, not only yesterday but for the duration of the visit, will have a chance to stop by Taylor Art Gallery.  The student artists put considerable effort into their pieces. Visual art is a window into the mind of an artist; and time will tell, out of this generation, who will become the heroes and what will be the artifacts to be revered in future decades.

*Jibreel Khazan [formerly Ezell Blair, Jr.], Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil

**Mr. Richmond died of cancer in 1990.

February 1st is for Civil Rights........

Today is February 1st, the start of African American History Month. Greensboro is has much to celebrate with respect to civil rights. First, we have the International Civil Rights Museum on Elm Street. We have two historically black institutions of higher education. One of our crowning contributions to the civil rights movement in the 1960's was the Greensboro Sit-ins, which took place at the lunch counter at Woolworth's Department Store, downtown on Elm Street. Fifty-two years today, four freshmen at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College in Greensboro sat down and asked for a cup of coffee at the lunch counter at the Woolworth's Department Store. These four African-American college students, featured above in this order-- David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr., and Joseph McNeal-- refused to leave the "whites-only" lunch counter. Their peaceful, but tenacious, actions helped spark a movement that spread to other southern cities (read more here).

We feature this statue/monument at least once a year; however, one needs only to step foot on the NCA&T campus and look at this statue to realize the importance of the actions of these men.  From this vantage point, the four figures are imposing and make us realize just how small we are in comparison to their contribution of making the United States a more just and civil place. 

Today is ABC Wednesday and our cause for this round is civil rights. "C" is for CIVIL RIGHTS.

Pam Chappell, Artist

Greensboro artist Pam Chappell, originally from Florida, has been living in North Carolina for over 35 years. She is a third generation artist who only began painting about five years ago. Her love for animals has fueled her passion for painting. Being surrounded by art her whole life must have made becoming an artist a little easier. Chappell works in her Walker Avenue studio with her cockatiels and long-haired dachsunds close by to inspire her. She loves painting animals, still life scenes, and portraits. Chappell has taken lessons from Connie Winters, Connie Logan and Karine Thoresen. Over the years, she has developed her own style and has recently started giving lessons. She and her husband John King, who is a professional photographer, find inspiration for their art during their world travels.

If you notice her name on next fall's Art Stock tour of in-home galleries, be sure to stop by. You will enjoy her art, snacks, and conversation in a beautiful setting. Marvelous landscaping surrounds her studio and creates a backyard oasis of beauty in Lindley Park. Pam Chappell is one of the many great residents of Greensboro we have had the pleasure to meet through Greensboro Daily Photo.

Joy to World!

Merry Christmas and joy to the world!  The hymn, Joy to the World, was written by English hymn writer Isaac Watts in 1719, is based on Psalm 98 in the Bible (reference). He actually wrote it for Christ's return to earth, not for his birth (more here). In 1839, Lowell Mason adapted and arranged the music and, as of the late 20th century, Joy to the World was North America's most-published Christmas hymn. It may still be! We hope that, for you and your loved ones, today shapes up to be a day of beauty, joy, and peace. Christmas on a Sunday is especially spiritual..........

For the photo today, we're sharing this metallic globe housed at Bin 33 Restaurant downtown on Elm Street as it reminds us of the carol, Joy to the World. The sculpture weighs about 200 pounds and is approximately 4 1/2 feet in diameter with lights on the inside. According to sculptor Jeff Taylor, he and Eric Beerbower took on this project for New Year's Eve 2010.  Once they constructed "The Ball", they used a boom crane to get it in place above Bin 33. At midnight, they lowered it down a cable, from an I-beam, above the balcony on the fifth floor. While they don't have plans (permission) to repeat this feat for New Year's Eve 2011, the glowing artifact remains perched prominently on the patio of Bin 33 for all to enjoy. Once he gets relocated to a new studio, we plan to feature the talented Jeff Taylor*, an artist who can make just about anything.

From our little spot in Greensboro (and on the metal globe) we say "joy to the world" and we encourage you to visit this website to see how to say that phrase in 24 different languages! Perhaps if we say it enough, there will be peace on earth!

 If you are interested, contact Jeff through his girlfriend's website.

Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market

This weekend, the Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market was busy, busy, busy. On Saturday, the regular food and produce stands were open. On Sunday, the market transformed into a holiday spectacular with crafters selling their handmade goods. Isles were filled with people hoping to find just the right gift. Pottery, jewelry, soaps, wreaths, dolls, and food were among the offerings. Crafters know their faithful customers and many customers know each other; so, in many ways, the event seems more like a gathering of friends.

While the size of the event pales in comparison to those in the convention centers throughout the state, the Arts and Craft Fair at the Curb Market is absolutely spectacular when it comes to having a hometown feel. According to their website, the origins of the curb market date to 1874, making it one of the oldest market in North Carolina. Formerly, the building was the National Guard Army building. The rounded roof hints at the venue's previous use. If you missed yesterday's event, you will have to wait until next year; however, there are plenty of special days on the calendar for 2012. This Saturday, head on over to Yanceville St., across from War Memorial Stadium, and you will find yourself wanting to become one of the regulars.

Andreas Gursky Inspired Photo

On Tuesday, November 8, 2011, German photographer, Andreas Gursky, sold a photograph for 4.3 million dollars at Christie's in NYC. His photograph is sure to become THE iconic photo of the Rhine River... and beyond. Inspired by Gursky's fame and fortune, we wanted to take an iconic photo of North Carolina. The quest took us to Early Farms in eastern Guilford County. They are a certified roadside farm market. Roadside farm markets are to North Carolina as the Rhine River is to Germany-- well if not exactly, at least headed in that direction!

Somehow we don't think our photo will garner the fame and fortune as the Gursky; however, we sure had fun roaming around Guilford County looking for inspiration. We tried to interpret the Gursky photo-- layers of green, gray-blue, and brown. We just weren't as Rothko-esque.  Once we googled Gursky's images, we had a greater appreciation for his 4-million-dollar photograph. OK, you've waited long enough. See Gursky's photo here. 

And, during the 2012 growing season, don't forget to stop by Early Farms for some farm fresh produce. Let them know, not only do their gherkins make some mighty fine pickles but their fields would make a mighty fine Gursky!

McWarhol at Westridge Square

Happy Monday, dear readers........today, we take you to:

Westridge, a common name in Greensboro. In addition to Westridge Road and Westridge Court, we have the Westridge Heights neighborhood and Westridge Forest. The above photo was taken inside the McDonald's Restaurant at Westridge Square at the corner of Westridge and Battleground. When Westridge Square was built on 16 acres in 1983 in Northwest Guilford County, this area was considered far from town-- out on the "western ridge." Today, clearly, it is been absorbed by the city.

On a recent visit, we noticed this art print at the McDonald's Restaurant and chuckled at the reference to the creative, modern prints of artist Andy Warhol. We wonder how McDonald's negotiated this print and who is repsonsable for it. Now that McDonald's is at the Louvre in Paris (2009), perhaps the restaurant is taking its association with the art world seriously. You may remember from an earlier post, Greensboro does have the first McDonald's built in North Carolina-- and it is still in operation today. If you made an iconic, Warhol, 4-square print to represent your household, what would be in the picture? 

Masquerade Ball

The Weatherspoon Art Museum was wall-to-wall people and had so much positive energy last night at their event, Masquerade. The evening was filled with makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers, and fun. Masquerade was held in conjunction with the exhibit entitled, "Persona: A Body in Parts" that centered around the theme of multiple representations of the self. As we walked through the gallery, a docent accompanied us explaining the artistic process and thought behind each piece. The exhibit was the perfect backdrop for this Halloween weekend event where people dressed in masks, costumes, and face paint.

The Membership Committee of the Weatherspoon held the event in an effort to gain new members. We don't know how many people actually joined tonight but, surely, talk of this event will ripple through the community and bring the museum even more visibility-- maybe even members. From La Calavera Catrina to a life-sized, walking Lisa Frank trapper keeper, creativity abounded. A good time was had by all. Masks and hats off to Greensboro for another fun, FREE, event. Wouldn't it be great for the Weatherspoon to make this an annual event.

Gearing Up for Halloween at Weatherspoon Gallery

From the Claribel and Etta Cone Collection to the Dillard Collection of Art on Paper and everything in between, The Weatherspoon Art Gallery on the UNCG campus has a wealth of fabulous art. Currently, the membership committee is making a concerted effort to attract new members from a variety of diverse demographics. To this end, on Friday evening, from 7-10 pm, they are sponsoring an event entitled, "Masquerade." The evening will include: fun, food, drink, photography, and makeup. If you are so inclined, they will transform your look-- just in time for Halloween.  The event is free to the public with a cash bar. It is held in conjunction with the exhibit, "Persona: A Body in Parts." We think the above photo is from that exhibit; at any rate, the photo exemplifies the fact that in addition to the excellent permanent collections, the Weatherspoon has an outstanding exhibition program. You can vote YES tomorrow by joining the Weatherspoon. 

Perhaps the above quintet will inspire you to step out of your element and sport a unique look. Our personal favorite is the second from the right-- we're dubbing him/her the "Cousin It" look.

Praying Hands

If you leave Burlington headed west, Alamance Memorial Park is the gateway to Guilford County. If you are headed east, it is the first thing you see when you leave. This 80-acre landmark cemetery was founded in 1948 and has been steadily increasing in population ever since. Located on Highway 70, or Burlington Road, the memorial cemetery is about 18 miles from downtown Greensboro. When we drive the back way to Burlington, these larger-than-life praying hands serve as quite a memorable landmark. We have always wanted to stop and see them up close and were able to do so last week. They are as bright and eye catching up close as they are from the road.

The praying hands are a 3-dimensional replica of pen and ink drawing by German artist and theorist Albrecht Dürer, made at the beginning of the 16th century. Duplicating Dürer's drawing, in two- as well as three-dimensions, is still popular almost five hundred years later. We are lucky to have this nice piece so close. We hope you enjoy today's Sacred Sunday post.

Shall We Dance?

This larger than life statue of Renoir's dancers greets you on Main Street in Graham. The couple is part of an exhibit of J. Seward Johnson's lifelike figures brought to the area by the Alamance County Arts Council.  The exhibit is called Beyond the Frame: Impressionism Revisited. Johnson's three-dimensional interpretation is exacting, right down to facial expressions and the color of fabric. The people are frozen in poses that look as if they have stepped right out of impressionist paintings. For the backs of figures, Johnson had to improvise, allowing him a chance to sneak in a little humor; for example, if you look around back of Oriental Fan (2003), you will notice the woman modeled after Monet's "La Japonaise" (1876) is barefoot! Johnson's cast metal figures are colorized with mixture of automotive paint and wax that holds up well to the elements. Some of the sculptures are featured in rooms inside the museum; others are outside on the grounds. 

The yellow house in the background is the arts council's building. Some of the sculptures are inside so you will want to be sure to visit when the museum is open. The exhibit will be on display until October 31 and it is FREE. Of course donations are greatly appreciated. The 30 minute drive to Graham (Exit 147, Main St.) from Greensboro is well worth your time.

The Art Shop

The Art Shop is located in the Pomona Park neighborhood we've been featuring this week on Greensboro Daily Photo. The present location on West Market Street is near where the Boar and Castle Drive In Restaurant used to be and near John Van Lindley's Pomona Nurseries of yesteryear. The Art Shop has been in business since 1899. Perhaps Mr. Lindley himself used this shop!  At 112 years old, The Art Shop has been serving Greensboro families' fine art needs for generations. The art shop has a national reputation for retail excellence.

The above painting in the window is an original; Garnet, painted by figurative artist Richard Johnson. Knowing that this goddess of fruit is hanging in the Pomona neighborhood, the old stomping grounds of one of Greensboro's most famous fruit tree specialists, is so fitting. Garnet, the Pomona of Pomona, has a bountiful harvest of fruit in her hands. Let's hope she finds a new home-- nearby.

We're sharing Garnet with our friends at Weekend Reflections, where a little reflection draws a big applause!

Iconostasis at Dormition of the Theotokos

As seen on Greensboro Daily Photo yesterday, The Greek Festival is still going strong at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church. We wanted to take you inside and show where church services are held. This is a partial view of the iconostasis. The iconostasis is a wall of religious paintings that separates the sancuary from the nave (the place where worshipers stand). To the non-orthodox, this iconostasis looks very elaborate. However, it is really somewhat humble when one considers some of the elaborate, multiple-tiered iconostases in Europe (see here).

Icons date back to the early years of Christianity. The placement of the paintings and their subjects tell the story of Christianity and reveal saints and events important to the given church. This visual storytelling was especially important in earlier centuries when many people could not read. Above, the icon to the right of the holy doors is Christ the Pantokrator and represents his second coming. The icon on the left is Theotokos, or the Virgin Mary, symbolizing Christ's entrance into the world. Therefore, the Holy Doors in between, leading into the sanctuary, represent everything that is taking place between Christ's first and second coming.

This small photo, combined with our previous "Sacred Sunday" entries is an example of the religious diversity in Greensboro.

The Westerwood Neighborhood

Every neighborhood deserves a proper entrance. Westerwood has just stepped up their identity with this new signage installed at the round-about near Benjamin Parkway, across from the park and under the big, old oak tree. The rounded sign consists of brick, stone, metal, and plaster. This neighborhoood, a mere .384 square miles with a population of 1,241, is one of Greensboro's oldest. It is well maintained and well established, has charming granite curbs, narrow tree-lined streets and plenty of architectural variety. The two spikes in demographics are for residents in their early 20's and 50's. College graduates and those with advanced degrees in this neighborhood are well above Greensboro's average. The neighborhood is known for its visual and performing artists. In early October, artists host an "art and sole" walking tour open to the public. The event is a great way to get to know the neighborhood and to commence your holiday buying with local and handmade purchases (more here). We usually start our shopping at the Fairies' Nest located in Westerwood.

Here is a house and a church in the neighborhood that we featured last year. This is a neighborhood with impromptu concerts, dog walks, music lessons, artists studios, and fun. Having front porches and houses close together help with neighborliness. How does your neighborhood rate on the neighborliness scale? Is there anything you personally could do to enhance its livability? Remember, change can start with one!

Remembering September 11: The First Ten Years

Today is the ten year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks or "9/11" as people quickly began calling it-- equating the date to our emergency response three-digit code. The above commemorative plaque, at the base of a flagpole, is on site at the Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home. The funeral home is located on the corner of Vanstory and High Point Roads-- directly across the road from the Hebrew Cemetery. Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home makes a real effort to bring dignity to the end of the lives of loved ones especially people who were public servants. Today, their website will link to videos related to 9/11. 

Many Greensboro residents have direct ties to 9/11; one of the most direct ones was the loss of Sandra Bradshaw. There is a 9/11 plaque in Greensboro, dedicated to Sandra W. Bradshaw, a flight attendant from Greensboro who died on the United Airlines flight 93. Previously, we featured her memorial plaque here. May we all find time today to reflect on this tragic event and imagine what we can do to ensure something like 9/11 doesn't happen again-- anywhere in the world. 

Minerva Statue at UNCG

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Minerva, equated with the Greek goddess Athena, was the Roman goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic and the inventor of music(see here). Minerva is the official seal of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), a fact which is reported on the lengthy Wiki list of institutions of higher education that use Minerva as a logo or seal. Minerva has been featured on the University's diplomas since 1894.  This statue of Minerva, in the above photo, is found on UNCG's campus. It was a 50th anniversary gift from the Class of 1953. James Barnhill, who earned his MFA from UNCG in 1982, sculpted it in 2003. According to a page on the university's website, "Minerva's power and gesturing hand combine grace and power. The upward perspective suggests aspiration and leadership" (reference). 

The approximately 5 ft. tall granite base (peeking out of the bottom of the statue in the photo) has the four names of the university chiseled into it; something that comes in handy for those who seek to be accurate with the University's many names. 1891-- State Normal and Industrial School; 1919-- The North Carolina College for Women; 1932-- The Woman's College of The University of North Carolina; 1963-- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The Minerva statue, installed on College near Jackson Library and Elliott University Center, is worth visiting if you are ever on campus.

Children's Museum: Lindsay Street Mural

"What would make Greensboro a healthy city?" paints the little boy on the wall on the Lindsay Street side of the edible school yard at the Greensboro Children's Museum. As fast as the boy on the left can paint the question, in Wordle format, the boy in the middle paints cloud-like responses: people, living wages, acceptance, water, accessibility, heart, play....... 

This wall began with a series of curbside conversations when people passing by were asked "What would make Greensboro a healthy city?"  Muralist Kathleen Kennedy translated the common themes that emerged from the public responses into a 40-ft. mural. Judy Baca's "Great Wall of Los Angeles" inspired this project. (reference). Close to forty people contributed between $10-$100 to surpass the $2,000 funding needs to make this wall a reality. This is a great example of people coming together to make something wonderful for our city.

 Downtown Greensboro is starting to get some great, painted walls (here, here, here,and here). If you like public murals, you will not regret taking the time to visit those four "here" click-throughs! If you get a chance, head to the Children's Museum to see the wall for yourself. We were only able to fit about 1/3 of it in this photo. It continues for several more feet!

NC Carnivorous Plants & U Haul

We've finally found a U Haul that advertises North Carolina. The "Venture Across America" series by U Haul is brilliant-- combining fun facts and great graphic design with an otherwise boring Point A to Point B venture. The top statement reads "Carnivores of the green swamp preserve." At the bottom, it reads, "Did you know.... The endangered Venus Fly Trap and Pitcher Plant feed on small insects for survival. How does this reversal in the food chain work? Learn more about carnivorous plants...."

Carnivorous plants have adapted to eat insects because their host soil is thin and poor in nutrients. Due to plant poachers, carnivorous plants are threatened worldwide. Carnivorous plants don't grow in Greensboro; in our state, they only grow within a 60 mile radius of Wilmington.This costal city is a great habitat for carnivorous plants (see many examples here). North Carolina children love to study them, especially in the North Carolina social studies years (4th and 8th grade).

By the way, this U Haul is available for rent at Quality Food Mart at the corner of Battleground and North Elam. Have a great weekend and try to spend a few minutes looking at other Skywatch Friday posts! If you want some carnivorous plant fun, watch the 1960 or 1986 version of the movie, Little Shop of Horrors.

 

Take Us Out To the Ball Game

The Greensboro Grasshoppers are out of town this weekend leaving us with a BEAUTIFUL, but empty, stadium. It has been six years since this stadium opened its doors on April 3, 2005. Time flies when you are playing ball. Seating capacity in New Bridge Bank Park stadium is 7,499; however, with all of the picnic and grassy berm areas, more people can fit, if needed. The opening day crowd was 8,540. Greensboro loves its minor-league baseball. 

This scene, outside the entrance gate on the Bellemeade Street side, would be perfect for a photo shoot with the little baseball players in your life. To small children, these larger-than-life baseballs feel like the scene in Gulliver's Travels where Gulliver lands in Brobdingnag, the land of big people.

Here is the Grasshoppers' schedule. They'll be back in town next week. What a great way to wind down your summer and have some good, AFFORDABLE family fun!. Today, we're pitching this photo over at Skywatch Friday where hundreds of people worldwide share a view of the sky above their town.

C is for Cone, Ceasar Cone II

Prominent Greensboro businessman and philanthropist Ceasar Cone II was born into the textile industry by virtue of the fact that his father was co-founder of Cone Mills. Ceasar Cone II was president and chairman of Cone Mills from 1956- 1973. In that position, he carried on the Cone family's tradition of making his sure mill workers had a good quality of life. Like his father, Mr. Cone II was known for his generosity to the Greensboro community and to valuing the inherent worth and dignity of all people. As one example, in 1939-- well before the Civil Rights Movement, Mr. Cone II donated $50,000 towards building Greensboro's first YMCA for African-American citizens. He named the facility the Hayes-Taylor YMCA to honor his cook, Ms. Sallie Hayes and his butler, Mr. Andrew Taylor (reference). That branch of the Y continues to thrive in East Greensboro today.

Mr. Cone II cast the philanthropy net far and wide throughout his life. In addition to the Y, another example is his contributing to the Elliot University Student Center at UNCG in the early 1940's. In the last year of his life, in 1986, Ceasar Cone II and his wife Martha established the Cemala Foundation "to continue the family tradition of commitment to enhancing the quality of life of the community through grants to qualified charitable organizations" (reference). Infusing meaning in nearly everything they did, the Cones named the foundation for the first two letters of the first names of their children: CE-asar, MA-rtha, and LA-wrence. The above photo of the portraits of Ceasar Cone II and his wife Martha was taken in the board/conference room of the Cemala Foundation. The building in which Cemala is housed (330 South Greene Street) is important in its own right. It is where his father and uncle opened Cone Export and Commissions, the precursor to Cone Mills.

Today is ABC Wednesday and "C" is for "Cone," Ceasar II (and Martha) Cone. See previous alphabet days here.

PHOTO BIZ + Center for Visual Artists = Wow Wall

In May, PhotoBiz enlisted the non-profit Center for Visual Artists  (CVA) to decorate the wall of their parking lot.  Houston Patton, teacher, tattoo & graffiti artist, designed the mural for PhotoBiz. Mr. Patton has dedicated his life to perfecting his vibrant, comic-book, graffiti-style art. His canvas ranges from the biceps of clients to retaining walls; his medium from tattoo ink to cans of spray paint. Once he had the design mapped out, PhotoBiz employees and CVA members and friends got together to paint the mural. Spring Street at Friendly is now a riot of color and images-- meaningful to Greensboro and to PhotoBiz as well. Kudos to PhotoBiz for having the foresight to partner with a local non-profit.

Today, we feature only a few feet of the approximately 50 feet of artwork. We will share another portion next week. For now, we chose the segment that has the line drawing of the Jefferson Standard/ Lincoln Financial Group building.  Adding our own little creative twist, reflecting from our car's side mirror, you can see the top of the actual JS/LFG building. We did this so that we could give one more nod to the Bryan family AND post the photo on James'  Weekend Reflections meme.

Let the Show Begin

Laurencio Carlos Ruiz, visiting artist/puppeteer at Elsewhere Artists Collaborative, unleashed these paper balloons on the lawn at Center City Park in front of the Davie Street Cultural Arts Center. If you look above the rightmost balloon, you can see the roof of the Cultural Arts Center peeking out. Part of July's First Friday activities, the balloons were located on the very spot where many of the Fun Fourth festivities will take place over the next three days. One person commented that they looked like something out of a Roald Dahl novel. A Kindergarten teacher said they reminded her of colored pencils. At any rate, children and adults alike enjoyed running between the balloons, peeking inside them, letting their imaginations run wild around them, and having their photo taken with the festive display. Let this be another example of why one should never sit home alone on First Friday with so much happening in downtown Greensboro.

Same goes for Fun Fourth, this community celebration that has been taking place in Greensboro since 1975, is another opportunity to get out and enjoy downtown. The event schedule can be found at the previous link here.

The North Carolina Museum of Art

While the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) is located in Raleigh (not in Greensboro), it is a public, state museum which means that, from Manteo to Murphy, ALL North Carolinians have a vested interested in it. In 1947, when the state first earmarked funds for an art collection, it was the first state in the U.S.A. to do so. NCMA's history dates back to 1924; however, the first permanent venue opened in 1956 in downtown Raleigh and the current Blue Ridge Road location opened in 1983. In 2010, a second building opened on the 164-acre Blue Ridge Road property. If you want something fun, educational, and recreational to do this summer, grab your family, friends, walking shoes and bicycle and head to NCMA. Unless you dine in the wonderful restaurant or go to one of the exhibitions on loan, the museum is FREE. Read more about all that NCMA has to offer HERE.

The visual art in the photo above, by Devorah Sperber, is called Mona Lisa 2. It is made from 5,184 spools of thread-- fitting for a textile state. If you look through the crystal viewing ball in front of the piece of art, not only is it right side up, you can also move the sphere around to see if Mona Lisa's smile follows you. See more of Sperber's thread spool works HERE. They range from a few hundred to 60,000 spools of thread. We are so lucky to have not only one of Sperber's installations but also this wonderful museum with exhibits ranging from Ancient Egypt to the digital age.

We decided to feature Raleigh today, ninety miles to the east, because tomorrow's post will be ten miles east of Greensboro, where, years ago, stage coaches stopped en route to town. Stop back by to view this little piece of history.

 

Gone Elsewhere?

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us and Greensboro is about as crowded as the front window of ELSEWHERE. Many people have gone to the beach or to the mountains. For sure, lots of our residents are are ELSEWHERE. North Carolina is lucky to have landforms ranging from the beach to the mountains and this weekend represents the kick-off for summer. Students are in school for a couple of more weeks; however, mentally, summer begins for us with this holiday. People who do stay in town, likely, will head to their community pool.

ELSEWHERE, photographed above, is "a living museum designing collaborative futures from old things." Basically, it is the remnants of a thrift shop where nothing has been for sale since proprietor Sylvia Gray died. Her grandson has transformed the space into a living, working museum in the 600 block of South Elm Street, across from the Mellow Mushroom. We love the dynamic nature of the storefront that changes almost weekly. If you read this before 2pm, you might want to stop by their Saturday creative workshop for children of all ages.

We're sharing this with our friends at Weekend Reflections where all the photos have some sort of reflection.

S is for Summit Avenue

Today is "S" day on ABC Wednesday and we've hit the "S" lottery with the symmetrical, Sigmund Sternberger house on Summit Avenue!  Sigmund Sternberger moved to Greensboro from South Carolina in 1899 when he was twelve years old. In 1926 (at the age of 39), Mr. Sternberger built the above house at 712 Summit Avenue. This green-tiled, Mediterranean-styled brick house was considered a masterpiece of construction in its day. Mr. Sternberger lived there with his sister, Rosa, and her husband, R. Mack Williams. Mrs. (Sternberger) Williams managed the home and oversaw the care of the home inside and out, including the formal and informal gardens. Still standing today, behind the house, is a brick carriage house and another small outbuilding that looks like it might have originally been a kitchen. Today, other than this landscaping visible in the front, not much remains of the original gardens. The interior woodwork is intact. Unfortunately, the furnishings do not do the house justice.

The Aycock/Summit Avenue residential neighborhood was founded in 1895 and developed by the Sternbergers, along with their textile-mill, business partners the Cones. The neighborhood was conveniently located between downtown Greensboro, the textile mills, and the thriving mill communities built for employees. Mr. Sternberger lived at 712 Summit Avenue until his death in 1964. The family did not want the house to be torn down to become office buildings or retail space, like the properties around it. To ensure that the home be preserved, it was a memorial gift to the United Arts Council of Greensboro by the Sigmund Sternberg Foundation in 1971. The home was placed on the national register of historic places in 1993. Today, it is studio and teaching space for local artists. 

The Sternberger home is well-documented (read here). If you are interested in history and biographies of Greensboro, Sigmund Sternberger was an amazing citizen whose philanthropic legacy and financial commitment to the arts continues today into the 21st century (here). School students in Greensboro would be well-served to learn about the life of Sigmund Sternberger. Even though his father and uncle (Herman and Emanuel Sternberger) founded Revolution Cotton Mill Corporation, young Sigmund worked his way up from errand boy through just about every job to treasurer and eventually to director. No job was too menial for the young Sternberger!  Also, his commitment to civic, charitable, and religious organizations was impressive. As an example, he served at treasure for Temple Emanuel for 47 years.

To see our A-R selections, go here. Also note that the house above is only about a block from the Bessemer Curb Market.

Heart for God

Recently, the HART4GOD vehicle was spotted on McGee Street, just off of Elm Street, in downtown Greensboro. McGee Street leads to the round about with the statue of General Greene. This vanity tag reflects a play on words for "heart" and "Hart" which, surely, is the name of the family owning the car. 

On Sundays, we like to post something related to religion. Vanity tags are like visible body tattoos. They are always out in the open and the owner must be prepared to discuss them. We suspect that the Harts love it when people mention their vanity tags... especially on Sundays. We hope you are enjoying your day with family, loved ones, and that you are fulfilled spiritually, regardless of belief system. As always, thank you for visiting Greensboro Daily Photo and, as we say in the south, "Have yourself a bless-ed day."

Train over High Point Road

Here we are near Jamestown and the GTCC campus near Ragsdale High School. If you are headed to High Point, you are on High Point Road. If you are headed to Greensboro, you are on Greensboro Road. As you approach downtown Greensboro, the name of the road changes to Lee Street. At any rate, you see the walls on both sides of the road are covered with graffiti and the train cars passing by overhead are full of graffiti. Sometimes the spray painted words are social messages; other times, they reflect the name of the "Krylon artist" or a friend who had a fatal car accident in the given area.

Greensboro has been a big railway hub since the 1800's. The access to railways to ship goods-- from raw materials to finished products-- in and out of Greensboro brought us our textile mills. In 2010, we were 3rd in volume of the 16 Amtrak stations in North Carolina. On average, Amtrak serves almost 300 passengers a day out of Greensboro. If you came to this post in search of information about railways, you will be happy to know that Greensboro has an active chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Here's to our dear friends at Ruby Tuesday who love photo with red in them. Click through if you love red!

Happy Easter!

According to their website, the stained glass windows at the West Market Street United Methodist Church (WMSUMC) were purchased at the Columbian Exhibition at the World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois in 1893. The windows were donated to the church as memorials. From this view of the stained glass windows at the WMSUMC, it is easy to reflect on the glory of the season. Christians, worldwide, are celebrating Easter today. Easter is a time of hope, rebirth, renewal, and reflection. We hope you have are in the position to nurture your spiritual self today as well as finding time to enjoy time with family.

We have featured WMSUMC before, as well as the Stations of the Cross related to Christ's life. If you really love stained glass, you might want to read about other stained glass pieces from the 1893 Fair, commemorating the 400th year of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the new world, by seeing more stained glass here and here. 

If you can't get out to an Easter Service today, this video is the next best thing to being there. Unfortunately, we don't have one from Greensboro but this one from Mt. Olive UMC, Arlington, VA is a great representation of the traditions of the holiday. Pay special attention to how the church transforms and oh, the music............ Feel free to open your windows and sing along!

  

 

Gateway Gardens: Oh Butterfly

 "Butterflies are self-propelled flowers." R.H. Heinlein

"Love is like a butterfly: It goes where it pleases and pleases wherever it goes."   Unknown

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." Hans Christian Anderson

Today, we offer our final view of Gateway Gardens, one of four butterflies hovering high above the ground. In addition to the trees, many of the pieces of artwork are intended to provide shade for visitors. Each butterfly is 4' tall by 6' wide and extends 12' from the ground, attached by a round, steel tubing arm. The coloring comes from acrylic and polycarbonate. See sculptor Erik Beerbower's 2004 drawing of the four butterflies here. The drawing helps you conceptualize how the quartet looks installed in Gateway Gardens. In 2009, we featured Erik's butterflies BEFORE they took flight (here), when they were still back at Erik's Lyndon Street studio. In case you're wondering, all four of the butterfly sculptures have been sold/sponsored at the $50,000 level; so that naming opportunity has been missed. However, many others are still available through Gateway Gardens' main website under donors and opportunities. If you want to see drawings of the rest of the sculptures, enjoy them here.

Let's hope that some of our friends from around the world who visit today through Skywatch Friday or the City Daily Photo community will actually have a chance to visit Greensboro's Gateway Gardens in person. If you author one of the world's city daily photo sites, we'll make every effort to provide you with a personal tour. Just don't all (+/-) 1,500 of you come at once.... or do!

Fruit Seats at Gateway Gardens

Take a seat; rest a while; enjoy the fruits of your labor. For local school children and their families, it is spring break week! Parks are such great public spaces to enjoy on a nice day. Here we see seating at Gateway Gardens that will surely put a smile on your face as you sit back and admire the rest of the garden. The fruit seats are the artwork of local Greensboro artists Ernest and Lois Rich. They also developed many of the other pieces for the park. 

We featured Gateway Gardens on Monday (here) but are showing you a another image because we're so thrilled to have this community resource. Let's hope the people of Greensboro will do as much as they can to support Greensboro Beautiful and Parks and Recreation in their vision for the park. As one example, the visitors' center is not yet built which makes educational outreach, storage, and bathroom breaks a challenge! If you want to see a list of all the artwork as well as the opportunities to donate, look here. Last time we checked, only one of the three fruit/vegetable seats had been "sold." Purchasing a personalized 4x8 inch brick paver ($100), is another way to lend your name to this piece of Greensboro history here. We don't usually solicit; however, when it is for our city, we can't resist!

Don't you expect to see James from Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach to walk by at any minute?

Start your day at Gateway Gardens and then head over to UNCG for their Sustainable Earth Day Celebration from 10:30- 4:00 pm at College Avenue and Faust Park.

Gateway Gardens and University Research Park

After nearly a decade in the planning, Gateway Gardens is a reality. It is located on 11 acres of land between East Lee and Florida Streets adjacent to Barber Park.  Greensboro Beautiful, the non-profit that brought Greensboro the Bog and Bicentennial Gardens and the Arboretum, brings us Gateway Gardens. They do so, in collaboration with Greensboro's Parks and Recreation Department, as well as with the help of many private citizens. The above entrance from the parking lot is a mere prelude to the colorful, child-friendly space that blends local artwork, especially sculpture, with beautiful flora and walking trails. There is an outdoor classroom as well an many places to sit along the way. We will feature other views on Greensboro Daily Photo this week.

If you look closely at the building in the center of this photo, you will see yet another exciting venture for Greensboro. NCA&T and UNCG, the two North Carolina state universities located in Greensboro, have entered into a joint venture to build Gateway University Research Park. Anticipated to open later this year, the 64 million dollar facility will house the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, one of North Carolina's most exciting 21st century initiatives. For sure, the school will attract students from around the world who are interested in pursuing Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in the nanotechnology fields. In the meantime, with the Gateway Gardens, Gateway University Research Park and Barber Park, East Greensboro will be quite an amazing GATEWAY to the Gate City. If you have about 9 minutes, we highly recommend you watch the video clip put together about the Gateway Gardens project (read/view here). If you are interested in the Gateway Research Park, read/view here. 

Aliens on Elm Street

Greensboro artists Leanne Pizio and Paige Cox have collaborated on an alien art show/sale. Leanne does the pottery and Paige is the fiber artist. Together, they have a fabulously creative collection for sale at Just Be in downtown Greensboro. This assemblage in the window is a small part of their work. Inside, you will find plates, prints, and more. Some creatures look haunting, others a little more Shrek-like. One of our favorite quotes from Leanne's alien- who has just arrived on earth- is, "It's not what I had hoped for." That can have meaning on so many levels. If an alien landed in your back yard, what do you think he/she/it would say?

Just Be-cause we can, we're sharing this post with James at Weekend Reflections. His meme seems just perfect for the weekend. Ponder, reflect, and get a little light bouncing back atcha. If you look closely, you can see the photographer's body attached to the alien head in the middle and the local comedy club, The Idiot Box, in the background.

Hand to Hand Market

This past weekend, the Hand to Hand Market was held at the Green Bean Coffee House on Elm Street. Hand to Hand was an indoor version of the First-Friday Indie Market (held in the parking lot at the corner of MLK Drive and S. Elm Street). Saturday's event filled the whole building. This photo was taken upstairs where vendors sold handicrafts, jewelry, and art work. A wellness thread permeated the event; for example Zen Cat was on site to educate people about eating gluten-free and Deep Roots Co-op provided background information about the co-op and updated the audience on the progress of their new facility. Hands on demonstrations were offered throughout the day. When we were there, a table was set up to fold cranes to send to Japan to uplift the spirits of the disaster survivors.

Greensboro makes a real effort to provide venues for local artists to sell and for organizations to promote their causes. The whole day was another fine example of a Greensboro business serving as a community resource. Thank you, Green Bean; may you host more events like this one. As for the word ART on the wall, perhaps it is an acronym, A.R.T., Another Remarkable Time in GREENSBORO! Let's grab the Go Triad insert from today's News & Record and start planning for this weekend!

Peace on Earth, Radiating from Guilford College

Inspired by our weekly Skywatch Friday posts, this photo is an effort to extend the art of Patrick Dougherty's 20-ft. art instillation on the campus of Guilford College. The camera is on the ground pointing to the sky through the round, maze of saplings that Dougherty bent into a beautiful work of art. See a 3-minute video about Dougherty's creative process, here. 

From saplings to Peace signs, to the sky... and beyond. Why?

Guilford College is known for its fine liberal arts education with emphasis on social responsibility. Peace and efforts for enhancing its students' global perspective radiate from the campus.  Guilford College was founded by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1837. Quakers are known for their tradition of pacifism (read more here). So, to Guilford College, to Quakers, to Patrick Dougherty, to the City Daily Photo Community that does SO MUCH to bring the world together, and to YOU our readers: PEACE! (see GDP's 2009 peace and saplings photo here). 

Stickhenge at Guilford College

Greensboro and Guilford College have been graced with a Patrick Dougherty instillation. Dougherty combines his love of nature with carpentry skills to create organic sculptures with sticks. Dougherty, whose home base is Chapel Hill, NC,  has been making these structures worldwide since about 1980. To date, he has made over 200. The one at Guilford College, constructed of locally-harvested saplings, is reminiscent of England's Stonhenge. It is twenty feet tall, round, maze-like and inviting to walk through. Stickhenge (our title) is installed in the very spot where the community enjoys MUSEP/Eastern Music Festival concerts on Sundays in the summer (see here).

Today is the first of the month which means theme day for the 1,500-ish City Daily Photo sites. The theme for March is "your favorite part of town." At Greensboro Daily Photo, we don't have a FAVORITE part of town, per se. Our favorite part of town changes based on what is happening and what we uncover. For March, we're picking Guilford College. This is such a dynamic campus that provides a quality education in a surrounding of old oak trees, brick buildings, great music and breathtaking art. Great thinking and creativity abound at Guilford College!

 

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

United Institutional Baptist Church

On this last Sunday of February, we feature United Institutional Baptist Church, located on East Market Street near Murrow Blvd at Pastor Anderson Way. The cornerstone at United Institutional reads, TO THE GLORY OF GOD A.D. 1952 REV. C.W. ANDERSON PASTOR.

We will share current-Pastor Freeman's words that welcome you to the church website: "Since 1933, United Institutional Baptist Church has been a strong spiritual presence within this community. From the Civil Right's Movement of the late 1950's and 1960's, to the present time, United's leaders and laity have been at the forefront of the struggle for freedom, justice and equality. From this church's pulpit some of our nation's most prominent leaders found renewed strength and encouragement through the preaching of the "Ole Time" gospel. This great legacy of nurturing lives and equipping individuals for the cause of Christ and His Kingdom, is our charge."

Above, you see a peek of one of the many, brilliant stained glass windows found in this church. If you like stained glass windows with a Christian theme, these will impress you. Unfortunately, our timing was bad and we had to settle for this glimpse snapped from outside through a locked, glass entrance door. Can you imagine ascending the staircase and being eye to eye with this view.

Nathanael Greene Rides Again

The Nathanael Greene bronze statue at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park soars a majestic 27 feet above the earth. The monument depicts Greene, a Revolutionary War hero and our town's namesake. The statue, unveiled in 1915, was purchased with $30,000 appropriated by the U.S. Congress after local residents failed to raise sufficient funds.  The sculptor of the equestrian portion of the statue was Francis H. Packer (see reference below*).

Here we see the bronze horseman on a warm winter day this week. The early blossoms of spring were trying to decide if they dare open against the backdrop of the warm, blue, cloudless sky-- our contribution to Skywatch Friday. If you are local, mark your calendars for the 230th Battle of Guilford Courthouse Anniversary and Reenactment, March 12-13, 2011. Rain or shine, it will be a weekend of free entertainment and a great way to learn about history by reliving it! Photo opportunities abound. Here's one of reenacting troops we took last year and one of colonial musicians here.

*Historical information found in Gayle Hicks Fripp's book "Greensboro-- Images of America" Arcadia Publishing, p. 10.

"E" is for Elm Street

Today's letter on ABC Wednesday is "E" and, as we are featuring A-Z streets this round, we felt compelled to feature Elm Street. Elm Street is the heart and pulse of Greensboro. It separates east from west and runs almost the entire length of the city. In the southern extreme, Elm merges with Eugene St.; to the north, at Lake Jeanette, it becomes Bass Chapel Road. Along the way, Elm Street passes through downtown, Fisher Park, Irving Park, State Street, Cornwalis, Cone Boulevard, Buffalo Lake, New Irving Park, and Pisgah Church Road.  Of all 138 streets starting with the letter "E," Elm has the most homes listed: 374.

The house in the above photo is located at 1007 North Elm Street, at the northern end of Fisher Park, just south of the Wendover Avenue overpass. The house was completed in 1919 for the John M. Galloway family. It was designed by Greensboro architect Harry Barton and constructed under the supervision of Andrew Schlosser, Greensboro's premier stonemason (G.H.Fripp, p. 58). Noteworthy are 1) Schlosser's fine stonework; 2) the chocolate mortar and 3) the ballroom on the top floor of the home.

1007 North Elm provides a glimpes of how the street looked before it became commercialized. Today, these older homes are mostly offices of professionals, organizations, or locally-owned, small businesses. The sculpture in the foreground was done by Frank Holder whose dance training echoes in the sculpture's movement.

"Sail with the Pilot"

For years, "Sail with the Pilot," the jingle of Pilot Life Insurance Company, was featured prominently during the ACC Basketball Tournament in Greensboro. Today, this bust, reminiscent of a bygone era, remains at the helm at 1010 Elm Street in front of Pilot Financial Advisors. 

If anybody remembers anything about this bust, please post a comment. We don't recall how it landed it its present location or who made it. Stop back tomorrow to see what the sailor is looking at.