Rise Together Greensboro is a collaborative, community-based sculptural project by Virginia artist, Charlie Brouwer. Rise together is still accepting ladders to be added to the project and will accept its last ladder on Wednesday afternoon. Charlie will speak at 5:30, in the building that was formerly Burton's Pharmacy, go outside to install the final ladder, and kick off the 17 Days and National Folk Festivals. According to Brouwer, "Each ladder represents the hopes and dreams of a part of the community, but when they are all connected, supporting and being supported by each other, they will be able to rise together to create a metaphor for community."
In the above photo, you see the start of the installation, the artist, and the original First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro. Sundays on Greensboro Daily Photo are reserved for something religious or spiritual. How touching that people from all walks of life are coming together to build a collaborative sculpture that extends to the sky. Rise together. Surely, there is a spiritual message in this project. At the very least, it is a literal interpretation of building a stairway to heaven.
Please clear your calendar to participate in the arts events of the week. And Happy Sunday and may we all rise above our individual differences for the good of the whole.
Love the picture and the commentary.
Posted by: Jane T. Mitchell | Sunday, September 06, 2015 at 09:36 AM
Thank you, Jane. We had the good fortune to interview Charlie yesterday afternoon. He was working very hard taking in new ladders and documenting them in the inventory. He reminded us that the process (interacting with every person loaning a ladder, and filling out the necessary paperwork) was as much part of the art as the finished product.
Janis & David
Posted by: Janis & David | Sunday, September 06, 2015 at 10:29 AM
A very creative installation!
Posted by: William Kendall | Tuesday, September 08, 2015 at 03:25 PM