Greensboro Daily Photo

At the Corner of Beaman Place & Grecade Street

Today's photo was taken in the same parking lot as the one from yesterday. This is a parking lot on the southeast corner of Beaman Place and Grecade Street in Mid-town. Beyond the lens to the left is FILTER Coffee Shop, then The Tiny Greenhouse, Then Craftroom (the pink building [artwork by Golden305]), then the Music Academy, and finally, the building with the mural is The Chop Shop Hair Company. Also, hidden back there is Jacobi-Lewis Restaurant Supply. This shows you just how diverse the area of town is becoming.

Just researching this post has us wanting to go back and visit each of these businesses. The Chop Shop Hair Company is decorated in steam punk style full of collectibles. Also, they cut hair for men and women. We didn't see the artist's name on the mural, but we bet The Chop Shop manager will know. There is so much to explore in Greensboro and we're out to see as much as possible this summer. Don't forget the inaugural "World Promenade" on Sunday, June 2nd at the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden from 1:00- 5:00 p.m.. It is a rebranding of the Parisian Promenade, but it will be another spectacular Greensboro Beautiful event.

Happy Last Day of May!

Jenna Rice Art, LLC

Jenna Rice is a full-time artist based in Greensboro. We met up with her earlier this summer when she was painting a mural on the back of Red Cinema in Midtown. We noticed her painting while on a group bike ride and circled back around to interview her. Jenna was super nice and took time to meet with us, even though it was late in the day and she was in the middle of painting.  Originally from New England, she obtained a BA in Studio Art in 2012 from Florida Southern College.

Jenna's local murals mostly feature people, real or pop culture. It wasn't until we were preparing this post that we realized Jenna also did the mural inside the downtown dining room at Cheesecakes by Alex at 315 South Elm.

Happy last day of July! Tomorrow is August!

M'Coul's Public House

M'Coul's Public House seems to stay busy, especially on weekends. However, as we inch towards St. Patrick's Day a couple of Fridays from now, it will get super busy. Simmone McClinton, founder and owner, opened the establishment at 110 W. McGee Street in 2001. The building is historic and Simmone is committed to maintaining the integrity of the original structure, while adapting and updating whatever is needed to bring the restaurant into the 21st century. The building dates to 1892, and a lot has changed in 131 years.

In 2022, M'Coul's was recognized in the book "Hidden Gems of America: Restaurants" as one of their top pics in North Carolina. The above photo was taken upstairs, one of their  five options for dining. We love the mural and know there has to be a great story behind it. We're not sure, though. Do you know? It captures so perfectly the vibe of M'coul's. When we find out, we'll let you know.

Happy Saturday! Happy exploring!

Moses Cone Mural at the Denim Hotel

We had a chance to tour the Hotel Denim last week; above, is a mural painted on the 3rd floor. It is a painting of Moses H. Cone, the American textile entrepreneur who, with his brother Caesar,  built the largest denim mill in the world and the largest cotton mill in the US southeast. The Cones were major employers in Greensboro. Moses and his wife never had children and became great philanthropists in Greensboro and North Carolina. He accomplished so much to have died at age 51, in 1908 from pulmonary edema. Every floor of the Hotel Denim has art related to Greensboro's denim and blue jean history. The hotel's website has extensive photos of the art. We're betting the Hotel Denim, conveniently located at 1517 Westover Terrace, will be very busy during homecoming season, especially during NCA&Ts homecoming.

It seems fitting for us to feature one of Greensboro's most prominent Jewish citizens as Yom Kippur starts this evening at sundown. For those of you celebrating Yom Kippur, may you have an easy fast. 

Happy Tuesday!

East Cone Boulevard & Damien Mitchell's Mural

This past weekend, we were out driving on East Cone Boulevard and, of course, the murals caught out eye. The above photo was taken at the plaza with a Roses Discount Store, hence the roses on the facade to the left. It is located at 1421 East Cone, near Twain Road and the O. Henry Oaks neighborhood. Also, out this way is Joe Davis Park at 1410 19th Street very near East Cone and Ceasar Street. The mural has lots of hashtag messages and, if the upper left name is correct, the mural is by Damien Mitchell. He has been painting murals for ten years and is based out of New York City. If you notice at the bottom, it is also tagged as a Kotis Street Art mural. If you want to know more about Greensboro's murals, you can find a lot on that link.

Also of interest in the above photo are the newspaper boxes, which makes wonder if they generate any revenue. We also like the way the white sedan is parked there, waiting, all white and unembellished, sharing the center focal point with the bright yellow smiley balloon.

Well, Thursday is the new Friday. May you find something fabulous to do this weekend in Greensboro!

Rast Mural on Mill Street

How lucky we were to be driving along Mill Street and notice a mural being installed! The graffiti street artist Julien Ripert, the artist known as Rast, is featured in the above photo. Julien hails from Paris, France, but is in Greensboro for three weeks to create this mural and another one at Red Cinema. He has been an artist for 15 years and is self-taught. His work can be found in France, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Belgium, and more. If you look at his work on Instagram (@artisteRAST), you will notice that he is known for painting building-sized, murals, busts of people. Some of his murals include very powerful images of men, and women, mostly older. The texture of his work, and the items people are holding or the things surrounding them, really add a focal point to his work.

The above mural is only half way done. We'll have to return for a follow up photo because Julien will connect the mural to an electrical source and part of the mural will spin. We can't wait to see the movement, added dimension, and additional paint to this project. One of our favorite pieces of Julien's work is "Good Planet" Urgency, an acrylic mural of an older man with a gray beard and mustache,  holding a globe that actually spins (posted on Instagram on May 2, 2021). Drive by, behind Saffron on Mill Street, and have a look if you get a chance. If you see Julien, please give him a big Greensboro welcome. He speaks French, English, and Spanish- and maybe more!

Happy Wednesday!

Art Behind Ben and Jerry's

Yesterday was beautiful in Greensboro and Friendly Center had a fair amount of foot traffic. The above scene was taken behind Ben and Jerry's in the patio/courtyard. People were enjoying the weather and spending time together. Long time Greensboro Daily Photo reader, and dear friend, Alice Hill suggested we have a look at the mural boards in this location. There are several. You can see two as a backdrop  to the photo. The one on the right says "Life takes you to unexpected places. Love brings you home. Of course the one on the left says Greensboro. The area was done by local artist, and Grimsley High School graduate, Gina Elizabeth Franco. Gina came to a career in art, almost by accident when she volunteered to paint a library mural. Gina already has several local murals under her belt, including Westerwood Tavern, and the Interactive Resource Center.*

While today's weather is not as inviting as the weather yesterday, it is still a good day to get out and explore the city. One thing you won't want to miss is the reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. It will be today and tomorrow; 10am- 5pm today and 10 am- 3pm on Sunday. They are a little short on volunteers, but we're sure the event will be memorable, especially for people who have never seen it before. Have a great day, regardless of what you decide to do.

 

*read more about Gina's art journey HERE, and HERE.

Fraleigh's Artwork at the Weatherspoon

Looking for something to do this weekend? Head over to the Weatherspoon Art Gallery and experience this exhibit by Angela Fraleigh, entitled, "Splinters of a Secret Sky." It was made especially for Greensboro and the Weatherspoon on UNCG's campus. Fraleigh's three large-scale paintings evoke art from era's past and are inspired by the legacy of Claribel and Etta Cone. The Cone sisters, from the wealthy, entrepreneurial, philanthropic Cone family of Greensboro,  helped establish the Weatherspoon's collection. The Cone sisters traveled in Europe extensive, knew many famous artists personally and collected passionately. Fraleigh's paintings represent women absorbed in each other, as opposed to being painted as subjects of the male gaze. Great always has a twist, food for though. Imagine (and see) these subjects not giving a care about who might be looking at them.

As a special twist on the thought, the two unidentified museum visitors in the right corner were doing a photo shoot, using segments of "Splinters of a Secret Sky" as a backdrop for their photos. Just like the Matisse inspired mural in the background, the two figures to the right are grayscale; quite a contrast from Fraleigh's painted ladies. The Weatherspoon is free, and open to the public. Head to the corner of Tate and Spring Garden streets and have a visit. We bet you will find the art inspiring. Happy Friday!

RBG Mural

Let's start Monday with a work of art. Recently, we were at Irving Park Frame Shop at 2105 W Cornwallis Drive and, as we were leaving, noticed this mural of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. While there is no shortage of RBG murals, it is nice to have one in Greensboro. She has been an inspiration to so many, near and afar. The mural is the perfect thing to see at a frame shop/art gallery. Notice the way her collar extends down to the sidewalk. The mural is signed by THARE. Unfortunately, a Google search did not yield results. Nor is THARE on the extensive list of muralists on the Kotis site (here). We'll keep trying to track down THARE. If you know this person, let us know and we'll link to the artist's website.

It is nice to have these murals at street level. That makes it easy to get photos. Midtown really has become known for its murals. That is a fun summer thing to do, get out and explore the murals. Referring to this interactive street art map really helps. We see online that Justice Ginsburg visited Raleigh, but we don't see anything to indicate that she visited Greensboro. Oh well, she has been immortalized on the above brick wall with a green (for Greensboro) background.

Happy Monday!  Six more days until summer and seventeen more days until Cookout has watermelon milkshakes!!!

Central Library of the Greensboro Public Library System

Have you been to a public library lately? Today's photo is of the Central Library of the Greensboro Public Library system, the children's section. It is so beautiful, clean, and inviting. We visited on Saturday and there were just a few people in the whole building. The public library system is one of the few places where anyone and everyone has the right to visit. Truly, it is for the public. They are back to regular hours, yet are still offering curbside pick-up. They are also starting to reinstate special events, although most are still online (see an example, HERE).

The Greensboro Library system was established in 1902. Construction for the Central Branch in the current location began in 1997. Previously, it was located in the building that currently houses the Elon Law School at 201 North Greene Street. That other building was completed in 1960 with the local architect Edward Loewenstein and Gregory Ivy involved in the design. But, this former property is history and the current building is built with the public in mind. We have easy access to all the books and there are plenty of computers to use. Dust off your library card; the amazing world of books is just a swipe away. Happy Tuesday!

Mural and Signs of Spring at Barnhardt Street

The above mural is visible from Barnhardt Street and the Lewis Street Parking Lot. This is the area where Piedmont Winterfest is now held. The area looks so pretty with signs of spring and with all of the bright artwork. It is also visible from Spring Garden Street. This past Thursday, late afternoon, the area was eerily quiet. Hopefully, with the weather opening and COVID waning, outdoor events will start making a comeback and the businesses on the perimeter of the parking lot will once again be filled with people. The nearby Boxcar Arcade and SouthEnd Brewing, and other establishments will regain clientele. 

Here is a link to some of the Greensboro Public Art. If you get a chance this weekend, visit downtown and enjoy some of this public art in person. Also, if you know the artist of the above mural, let us know and we'll drop it in today's post! As always, we appreciate you GDP readers!

Chalk Walk 2021

Last weekend, on Sunday, March 14th, the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department hosted a Chalk Walk event in the Greensboro Arboretum. There were 33 participants. The above photo features the winning entry for the 18+age  category. The koi pond was drawn by Lauren Ward, a Guilford County Schools art teacher. How wonderful that the artist behind this beautiful drawing shares her talent with the children of Greensboro.

This scene is also an example of how Greensboro has gotten really creative about having events. The Chalk Walk got people out in a socially distanced way to enjoy a sunny afternoon. People walked through the exhibit and a few runners were seen along the way. With or without special events, The Greensboro Arboretum is a very special space in our community. Trees and plants have labels on them, so you can learn as you go. The day we visited, shadows added a lot of intrigue to the adventure. Happy Wednesday! 

George Floyd Mural On West McGee

Today's photo is of West McGee Street, in front of MCoul's Public House and another view of the LFG/JP Building in the background. A recent addition to the area is the mural of George Floyd. The quote says "Daddy changed the world" and is attributed to Gianna Floyd. This art keeps the memory of Floyd alive and adds a bold pop of color on the side street, tucked between General Greene and Natty Greene's Brewhouse. The only artist's tag we saw was to the left, "[heart emoji] TGZ".

If you are feeling well and able to distance, consider heading down to Elm Street this afternoon. There will be plenty of opportunities to eat outside and to visit the nearby shops that are working so hard to keep their stores and merchandise clean and tidy. Hats off to this family; they seemed to be walking quite a distance downtown. We don't know who they are or where they ended up going, but they were making great time, and they add great visual interest to this little slice of life of photo of downtown Greensboro.

Have a great weekend, regardless of what you decide to do.

Midtown Mural

The Midtown area of Greensboro is expanding east. The above photo is a mural on the back of the building at the corner of Grecade Street and Beaman Place. They are part of Marty Kotis' commitment to bringing original art murals to the buildings of Greensboro, especially to Midtown.

The murals were painted last weekend on the back of The Tiny Greenhouse, which Our State Magazine bills as an "urban jungle" (article here). The adjacent business, Craftroom, is filled with handmade purses, pencil pouches, planters, and other items, many with fabrics inspired by Asian prints and patterns. The Music Academy is also located on this block. If you get a chance this weekend, drive by for a look. Brick never looked so bright! What a sweet twist that all of the cars behind the building happened to be white. Perhaps, after a full day inspired by so much design, a white vehicle is somewhat palate-cleansing. Have a great weekend and do something nice for yourself!

Another Amazing Midtown Mural!

The Guilford Green Community Center is one of the latest buildings in Greensboro to get a new mural. The mural extends around the building and onto the parking lot. The community center is located at the corner of Grecade and West Bessemer, on the eastern edge of Midtown. You can see the scope of the project by looking at the door in the middle and noticing the two floors of windows.

The muralist, Adnate, from Australia and Luxembourg graffiti artist Eric Mangen are painting the above two-story office building owned by Greensboro developer, Marty Kotis. They have used a fire engine, filled with a mixture of paint and water, and eight fire extinguishers to spray this building. They work quickly and precisely. Greensboro is getting a lot of social media attention for these murals done by some of the best muralist/graffiti artists in the world.*  Follow this process on Facebook@ Eric Mangen Worx, or drive back behind the Midtown Sheetz to see this building transforming before your eyes. They will still be working on it today.

*Reference and more information, here.

 

Bardolph Building Candy Factory

 

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The above building to the right, it not currently a candy factory. It was, indeed a candy factory at one time. Here, at 301 South Church Street, you will find the Dorothy Bardolph Human Services Center as well as private organizations that rent space here. The property is owned by developer Marty Kotis who wants to change the image of this east part of town. Kotis' strategy is to post the attractive, eye-catching art to attract people to an area that you hope to re-purpose.*  To the right (not visible) is the Douglas Gaylon Depot. 

Kotis plans to have retail, offices, and restaurants in the area. He wants Greensboro to be attractive and a place that entices young adults to want to be here. He has been recruiting artists to paint murals around town and the lollipop is one such mural. On the day we were on site, as a woman was leaving the building, we asked her if she worked at the "Candy Factory." She said, not exactly, explaining that she worked with people with addiction issues--and not to candy. The building exudes a Willy Wonka vibe. It will be interesting to see how it transforms and whether, indeed, the area becomes a destination for families with young children.

* reference and additional information, here.

Karen Archia of the People's Perk Coffee Shop

The above photo features Karen Archia, solopreneur of the People's Perk Coffee Shop. The coffee shop, located at 551 South Mendenhall Street at Spring Garden Street, opened in September of 2013. As of Dec. 2016, her business partner retired and Karen is now sole owner. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Karen moved to North Carolina 38 years ago. Her background is in communications and she was working for a non-profit when she decided to live her dream and open the coffee shop. She is also an artist and maintains her studio at the shop. 

Karen loves to feature community events at the People's Perk, as well as show the art of local artists. The mural in the photo was a collaboration with the Greensboro Mural Project. After spending a few minutes at the People's Perk, you will realize that Karen is committed to advocacy, equality, and social justice. As an example, the person, second from right in the mural is Brittany Ann Byuarim Newsome, who climbed a flagpole in South Carolina to remove the confederate flag. Karen is a bright, energetic person who is well versed on current events and issues of the day. You can engage her in lively conversation, or just sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee, a blend specially prepared for the shop. Happy Solopreneur-iversary Karen; may 2018 be your best year yet!

The Bluest Eye

This image of piercing blue eyes on half a face is found on a cinder block building that houses a video store. It is located on Spring Garden Street, close to UNCG's campus. As you drive west, this mural causes you to think hard about the power of eye contact. In this age when everyone walks, face down, staring at a phone screen, this stare is disquieting. Those blue eyes really command attention. When you stand near this image, it does seem as if the person is staring you down. Because the blue eyes are the only real color in the mural, it evokes an image of Toni Morrison's book title, The Bluest Eye. While the mural has nothing to do with the book, these are, indeed some of the bluest eyes you will ever see. If you met the artist, what would say/ask? 

There was a time when you could hardly find a mural in Greensboro. Now, they seem to be appearing everywhere. Do you have a favorite? Sometimes, they actually look prettier in a photograph, when some of the clutter around them is beyond the camera lens. To be sure, they are fun to photograph. Happy Tuesday.

S.T.E.M. Career Fair

Yesterday, Bluford K-5 S.T.E.M. Academy held a very successful science, technology, engineering, and mathematics career fair. S.T.E.M. professionals from throughout the area came to participate in the event. S.T.E.M. professionals brought drones, robots, programmable games and so much more to share with the eager learners. I had the opportunity to spend the morning at Bluford leading a learning station in the media center. In the above photo, I am carrying one of the boxes of materials to prepare our learning station. The activity incorporated a STEM chant (in Spanish), with students making a foldable book, and writing career choices. By the end of the day, my very dedicated helpers, recruited from the Middle College at UNCG (also a S.T.E.M. school) had assisted over 300 children.  

As you can see from the above photo, Bluford is bright and colorful. The walls are filled with colorful art related to science. We think they should add the "A" for "art" to their name and call themselves a S.T.E.A.M. school. Buford, located on Tuscaloosa St. in the Dudley Heights neighborhood near Barber Park,  is named after Dr. F.D. Bluford, who was President of NC A&T State University. If you ever get a chance to donate goods, time, or money to a public school, we encourage you to do so. You will be contributing to the community's future and, when you least expect it, you are making a difference in someone's life.

Rainbow Spotted in Glenwood

This colorful wall was found in the Glenwood neighborhood, on Glenwood Avenue between Grove and Florida Streets. It evokes a rainbow, with the rainbow colors from red to purple. While the above mural is not in rainbow order, all of the colors are present. The following symbolism is often attributed to the individual colors, especially in rainbow flags: green- nature; orange- healing; red- life; yellow- sunlight; blue- harmony; and purple/violet- spirit. 

There has been so much in the national news this week. The displaying of the confederate flag in public, especially on state buildings, is being challenged. The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act.  The Supreme Court declared that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states.

Rarely does our Nation have so much national news to parse collectively.  Regardless of what you feel about each of these issues, it is fair to say that we all strive for more love and less hate in the world.  It looks like one little building in Greensboro is reminding us of that fact. 

Happy Saturday! 

 

Glenwood Mural

The above community-based mural is located at the corner of Glenwood Avenue and Grove Street. The mural is a collaborative effort between UNCG's Center for Community-Engaged Design and the Glenwood community. The Glenwood neighborhood, bordering Lee Street and UNCG, dates back to 1906 and has seen many changes over its 100+ year history. The wide spectrum of social experience of Glenwood is depicted on the wall, some of which is light and uplifting and some a bit dark and serious.

In addition to the involvement of community members, about 120 UNCG students worked on the project. Isolated, uninvolved professors and students who are not linked to practical, real-life experiences, are definitely not the reality of today's higher education experiences in Greensboro. North Carolina has an impressive system of higher education and the Glenwood mural is one example of how collaboration and community engagement are expectations of higher education today. Way to go UNCG & Glenwood. If you are local, drive by and see the mural for yourself. And, for more information, read here.

Happy Mural Monday! What a brilliant idea for a meme.