From the platform, walk along 8th St toward Lamar
Title: “Nicole’s Garden”
Artist: Rosalia Torres-Weiner
Date: 2021
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info: @redcalacastudio
Story: Rosalia Torres-Weiner is well-known in the Charlotte art community for her bright and colorful art. Torres-Weiner has murals on our uptown artwalk and several on the East Side Art Trail. The homeowners commissioned the artist to paint the façade of their historic house in the Elizabeth neighborhood.
Key Formal Elements:
- Polychromatic color scheme
- Lack of negative space
** As this is a private residence, please feel free to take pictures but respect the privacy of the homeowners.
Make the Connection:
The home owners were inspired to hire a muralist when they started noticing some of the amazing street art popping up in Charlotte. As they starting searching for an artist, Rosalia Torres-Weiner seemed like the perfect fit. Their historic house in Elizabeth is unique in that it is built of concrete block which makes an excellent material for an artist’s canvas. This composition is a celebration of nature and flowers with colors and shapes. Notice the single black and white element of the hummingbird. The hummingbird is a signature element for the artist and represents joy and lightness in life. Enjoy the garden!
Walk to intersection of 8th & Lamar
Location: Roundabout at 8th Street & Lamar
Artists: Amy Bagwell, Wall Poems
Date: 2016
Media: Stainless steel
Artist Info: @wallpoems
Story: Wall Poems of Charlotte is an effort to integrate poetry into urban areas of the city. The organization has completed over a dozen installations featuring the work of North Carolina poets. “Now is Fireworks” is a poem by Amy Bagwell, a faculty member at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) and founder of Wall Poems. This project is a collaboration between the Arts & Science Council Neighborhoods in Creative pArtnership grant program and the CPCC Welding Technologies program. The poem in its entirety is reproduced on the side of the building at 2024 E. 7th Street, another artwork on this walk.
Key Formal Elements:
- Freestanding
- Smooth texture
Make the Connection:
This 10-foot diameter, stainless steel sculpture is part of a multi-media Wall Poems installation spread out in the Elizabeth neighborhood. The sculpture mimics the form of the traffic roundabout and makes the viewer move around the sculpture to read the words. How does actively engaging in the space around the sculpture connect to the meaning of the title of the poem?
Follow 8th to Pecan Avenue
Location: Corner of 8th Street & Pecan Avenue
Artist: Graham Carew
Date: 2016
Media: Adhesive vinyl
Artist Info: @grahamcarew
Story: As one of the four components of this Wall Poems installation, Graham Carew created nine images and two words based on the original poem, “Now is Fireworks,” by Amy Bagwell. The images were then printed on adhesive vinyl and attached to one side of the fence posts surrounding the iconic water tower in Elizabeth.
Key Formal Elements:
- Installation
Make the Connection:
Lenticular. I had to look it up. The images are installed for what is termed a “lenticular effect.” Meaning that the images come into view only at specific angles and then disappear. So again, you must walk around and be fully engaged in the art to see it. What images do you see?
At Pecan and Caswell, walk to left on 7th
Location: 2024 E. 7th Street
Artists: Amy Bagwell, Graham Carew
Date: 2016
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info: @wallpoems, @grahamcarew
Story: As one of the components of this Wall Poems installation, the original poem by Amy Bagwell for this project is reproduced in its entirety on the side wall of this building. Mural artist Carew painted the large bird with colorful wings, perhaps the colors of fireworks.
Key Formal Elements:
- Installation
- Warm colors of red and orange and cool blue used in the feathers
Make the Connection:
In the poem, there are several references to the Elizabeth neighborhood. For instance, the reference to water connects to both the history of Independence Park as a reservoir and to the water tower which is visible from this site. And the line about the train whistle ties to the constant presence of the train that cuts through the neighborhood at Pecan Avenue. Are you a hawk or songbird?
Cross over Caswell, go to 347 N. Caswell
Location: 347 N. Caswell Road
Artists: Matt Hooker, Matt Moore
Date: 2016
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info: @hookermedia, @puckmcgruff
Story: Lineberger Dentistry commissioned murals for their building and turned to the dynamic duo of the Matts. The Matts (Matt Hooker and Matt Moore) are featured in every neighborhood where we have produced artwalks. That is something. This commission has five total murals, three on one side and two on the other side of the building.
Key Formal Elements:
- Implied motion of the figure of Queen Charlotte
- Cool color of blue dominates
Make the Connection:
The one request of the commission was to include something about Charlotte. Check. The use of iconography by the artists here is abundant and fun. There are references to the dogwood blossom, our state flower, and to the cotton blossom, a plant integral to the industrialization of our city. Can you find both of those and the reference to our area code and the crown? It’s like a scavenger hunt in the mural. Go!
Continue at 347 N. Caswell
Location: 347 N. Caswell Road
Artists: Matt Hooker, Matt Moore
Date: 2016
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info: @hookermedia, @puckmcgruff
Story: Lineberger Dentistry commissioned murals for their building and turned to the dynamic duo of the Matts. Hooker and Moore are regarded as some of the artists that started the mural renaissance in Charlotte. Well done guys!
Key Formal Elements:
- Atmospheric perspective in the mountain range
- Illusion of depth
Make the Connection:
Amazed by a maze. The cube is called an isometric projection. It is a way of rendering three-dimensional space that does not rely on linear perspective. It sort of takes the flat layout of a maze and stretches it out. How else is the idea of space rendered in other places in the image?
Continue at 347 N. Caswell Road
Location: 347 N. Caswell Road
Artist: Nick Napoletano
Date: 2016
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info: @napoletanoart
Story: Lineberger Dentistry initially commissioned murals by Matt Hooker and Matt Moore. They reached out to Nick Napoletano, a newcomer to Charlotte’s art scene at the time, to complete the third panel on this side and one on the other side. Together, these are two of Napoletano’s first large-scale murals for our city.
Key Formal Elements:
- Implied motion
- Contour lines and outlines in the figure
Make the Connection:
Nick Napoletano is one of the most talented artists working in Charlotte. His style is hard to define as it seems to change, and morph based on his interests and current artistic pursuits. Here we get to see early mural work of the artist making the transition from a studio artist with a practice grounded in the figure. The figure is still there, formed out of outlines and contour lines, but floats and swirls abstractly up the side of the wall. The mark making will appear again in his now archived mural in NoDa on the former Solstice Tavern.
Go to other side of the building
Location: 347 N. Caswell Road
Artists: Matt Hooker, Matt Moore
Date: 2016
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info: @hookermedia, @puckmcgruff
Story: Lineberger Dentistry commissioned murals for their building and commissioned the dynamic duo of the Matts. The fourth out of five total murals is an image of a wolf and a deer.
Key Formal Elements:
- Value scale of greys in the animals
- Visual texture of fur
Make the Connection:
Sometimes artists have subject matters that appear more frequently than others. The wolf or wolf-like creature makes appearances often in the work of Matt Moore. While the cool color of blue unifies all of these five murals, the frontal view of the wild animals here is unique and more personal for the artists. What's your spirit animal?
Last mural at 347 N. Caswell
Location: 347 N. Caswell Road
Artist: Nick Napoletano
Date: 2016
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info:@napoletanoart
Story: Lineberger Dentistry commissioned murals for their building and worked with well-known Matt Hooker and Matt Moore and newcomer Nick Napoletano. Napoletano has murals included in our NoDa, Plaza-Midwood, and Uptown artwalks. But these in Elizabeth are unique, early works.
Key Formal Elements:
- Implied motion
- Limited palette of blue, yellow, grey tones
Make the Connection:
Napoletano is playing around with the myth of Icarus. Icarus is the figure in Greek mythology who flew too close to the moon and melted the wax in his wings. In this modern-day image, the young boy falling in front of the sun, is slowed and wonderfully held up by the flowing blue ribbons. This Mannerist style (in art history, after the Renaissance) with the floating figure and unusual perspective is prevalent in the artist’s studio work of this time period.
Walk down 7th, then to 415 Hawthorne
Location: 415 Hawthorne Lane on side wall of Sabor Latin Grill
Artist: Nico Armortegui
Date: 2016
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info: @nico_malo1
Story: Artist Nico Amortegui is a native of Colombia. His Abstract Expressionist style of art has connections to several historic artists. With his emphasis on abstract figures, use of line, and incorporation of elements of graffiti, the work of Amortegui is aligned with that of Picasso, Basquiat, and Lam. Amortegui has a mural on our NoDa East artwalk also.
Key Formal Elements:
- Use of outline in the food in the skillet
Make the Connection:
The artist celebrates life, food, and love and even gives you a recipe of sorts for Pollo Arroz, a traditional dish of Latin America and Spain. The figure on the far right holds a skillet of ingredients of rice, chicken, and vegetables.
Cross 7th at light, explore park on left or right
Location: 300 Hawthorne Lane
Landscape Architects: John Nolen and Helen Hodge
Date: 1905
Story: Independence Park is Charlotte’s first public park. Industrialist and publisher of the Charlotte Observer, D. A. Tompkins proposed the former site of two municipal water reservoirs as a public park in 1904. The site was served by two trolley lines at the time thus making the park accessible to a good amount of residents he reasoned. The city approved of the location and in 1905 landscape architect John Nolen was chosen to design the park. Not much of Nolen's design remains, as the park has largely been broken up and bisected by several streets including construction of the Independence Freeway which removed much of the original expansive rose garden.
Key Formal Elements:
- Organic curves of the walkways
** Independence Park is currently under renovation so this site is not accessible.
Make the Connection:
The Lillian Arhelger Memorial, located at the Hawthorne Lane end, consists of a reflecting pool and waterfall. The memorial was designed by Helen Hodge, a pioneering female landscape architect. A local school teacher was honored after she died trying to save a small girl from a fall on a hiking trail near a waterfall.
American Legion Memorial Stadium is located at the Independence Freeway end and was originally built in 1936 as a Federal Works Progress Administration project. President Roosevelt spoke at the dedication of the stadium.
Worth the Walk to Charlottetown Ave
Title: “Natural Rhythm”
Location: Independence Park near Charlottetown Ave
Artist: Georgie Nakima
Date: 2022
Media: Spray paint
Artist Info: @gardenofjourney
Story: To celebrate the redesign of Independence Park, the first public park in North Carolina, Georgie Nakima was commissioned to paint a mural by Mecklenburg County with project management by the Arts & Science Council. Nakima is a nationally known muralist and has work in Charlotte in South End, Historic West End, the East Side and Camp North End. She is known for her use of bright colors and geometric shapes in her art.
Key Formal Elements:
- Polychromatic color scheme
- Contrast of the geometric shapes and the organic shapes of faces, flowers, birds
Make the Connection:
Nakima’s work draws on science and nature and longs to finds connections in our world. Consider how the diversity of the portraits connects to diversity in nature that we see in this historic open space of Charlotte. Perhaps the flowers are a connection to the former rose garden on this site but the futuristic style portraits make us think about our future in the natural world. Nakima’s designs come from a desire to explore color and shape but also help us see and value diversity in nature and humanity.
From mural, follow walkway to tunnel under 7th
Title: “Tribute”
Location: American Legion Memorial Stadium
Artists: Simon Donovan, Ben Olmstead
Date: 2021
Media: Powder-coated steel
Artist Info: www.donovanolmstead.com
Story: What great history! American Legion Stadium was built as a Public Works Administration project after the Great Depression. President Franklin D Roosevelt spoke at the dedication in 1936. When the stadium was completely rebuilt recently, public art was included with the ASC Public Art 1% for art program. Artists Simon Donovan and Ben Olmstead are an Arizona-based, multimedia artist team working on public art projects on a national level.
Key Formal Elements:
- Low-relief sculptural panels
- Symmetrical balance
Make the Connection:
The key here is how you experience this sculpture. From one angle standing directly in front of the piece, the figures appear invisible. But as the viewer moves to each side, each figure becomes a fully realized form and recognizable. The artists depict a figure for each branch of the military – Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Airforce, and Coast Guard. On the other side, the same steel panels form the gentle wave of the American flag. At certain angles you can see this flag and the figures at the same time.
Go back to park, walk to Elizabeth Ave
Location: 1530 Elizabeth Ave at Spokeeasy
Artist: Joey Obso
Date: 2018
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info: @joeyobso
Story: Local mural and graffiti artist Obso completed this mural for Talking Walls 2018. Talking Walls 2018 was the inaugural city-wide mural festival and it sponsored 16 new murals in locations all around Charlotte. Obso is known for his comic book style, magical and mysterious art, and his artistic partnerships. Here a large, menacing eagle with talons up dominates a clear blue background while sneakily, a spunky chipmunk gets ready to fight. ** Note: the chipmunk was covered up with grafitti.
Key Formal Elements:
- Scale
- Implied motion
Make the Connection:
Here’s a short lesson in Graffiti 101. There are two main types of lettering styles in graffiti. Simples are bubble style letters or balloon style letters. Wild style lettering is a more complicated and intricate lettering style, even calligraphic. Usually highly stylized, with interlocking letters, it can be hard to read. Obso’s mural features “wild style” letters at the bottom of the composition. Can you figure out what it says? Tag @artwalksclt with your answer.
On side of building facing parking lot
Location: 1530 Elizabeth Avenue
Artist: Pref ID
Date: 2019
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info: @pref_id
Story: London-based British artist Pref ID completed this mural for Talking Walls 2019. As a text artist, Pref ID explores words, typography, and common sayings as a way to ask questions and question meaning.
Key Formal Elements:
- Limited palette
- Line
Make the Connection:
The morphing, merging and layering of letters executed by the artist can be confusing. It requires a double take sometimes. “C For Certain” is the title of this mural. Can you find the C? What is really for certain?
Go to 1530 and peek into the courtyard
Location: 1530 Elizabeth Avenue
Artists: Joey Obso, Miss Lotus, Mr. Elbowski
Date: 2018
Media: Acrylic paint
Artists Info: @joeyobso, @misslotus_, @mr.elbowski
Story: On the interior wall of the courtyard facing @thespokeeasyclt, a bicycle shop, Obso created another mural during the Talking Walls festival. The artists and some friends had their lift for one more day and decided to paint one more mural. How cool is that! Obso collaborated with Miss Lotus who did the three colorful lotus blossoms and @mr.elbowski for the letters.
Key Formal Elements:
- Complementary colors of orange and blue
- Outline
Make the Connection:
Here is the lettering style known as simples. The bubble-style letters across the mural say “Be Good, Do Good” which is the slogan for the SpokeEasy. Walk back around the building to compare to “wild style” lettering. Which is easier to read?
Walk up Elizabeth, turn right, cross 4th, walk 3 blocks
Location: 1426 E. Fourth Street
Artist: Emily Eldridge
Date: 2019
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info: @emily_eldridge_art
Story: Berlin-based artist and illustrator Emily Eldridge completed this mural for Talking Walls 2019. With a BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Eldridge has worked in Hong Kong, Spain and now Germany. This is her first mural project in the US. Yay Emily!
Key Formal Elements:
- Lack of negative space meaning the figures cover almost all of the wall
- Flat shapes of color dominate
Make the Connection:
Ponytails. Sunglasses. Painted fingernails. Embracing her love of pop culture and pop art, Eldridge celebrates everything female. Simple, stylized, and fun, the artist invites you to see yourself as one of the figures. Flower power. Female power. During a year that saw the #MeToo movement, the Talking Walls festival committed to have 50% of their artists be female. Indulge your femininity and pick your favorite pony-tailed figure.
Side wall at 1426 E. Fourth Street
Location: 1426 E. Fourth Street
Artist: Maria “Toofly” Castillo
Date: 2019
Media: Acrylic paint
Artist Info: @toofly_nyc
Story: Ecuadorian and New York artist Toofly completed this mural for Talking Walls 2019. But then she almost didn’t. From her native Ecuador, Toofly encountered many flight delays on her trip to Charlotte as her country was in the midst of a violent protest and she barely made it here.
Key Formal Elements:
- Contour lines in the roses
- Symmetrical balance
Make the Connection:
Toofly paints her signature “Love Warrior. in this mural titled "Resistencia.” As one of the first women to work in graffiti and street art in NYC in the early 1990s, the artist uses her artistic platform to inspire, empower, and educate women and youth. The “Love Warrior” figure communicates strength and power while the inclusion of the roses alludes to more traditional femininity.