PUBLIC
T OWN ART O f C ARY
“Integrity is based not
on artists’
allegianc- es to their
own vi-
“Integrity is based not on artists’ allegiances to their own visions, but on an intergration of their ideas with those of the community.”
Cover image detail of “Harlequin Curtain”, Cary Arts Center, by artists Norie Sato, Jim Hirschfield & Sonya Ishii
We invite you, the citizens of Cary and Visitors, to explore the public artworks that bring a
unique vitality to our town.
VISION
Cary seeks to promote public art through site-specific and community-specific artworks that enhance the public realm, deepen a sense of place and civic idenity, stimulate community dialogue and transform Cary’s public spaces into vibrant and meaningful places.
Program Objectives
• Enhance the quality of life for every citizen of Cary
• incorporating public art in public spaces, by including
• streetscapes, infrastructure, public facilities, parks, and greenways
• Enrich the identity of Cary through public art that communicates the Town’s unique culture,
landscape, and heritage
• Support economic development goals through the thoughtful inclusion of public art throughout the Town of Cary, thus promoting tourism and
• expanding business opportunities
• Engage all citizens of Cary in building community identity by encouraging civic spirit, local pride, and increased citizen involvement in community life
Public Art Master Plan, Approved by Town of Cary Town Council, 2012
ACADEMY STREET MEDLEY
ARTIST: Jack Mackie
MATERIAL: granite, lithichrome shadow black DATE: 2016
LOCATION: Academy Street COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary
These twelve granite pieces mimic the shapes of musical instruments that found an American voice in the Carolina Piedmont and
Appalachians: mandolin, dulcimer, dobro, violin, and courting dulcimer. On each bench is a uniquely etched image of dogwood flowers and animals indigenous to North Carolina. One of the dulcimer benches, for example, features the Bickwick Wren, while the dobro bench includes the bog turtle. Every bench also features text, primarily drawn from poems, referring to either the instrument or to dance and music as a whole. The etched text is by poets who range from the classical (Yeats, Coleridge) to North Carolina natives (Carl Sandburg, RR Richardson, and Maya Angelou). These texts are sandblast etched into the granite and filled with Lithichrome Black Shadow, a standard industrial lacquer.
ARTIST: Brad Spencer MATERIAL: Clay Brick
DATE: Benches 2010, Bridge 2011, Wingwalls 2013, Entry Columns Spring 2014
LOCATION: Black Creek Greenway, Corner of Chapel Hill &
Maynard Roads
DONATED BY: CVA & partnership with Town of Cary http://www.bradspencersculptor.com/Site/Home.html Artist Brad Spencer has created a series of brick columns, benches, and underpass wing-walls that celebrate different
ARTS ALFRESCO
BALANCING ACT II
ARTIST: Holly Jones and Chad Bush MATERIAL: Painted Steel
DATE: 2004
LOCATION: WakeMed Soccer Park | 201 Soccer Park Dr.
DONATED BY: CVA
The nearly 26-foot tall sculpture was the creation of local artists Holly Jones and Chad Bush, Balancing Act II is more than just a big work of art; it’s a statement that
references the courage and vitality of professional
female athletes who balance busy lives amongst career, family, and community service.
BEACON TO THE COMMUNITY
ARTIST: Arthur Stern
MATERIAL: Architectural Glass (24 indivudal panels of stain glass) DATE: 2013
LOCATION: Fire Station #8 | 408 Mills Park Dr.
COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary http://www.arthurstern.com/
The artist Arthur Stern responds to his time spent in Cary with the Cary Fire Department and students from Mills Park Middle School.
Themes that repeatedly came up during his research meetings was to depict things that deal more directly with the Fire Department, the tools and equipment. He started with a series of ladder shapes,
symmetrically placing them over the grid pattern. Then added fire hoses and nozzles, in a framing pattern around the perimeters of the windows. The different kinds of glass in the palette allow a varying vista through the window, with the background glass featuring
‘water glass,’ adding a conceptual aspect of the design. This material distorts the vista beyond in a pleasing way that looks like reflections on water. The design also features red and orange hand blown glass areas, used heavier towards the top of the design, leading the eye
upward, and when lit at night, presents a colorful “beacon to
BOWSTRING VINES
ARTIST: Michael Stutz MATERIAL: Stainless Steel DATE: 2008
LOCATION: Pedestrian Bridge Hinshaw Greenway over US 1/US 64 COMMISSIONED BY: Town of Cary
https://www.stutzart.com/
Bowstring Vines greet pedestrians crossing the bridge and provides an enjoyable shadow play created from the leaves on the walkway deck. The vehicular viewer gets a glimpse of vines encasing the bridge at the above embankment sides and at the center. Frequent commuters get to experience the changing effects of light upon the stainless steel leaves during sunrise and sunset. Stutz describe the project “The
Bowstring Vines bring a flowing movement and presence to the
Pedestrian Bridge and Greenway. They mark the Cary Community as a place where people and nature come together to flourish and grow.”
Ghosts of students past, an entry experience that links past and present, other elements celebrate creativity and links between the visual and performing arts to enliven this Art Center renovated from an old elementary school building. Colloboratively conceived and produced by three artists, Jim Hirschfield, Sonya Ishii and Norie Sato, the artwork creates an unique counterpoint to the historic building renovation. Several elements
comprise the total artwork: an exterior sculpture for two sides of a new theater fly tower: artwork for the lobby including a backlit glass wall which extends through the three stories of the lobby. Other lobby artwork includes glass doors to a classroom; glass cladding for the concessions area. The artists produced the theater’s curtain which continues the harlequin pattern found on the exterior;
projected patterns in the theater’s
vomitoria for a theater entry/exit experience for patrons. A front plaza paving pattern incorporating solar powered lights create a magical environment for patrons; and benches for an outdoor classroom are based on traditional drawing horses used in art schools. The artwork illuminates the change of this facility from school to art center and evokes images from the past history of this building location as a focal point of the community.
CARY ARTS CENTER
ARTIST: Norie Sato, Jim Hirschfield & Sonya Ishii DATE: 2010-2011
LOCATION: Cary Arts Center | 101 Dry Ave. | Downtown Cary COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary
Exterior Flytower artwork: “Harlequin Curtain” | Glass, steel
Interior Glass: “School Spirits” | Glass, LED light, aluminum, stainless steel Theater Curtain: “Harlequin Curtain” | Printed Velour
Plaza paving deisgn and LED lights | Brick and Solar powered LED pavers Art Benches: “Drawing Class” | Stainless steel, ipe wood
https://www.noriesato.com/
CURVACEOUS KISS
ARTIST: Russ RuBert
MATERIAL: Stainless Steel DATE: 2005
LOCATION: Sears Farm Road Park | 5077 Sears Farm Rd.
DONATED BY: CVA http://rubert.com/
Chimerical:
existing only as the product of unchecked imagination;
fantastically visionary or improbable.
ARTIST: Todd Frahm MATERIAL: Bronze, stone DATE: 2018
LOCATION: Enchanted Misting Garden at Marla Dorrel Park COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary
http://stonecloudstudio.com/todd-frahm/
Artist Todd Frahm was inspired by the way children at the park interact with their surroundings. At a recent visit, he saw one little girl drawing a cat that ended up having an unexpected outcome: “She said that she had trouble with the legs and made the only logical decision: She turned the bottom half of the cat into an octopus. She reminded me that her inability to render perfect cat legs was not a mistake; it was an opportunity for something new, different and unexpected. This girl needs nothing except to be reminded to hold tightly to her fearlessness and adaptability.”
DANCING BEAMS
ARTIST: Brian Monaghan MATERIAL: Painted Steel DATE: 1999 LOCATION: Regency Parkway
& Tryon Rd. | In front of 2000 Regency Parkway DONATED BY: CVA 1999 Special Olympics dedication.
http://brianemonaghansculpture.com/
DAPPLE I
ARTIST: Victoria Reed MATERIAL: Aluminum DATE: 2010
LOCATION: Page-Walker gardens
| Downtown Cary
PURCHASED: Town of Cary https://victoria-reed- sculpture.com/
DINOSAUR BENCH
ARTIST: Jim Gallucci MATERIAL: Painted Steel DATE: 2000 LOCATION: Marla Dorrel Park, Kids
Together Playground | 111 Thurston Dr.
DONATED BY: CVA http://www.jimgalluccisculptor.
com/index.php
DOGWOOD, TULIP POPLAR, REDBUD, GINKGO,
SASSAFRAS BENCHES
ARTIST: Rodney Carroll MATERIAL: Aluminum DATE: 2000
LOCATION: Marla Dorrel Park, Kids Together Playground | 111 Thurston Dr.
DONATED BY: CVA
http://www.rodneycarroll.com/
ECCLESIASTES (WAR WAGON)
ARTIST: Phil Alan Simpson MATERIAL: Raw welded steel, Painted Steel and Cast Iron DATE: 2005
LOCATION: Page-Walker Arts
& History Center front garden
| Downtown Cary
DONATED BY: CVA & Friends of Page-Walker
Artist Phil Simpson states:
“....this piece is a celebration of life and being on earth. It incorporates the flags and sun. It recalls the times of the Romans reminiscent of a chariot with banners. The artwork beckons to be in a parade. The work was based on the idea that Ecclesiastes is supposed to be the only chapter in the Bible that is based on reason instead of faith. Thinking about war changes things.”
FIRE HYDRANTS
ARTIST: Rachel Herrick
MATERIAL: 16 recycled hydrants painted cast iron DATE: 2006
LOCATION: Cary Dog Park at Godbold Park | 2050 NW Maynard Rd.
COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary https://www.rachelherrick.com/
Artist Rachel Herrick conducted an artist residency working with Cary citizens to develop caricatures of local pooches which served as artwork models for each
uniquely painted hydrant.
FRED BOND BUST
ARTIST: Carl Regutti MATERIAL: Bronze DATE: 1998
LOCATION: Bond Park Boat House;
Town Hall Campus | 316 N. Academy St. | Downtown Cary COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary
GATES FOR HEMLOCK BLUFFS
ARTIST: Lucas House, Iron House Forge MATERIAL: Stainless Steel, Steel
DATE: 2011
LOCATION: Entrance Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve | 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd.
COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary & Friends of Hemlock Bluffs http://www.ironhouseforge.com/
GATEWAY TO EXCELLENCE
ARTIST: James T. Russell MATERIAL: Stainless steel DATE: 1999
LOCATION: N. Harrison Ave at I-40 | East side of N. Harrison Ave.
DONATED BY: SAS
http://www.russellsculpture.com/
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Get Away Car
ARTIST: Adam Walls MATERIAL: Painted Steel DATE: 2016
LOCATION: Urban Park|414 E. Chatham Street DONATED BY: CVA
http://www.adamwallssculpture.com/home.html
“This sculpture is part of a series that concerns my escapist thoughts which began in my childhood. Many of these ideas and fantasies sprung forth from the comics, toys, and cartoons I was fond of as a young boy. Admittedly, I am still very fond of them as an adult!
Getaway Car is a sculpture built around my own body to give me a safe place to sit and indulge in some escapist fantasy.”
HELIX FOR CARY TRAIN DEPOT
ARTIST: Matt McConnell MATERIAL: Acoustical Material, Steel DATE: 2011 LOCATION: Amtrak at Cary Depot |
Downtown Cary DONATED BY: NCDOT Rails Division http://www.mattmcconnell.com/
Green Light
ARTIST: Carolyn Braaksma MATERIAL: Coated green steel DATE: 2017
LOCATION: The Downtown Park, corner of Dry Ave and Academy St COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary
https://www.braaksmadesign.com/
Artist Carolyn Braaksma has designed nearly 100 linear feet of steel panels, developed on the concept of local plant life and native elements found in the park. The railing is along the overlook looking north toward the future phases of the park.
Hot Rolled Equus
ARTIST: Michael Stutz MATERIAL: Steel DATE: 2007
LOCATION: Corner of High House Rd. & Davis Dr.|Searstone Retail DONATED: Atlantic Avenue CNC, LLC
https://www.stutzart.com/
Hot Rolled Equus represents the history of a family farm and its beloved horse who once grazed in the adjacent pastureland.
IMAGINARY GARDEN
ARTIST: Barbara Grygutis MATERIAL: Native North Carolina Brick
Pavers DATE: 2009 LOCATION: Walnut Street Park | 1420
Walnut St.
COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary http://www.barbaragrygutis.com/
In collaboration with OBS Landscape Architects, the artwork titled Imaginary Garden is a complex woven design in native brick (15 feet wide brick promenade approximately 800 feet long) which starts at the parking lot where the promenade meets the parking pavement and follows the subtle curve of the promenade where it bursts into a blossom to create a plaza at the intersection of Lawrence Road and Walnut Street. The decision to use brick as the “art” material was an obvious natural, since it is a material made form the local earth. Brick has a rich history in the Triangle/Cary area. The artwork creates a place of tranquility and unity with nature punctuated by elements of surprise and interst where you sit and watch peope, meet a friend, read a book. National Award Winner 2010 Brick
Industry Association.
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INTERIM VIII
ARTIST: Bruce Niemi MATERIAL: Stainless Steel DATE: 1999
LOCATION: Intersection of Tryon Rd.
& Kildaire Farm Rd.
DONATED BY: CVA
http://www.bruceniemi.com/
ARTIST: Jane A. Rankin MATERIAL: Bronze DATE: 1998-99
LOCATION: Town Hall Campus
| 316 N. Academy St.
DONATED BY: CVA
http://www.janerankin.com/
JOIN THE PARADE
KATAL DRAGON (KIDS ARE TOGETHER AT LAST)
ARTIST: William Moore
MATERIAL: Painted Cement DATE: 2000
LOCATION: Marla Dorrel Park, Kids Together Playground | 111 Thurston Dr.
DONATED BY: CVA
The principles of Universal Design played a key part in the design of this earth and cement dragon which makes it accessible for all children to play.
MESSENGER
ARTIST: Gary Price MATERIAL: Bronze DATE: 2001
LOCATION: Cary Library | 310 S.
Academy St. | Downtown Cary DONATED BY: CVA
http://garyleeprice.com/
N-S URBAN FOOTPRINT
ARTIST: Erik Beerbower
MATERIAL: 10’-Wide Concrete Sidewalk with Color and Inset Bronze Plaques DATE: 2008
LOCATION: McCrimmon Parkway &
Highcroft Drive at Panther Creek Apartments
DONATED BY: CVA in collaboration with developer Alexan Panther Creek
Apartments, LLC
https://www.erikbeerbower.com/
The artist chose the theme “Nature meets Urbanism” and developed the concept based on satellite maps to generate an organic pattern that is derived by Alexan Panther Creek Apartments location to its north and south axis. The pattern is a reflection of the urban develoment, and is a time capsule of current development as of 2007.
ORACLE BENCHES
ARTIST: Jim Gallucci MATERIAL: Painted Steel DATE: 2000
LOCATION: Marla Dorrel Park, Kids Together Playground | 111 Thurston Dr.
DONATED BY: CVA
http://www.jimgalluccisculptor.com/index.php
OVERTURE
ARTIST: Jim Gallucci
MATERIAL: Bronze & Stainless Steel DATE: 2002
LOCATION: Main Gate at Koka Booth Amphitheatre | 8003 Regency Parkway
DONATED BY: CVA
http://www.jimgalluccisculptor.com/index.php
SEAGULL
ARTIST: Matt McConnell MATERIAL: Stainless Steel &
Fiberglass, Light Element DATE: 2006 LOCATION: Town Hall Campus (currently not on view) | 316 N.
Academy St. | Downtown Cary DONATED BY: Ron Lodholz http://www.mattmcconnell.com/
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SHARED HISTORIES
ARTIST: Susan Harbage Page
MATERIAL: Etched Glass, Painted Bench DATE: 2010
LOCATION: 6 unique designs for C-Trans routes, multiple locations
COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary https://susanharbagepage.com/
Artist has created a series of 6 designs for each of C-Tran’s 6 routes. Each design references a historical architectural
Sense of Place
ARTIST: Matt McConnell
MATERIAL: stone, glass, steel, and concrete DATE: 2017
LOCATION: The Downtown Park, corner of Dry Ave and Academy St COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary
http://www.mattmcconnell.com/
McConnell’s work includes four uniquely designed entry markers, each one
containing detailed maps of neighborhoods which make up the square panels of the different sides. The top glass light feature displays the Maynard loop. Neighborhood maps can be located from the detailed map legend on the Town’s webpage about this project.
STONELEAF + FAIRYCIRCLE
ARTIST: Michael Roy Layne
MATERIAL: Storm water swale made of river rocks, bamboo, steel rod, wire
DATE: 2012
LOCATION: Bond Park Boat House
COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary for Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival
http://www.legacyworks.com/
Suffolk Sheep
ARTIST: William Moore MATERIAL: Fiber reinforced cement
DATE: 2008-2016 LOCATION: Jack Smith Park | 9725 Penny Rd COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary The flock of 9 sheep resemble the Suffolk breed of sheep that were once kept on the Bartley Farm on the site of the park.
THE CARY THEATRE MARQUEE, PLAZA, & INTERIOR STAIR RAILINGS
ARTIST: Lynn Basa (Basa Projects) & Matt McConnell (McConnell Studios) MATERIAL: Terrazzo, steel, aluminum, LED lighting, polycarbonate
DATE: 2014
LOCATION: The Cary Theater | 122 E. Chatham St. | Downtown Cary COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary
The Cary Theatre Marquee was designed by the design team lead artist Lynn Basa of Chicago, Matt McConnell of Raleigh, and Leora Mirvish of Quinn Evans Architecture in Washington. The form and presence of the Marquee provides the artwork for the building and connects the past, present and future of the town with acknowledgment of the history and the growth and changes in the towns’ citizens.
The history of the building dates back to a golden era in Hollywood film, and there are streamlined aspects of the design meant to recognize that time in film and theater.
Present and future elements included in the design are related to technology and lighting. The culture in Cary has transformed in recent years to a higher tech and more educated population, many feeding research triangle park. The LED lighting systems used in all elements of the marquee serve to add longevity to the piece, reflect a conscious conservational effort, and acknowledge forward thinking on the part of the town.
THE MEETING PLACE
ARTIST: Nina Hole & Community Volunteers MATERIAL: Clay, Fired Brick
DATE: 2012
LOCATION: Kay Struffolino Park | 601 Kildaire Farm Rd.
COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary http://studiopotter.org/nina-hole
• 36 volunteers
• 175 volunteer hours
• 3 tons of clay - roughly 250 cubic feet or 1 story tall
• 3 weeks to build and fire Oct 15 - Nov 2, 2012
Danish artist, Nina Hole’s work is best known for performance firings of house sculptures which she
developed in 1994. The fire sculptures take their inspiration from their surroundings for example the church spires along Academy Street, the brick columns at Cary Arts center and the few remaining
tobacco barns found dotting the rural landscape in Cary. The fire sculptures are slab built edifices that explore aspects of herself:
‘ego-houses’ as she calls them. Her method of using slabs as modular building blocks enable her to make very larger sculptures which she raku fires in situ wrapping the structure in a blanket of high temperature refractory fabric that acts as the kiln during the firing. She uses a number of assistants and considers the process, including the stimulating communal experience of working with a group of people, as important as the final product. Fired through the night, the spectacular effect of the glowing form as it is unwrapped is the peak moment of the event.
THE RAILROAD MAN
ARTIST: Carl Regutti MATERIAL: Bronze DATE: 1997
LOCATION: Train Depot | Faces 211 N.
Academy St. | Downtown Cary DONATED BY: Private Donation
Veterans Freedom Monument
ARTIST: Howard Meehan
MATERIAL: Bethel White Granite, Rock of Ages Quarry, Vermont Granite plaza DATE: 2014
LOCATION: 1513 N Harrison Ave DONATED: by SAS
http://www.hmeehan.com/
“I wanted to create a work of art that was majestic, elegant, iconic, and informative.
It tells a story about ‘why’ men and women serve in our Armed Forces. The public should see this Freedom Park as a catalyst for social interaction and understanding.”
-Howard Meehan
Visitors
ARTIST: John Merigian MATERIAL: Welded corten DATE: 2015
LOCATION: New Hope Trailhead Park | 2575 New Hope Church Rd
COMMISSIONED: Town of Cary
WALTER WINES PAGE BUST
ARTIST: Carl Regutti MATERIAL: Bronze DATE: 1997
LOCATION: Town Hall Campus | 316 N. Academy St. | Downtown Cary
DONATED BY: Private donation
WHIRLIGIGS
ARTIST: Vollis Simpson
MATERIAL: Metals, Bearings, Paint, Reflectors DATE: 2007-2011
LOCATION: Jack Smith Park | 9725 Penny Rd, Raleigh, NC COMMISSIONED BY: Town of Cary
https://www.wilsonwhirligigpark.org/
After a lifetime repairing machinery and moving houses, Simpson found himself at age 65 with spare time and many, many spare parts. Rather than “sit around and watch TV,” Simpson eyed his collection, remembered a windmill he constructed during World War II, and began to build. Using some of the same rigs he’d developed for moving houses, Simpson began constructing enormous windmills in his yard. They did not resemble the working windmills of grinding or irrigation use, but referenced the concepts of weather vanes and handcrafted whirlgigs that are still seen locally on houses, fence posts and barns.
WINDPLOW
ARTIST: Beverly Stucker Precious
MATERIAL: Stainless Steel Tubes, Cast/Fused Dichroic Glass Panels DATE: 2007
LOCATION: Stone Creek Village roundabout | High House Rd. and Cornerstone Dr.
DONATED BY: CVA & Stone Creek Village, LLC
http://www.bevprecious.com/bevprecious.com/Home.html
Cary Visual Art partnered with McGinnis Development Group to commission the site-specific sculpture. Arcs of stainless steel tubes hold cast/fused dichroic glass panels reaching a height of
approximately 13.5 feet. Abstractly designed to evoke the image of glass plows cutting through the wind, the freeform elements flow upwards to a large stainless steel plate. This ties the sculpture to the site’s previous agricultural use while letting the winds of time plow forward into change.