Belmont Public Art Tour Preview

Through this "Belmont Public Art" tour you will be guided to public art in Downtown Belmont NC, and be provided access to background narrative about the artwork, the artist, and any historical significance pertaining to the artwork or area it represents.

By hitting the "Next" button in the bottom right or swiping left, you can advance to each artwork in walk order.

Once on the artwork page, swiping left on the photo will reveal additional photos and/or videos.

Clicking the three horizontal lines on the left of the blue header bar, reveals a list view of the public art in walk order.

Clicking the folded map icon on the right of the blue header bar reveals each public artwork stop in a map view. (Numbers highlighted in white indicate that 2 or more stops exist under that icon. Click for the drop down detail or pinch and zoom the map to show them as separately numbered stops.)

After your stroll, consider enjoying a meal at one of our inviting restaurants or exploring our charming retail shops. We hope you enjoy this tour and your time in beautiful downtown Belmont NC.

Artist: Garden of Journey

History:

In 2019, the Downtown Belmont Development Association (DBDA) partnered with the City of Belmont to consult on subject mater and artist selection for the Community Participatory Mural at the Mill Street Parking lot. The community was offered the opportunity during that year's Garibaldi Fest to pick up a paint brush and fill in a color to the design that the artist had outlined. The spools visible on each end of the mural reference the City's textile heritage. This project built upon the DBDA's all volunteer, community created EcoBlooms art fence project of 2018 and brought further attention, participation and color to this newly leased public parking lot.

About the Artist:

The Garden

Garden of Journey symbolizes the path we take to manifest our destiny. My journey in creative arts intertwined with biological sciences the day that I entered Winston-Salem State University as a Biology major and Chemistry minor. If anything, learning the gateways of nature and geometrical patterns was enlightening; my studies really nurtured my sense of wonder and research. Today, I'm empowered to plant seeds of art and science together in hopes to carry conversations of well-being, nature preservation, and humanity.

The Journey

The Journey is the Destination. Past, present, and future. This platform is created with intention to inspire and connect artistry with the real world in hopes to shift perspectives towards truth, justice, and beauty. My work is dedicated to healing.

~Georgie Nakima

www.gardenofjourney.com

Artist: Holt Harris

S Main & Myrtle St, Belmont NC

History:

The building beside this traffic signal box, once housed Hamp's Cafe where during World War II soldiers from Morris Field would come here to dance and have a fun time. By 1944, more than 97% of all military men would travel by train. Trains have long been a feature inherent in Belmont’s culture. And although no longer with active fueling or passenger stations, current day Belmont still has its share of trains and train watchers.

About the Artist:

Holt Harris can't remember a time when she wasn't drawing, and shares her passion for art with her students at Gaston Day School, receiving the 2019 Scholastic Regional Teacher of the Year award. Although she may often circle back to ink drawings, her style is ever evolving. Teaching continues to push her to experiment and try new things to teach her students.

Q: What was your inspiration behind this artwork?

A: Watching Lisa Livengood create her paintings I wanted to try something not as representational. I had some air filters that I ripped out the cardboard insert and used the circle pattern as a stencil. Lisa had some other shapes She let me use that I pressed into the wet paint. I added salt and glass to create this movement in the piece. It reminded me of train tracks. Sometimes I see apples. It depends on your mood. What do you see?

Artist: Ernest Viquesney

History:

At the end of World War II, citizens of Belmont raised funds to purchase a sculpture honoring WWII veterans. Ernest Viquesney, an Indiana artist, created this statue "The Spirit of the Fighting Yank". The statue is one of only five like it in the nation. The statue was dedicated in 1946. Its original location was on the campus of the then Belmont High, later to become Belmont Middle School. A group of citizens formed with a mission to restore the statue and place it in a more visible location, after it was vandalized and knocked off its pedestal in 2011. After significant efforts and fundraising led by Ron Foulk, Art Shoemaker and Bobby Brown, the damage endured by the eight foot zinc statue over the years was repaired and it was moved to Stowe park in 2014, as a collaborative private citizen and veteran's group effort.

About the Artist:

Ernest Moore Viquesney (August 5, 1876 – October 4, 1946) of Spencer, Indiana was a sculptor known for his popular World War I monument entitled Spirit of the American Doughboy found in about 140 locations throughout the United States.

Artist: Gaston Day School Students

History:

Gaston Day School, Gaston County's first independent school, opened its doors in September 6, 1967 in a red brick building formerly used by the First Presbyterian Church, Glenway Street in Belmont NC. As a part of Gaston Day School turning 50, their middle school art students created this special piece of art with a flower motif representing the growth and beauty, the arch shapes suggest the impact of "holy Angels" in Belmont and the pieces of CDs symbolize how quickly time passes.

About the Artist:

Lisa Livengood, then an art teacher at the school, coordinated the mural project. The artist group was comprised of 2017/18 Gaston Day School middle school art students. Senior Kristen Mitchell assisted the art students in designing, painting and documenting the project's process as a part of her senior project. Jonathan Taylor, a Gaston Day School alum provided the location and Joel Long, owner of Gastonia Sheet Metal, donated the metal panels. Dean Mitchell, owner of Lake Wylie Custom Coatings, provided the paint for the project.

Artist: Holt Harris

N Main St & Catawba St, Belmont NC

History:

Before becoming Belmont, this area was a trading center for the farmers settled in the South Point Township. In 1870, in the heart of the Civil War Reconstruction Era, the Richmond & Danville Railroad, a predecessor of Southern Railway, organized the Atlanta and Richmond Air-line for the purpose of building a line from Charlotte to Atlanta. The line crossed the Catawba river at Wells Plantation south of Sloan's Ferry. In 1871, John Garibaldi, a Mecklenberg County ironworker, built a wooden water tank near this spot as a water stop, also with a wood yard to fire the locomotives. In Sept 1873, the rail line was completed. The addition of this significant infrastructure spurred growth at this rail stop, which became known as Garibaldi Station, or as the locals affectionately called it... "Baldy."

About the Artist:

Under the RAIL theme, artist Holt Harris submitted this piece entitled "Tracks". Holt, a Gaston County native and Gaston Day School art teacher, created this artwork using a photo painting collage technique. Holt used a photo by friend Nancy Pierce, watered the paint down and let it drip, drawing under and over the paint creating a type of water feel to the piece.

Q: Why were you interested in being a part of this project?

A: "Bringing art to the public traveling the roads, walking the trails is a wonderful idea and during this time of restrictions it's nice to see art wrapped around electrical boxes, making it a first for Belmont. With museums and most galleries closed this is (a) perfect way for everyone to enjoy art, making it easy for the community to enjoy a bit of color and surprise in their daily travels is exciting." Holt Harris, Sept 2020

Artist: Torian Parker

N Main St & Woodrow Ave, Belmont NC

History:

The benefits of early rail access are evident through the unique architectural features found in some of Belmont's early historic homes.

About the Artist:

Torian Parker is an emerging artist currently teaching middle school Social Studies and Art at the John Crosland School in Charlotte, NC. He finds sharing his work to be a therapeutic process that allows conversation about what feelings were drawn through inception and fruition of the project.

Q: Who are you as an artist?

A: As an artist, I am bold, minimalistic, resourceful, and intentional. It's always my goal to create a conversation with the art I create. Art that sparks conversations between all people, even those whose backgrounds, ideas, and cultures may be different. Resourcefulness is another important aspect of who I am as an artist. Creating with tools and materials that call to me, and are easy to access defines the unique place in abstract art I create.

Artist: Michael Clapp

N Main St & Todd St, Belmont NC

History:

Trains, with the movement of goods and freight, played an important part in the mill industry that developed in Belmont. From 1901 to 1930, Belmont had grown to a town with twenty mills.

About the Artist:

Q: What was your inspiration behind this artwork?

A: This piece observed the dichotomy between the cold statistical force displayed in mechanistic implements and the dramatic thermal/emotional force that it typically engenders.

Michael Clapp is an artist and architect whose research leverages modes of representation to speculate on the evolving relationship between what he refers to as the “toolness of technology” and our spatial environments. His work attempts to uncover and expose the ‘contemporary condition’ through provocative narrative in design. He believes that experience today moves between the ordinary plane of the interface and deeper spatial understandings. Investigations are situated along a spectrum ranging from two-dimensional imagery to time-based projective overlays to architectural installations in order to interrogate topics beyond dimension. His interest in how technical awareness affects traditional modes of communication through design aid in situating his often layered productions.

Artist: Irisol Gonzalez

History:

The art on this train references the many mills that were so integral to Belmont's growth in the 20th century. The R. L. Stowe Mill offices outgrew the space they were renting at the Hotel Belmont and built a building on this site in 1914. To understand the magnitude and importance that mills played in the community, below is a list of some of Belmont's early mills:

Chronicle Mills (1901), Imperial Yarn Mills (1905), Majestic Manufacturing Co (1907), National Yarn Mills (1914), Climax Spinning Co (1915), Acme Spinning Co (1919), Sterling Spinning Co (1919), Crescent Spinning Co (1919), Linford Mills (1920), Perfection Spinning Co (1920), Stowe Spinning Co (1920), Eagle Yarn Mills (1920), Aberfoyle Mill (1925), Stowe Thread Co (1928), Belmont Hosiery Mills, Inc. (1928), Hatch Full-Fashioned Hosiery Co (1928), Knit Products Corp (1929), Piedmont Processing Co (1931).

About the Artist:

Q: How/when did you get involved in art?

A: I've always done art since I can remember, but full time about 3 years ago.

Irisol Gonzalez is a fine artist and muralist living and working in Charlotte, NC for more than 8 years. She immigrated to the United States with her Costa Rican immediate family at the age of 10. She grew up and went to college in North Carolina, but her upbringing was traditionally Costa Rican at home. Her public work often reflects her interpretation of what it means to be a Latin American immigrant, a brown woman, and a person who has two cultures working simultaneously in every endeavor and experience. With a double major in psychology and political science from Appalachian State University, Irisol often poses moral questions from a psychological and/or political standpoint. When she’s not questioning motives in her work, she is celebrating the gift and privilege of diversity and heritage.

www.irisolgonzalez.com

Artist: Holt Harris

Catawba St & Glenway St, Belmont NC

History:

The historic former Chronicle Mill located on this street was a result of investment and vision by entrepreneurs in the textile industry. The organization of the Chronicle Mill in 1901 saw the beginning of the town's rise as one of the premiere cotton manufacturing centers.

About the Artist:

Q What was your inspiration behind the artwork?

A: Orange stairs is a photo from a photographer friend Nancy Pierce. I used the photo painting collage technique. Layered the image painting over it and drawing on it and painting again. It's of a textile mill and the colors represent the abandoned building left empty in our county. Belmont has recreated itself into a vibrant town embracing art and standing out in our county.

Holt Harris has lived in Gaston County all of her life and shared her love of painting with her father. Inspired by nature, food and teaching, Holt finds much to inspire action in Gaston County with its rich history.

Artist: Lisa Livengood

Catawba St & Park St, Belmont NC

History:

Many of the mills in Belmont were planned as distinct "mill villages" which often included churches, stores and residences to serve and house mill workers. The legacy of these mill villages can be seen to this day in the layout and visual appearance in some of Belmont's older sections, still reflecting its early roots in textiles. Some of the mill buildings are being repurposed to serve the changing needs, as can be seen with TechWorks, here in the Chronicle District. TechWorks is a non-profit, entrepreneurial tech hub and learning center with a mission towards job creation, economic growth, innovation, and talent development for Gaston County and the region.

About the Artist:

Lisa Livengood is a Gaston County native who earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts & Art Education degrees from Appalachian State University, followed by study of Art at the University of South Carolina & Savannah College of Art & Design. Retiring recently from teaching at Gaston Day School in Gastonia, NC, Lisa feels called to dedicate her artistic talent to those many friends & loved ones who have fallen victim to opioid addiction and addiction in general.

Lisa's custom art specializes in Murals, Portraits, and Painted Recover & Memorial Rockers.

Artist: Holt Harris

Catawba St & 6th St, Belmont NC

History:

Belmont is located at the northern end of a peninsula, with the Catawba River to the east, Lake Wylie to the south , and the South Fork of the Catawba River to the west. This location restricted frequent travel to neighboring towns and insulated early settlers from the changes affecting surrounding communities.

Artist Holt Harris:

Q: What is your perspective on public art in a community, as far as adding value to a community?

A: "Art always brings the community together and brings life to areas that need it. I am all for public art. Belmont being a leader in our county by taking art to the streets by placing art on electrical boxes is a huge step that supports local artists. Belmont has elevated street art. It used to be called graffiti, then tagging, and made famous by artist like Keith Haring, and Banksy, Murals and now box wraps with Belmont leading the way. It's so cool and modern. Belmont has embraced the local artist and enhanced the community. When art flourishes so does the community." Holt Harris, September 2020

This piece entitled "Blue" by Holt Harris can also be seen replicated throughout Charlotte in a billboard, a newsstand, a hotel, a skywalk and a charging station in the airport as a part of #Artpop CLT.

Artist: Holy Angels

Catawba St & 6th St, Belmont NC

History.

In July 1916, rains from a hurricane brought devastation. ​At least 10 lives were lost, six bridges washed out and millions of dollars in damage suffered. The collapse of highway and railroad bridges isolated Gaston county, cutting it off from the rest of the world except for telegraph service from the south and two trains a day from Atlanta.

Holy Angels' History:

The Sisters of Mercy, in 1955, under the direction of Sister Marie Patrice Manley, began operating a day-care facility in Belmont, N.C. to help the textile workers in the area – a daycare which eventually became known as Holy Angels. Transformed into a residential facility for children and adults with intellectual developmental disabilities and delicate medical conditions, grateful parents from around the country turn to Holy Angels as a place of loving, living and learning. www.holyangelsnc.org/sisters-of-mercy

About the Artist:

This artwork entitled "The Catawba Water Us and We Honor It" was created as a collaboration between local artists and differently abled residents of Holy Angels. The artwork is watercolor over pastel rubbings of historic Belmont buildings, as done by the differently-abled residents of Holy Angels. Watch the video above for a fuller description of the concept and the process.

Learn more about Holy Angels, its mission, its programs and how you can help to support their organization at www.holyangelsnc.org.

Artists: Juan Logan and Irisol Gonzalez

341 E. Catawba Street

History:

"That was really an opportunity to talk abbout Belmont in a very direct way, hopefully in a way that most people would embrace. The flowers in it came from various communities around Belmont. I thought it was important to access those things because we all provide something in terms of who we are that makes Belmont a great town.

Cross section, if you will. Sometimes those fibers connect really directly, sometimes they do not. The hope is, as time moves forward and we know more about each other, is to understand your history, but also understandingand knowing mine, to see them of equal value.

I want people to look at it carefully, look at the threads. Some connect, and some don't. So much depends on what we want out of it all and our ability to connect with each other and our desire to do so. I can extend my hand everyday, but you have to reach back. That's the case with those threads. How they reach out from each side and come towards each other. They connect because we choose to make them connect. I hope we continue down that path until all those threads simply come together.

I wanted the range of colors to reflect the various communities, in terms of where things are coming from. It's true that when you look at plant material, as in looking at wallpaper, you can tell a lot about the community that existed based on that particular wallpaper. The colors in this mural reflect the cross sections of who we are, the fibers if you will.

Irisol was my partner in crime, on this mural and I could not have made it without her. She is an outstanding, wonderful painter who has worked with me as a studio assistant for a few years. I had the fortune to watch her grow into an amazing artist."

- Juan Logan

About the Artist:

Juan Logan

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Juan Logan now lives and works in Belmont, North Carolina. Logan’s artworks address subjects relevant to the American experience. At once abstract and representational, his paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, and videos address the interconnections of race, place, and power. They make visible how hierarchical relations and social stereotypes shape individuals, institutions, and the material and mental landscapes of contemporary life.

Irisol Gonzalez

Irisol González is self-taught fine artist and muralist living and working in Charlotte, North Carolina. She immigrated from Costa Rica with her family at age 10. Having earned degrees in Psychology and Political Science from Appalachian State University, she uses that background to pose moral questions through the symbolism in her art.

She has traveled to Mexico and Central America to study Latin American culture and its roots in the Hispanic identity that currently exists in the United States. In her work, she explores the sentiments and physical experience of being a brown female immigrant functioning in today's American political atmosphere.

Irisol has exhibited her work at Mint Museum Randolph, Mint Museum Uptown, CAM Raleigh and Goodyear Arts. She was an Inaugural ASC Emerging Creator Fellowship Recipient in 2020 and completed a Fellowship with the League of Creative Interventionists in 2021.

Artist: Garden of Journey

102 Davis St., Belmont

History:

This mural from artist, Georgia Nakima, is located at The Bottle Tree, a restaurant in downtown Blemont. Done in the artist’s signature style, this is an eye-catching piece of art that the Belmont community and the owners of The Bottle Tree commissioned in 2019.

About the Artist:

The Garden

Garden of Journey symbolizes the path we take to manifest our destiny. My journey in creative arts intertwined with biological sciences the day that I entered Winston-Salem State University as a Biology major and Chemistry minor. If anything, learning the gateways of nature and geometrical patterns was enlightening; my studies really nurtured my sense of wonder and research. Today, I'm empowered to plant seeds of art and science together in hopes to carry conversations of well-being, nature preservation, and humanity.

The Journey

The Journey is the Destination. Past, present, and future. This platform is created with intention to inspire and connect artistry with the real world in hopes to shift perspectives towards truth, justice, and beauty. My work is dedicated to healing.

~Georgie Nakima

DBDA's Public Art Initiatives

Thank you for participating in Downtown Belmont's Public Art Walking Tour.

The Downtown Belmont Development Association (DBDA), a non-profit 501(c)(3), supports the Belmont Main Street Program's mission to advance the economic, aesthetic, and cultural environment of historic downtown Belmont by promoting activities to enhance community interests of downtown Belmont.

Our art initiatives seek to involve and educate the community, partner and collaborate with like-minded organizations, and serve as a resource to private companies looking to connect to artists in our area.

Our projects depend upon the support of the city, stakeholders and volunteers who give their time, talent and support. www.downtownbelmont.org

We hope you've enjoyed your time in downtown Belmont and please come back soon.