Public Art in Hillsborough
April 22, 2022
This season is the perfect time to explore the public art available in Hillsborough! Hillsborough is home to the works of many talented artists, and their work shines beautifully in the spring weather. See if you can stop by and see them all!
201 S Occoneechee St: A Gathering of Women
A Gathering of Women, a sculpture by artists Virginia Bullman and LaNelle Davis, was installed in 2021 in Turnip Patch Park next to the butterfly garden. The concrete and mosaic ceramic tile sculpture features figures Pearl, Hattie, and Emma – women the artists knew. The installment was donated to the Town of Hillsborough in memory of Mary Jane Burns by Dr. W. Woodrow Burns Jr. of Chapel Hill.
Nash and Kollock St.: Love Hillsborough Mosaic
Located in the parking deck behind Weaver Street Market, the Love Hillsborough community art project is comprised of more than 150 heart mosaics made by community members. Love Hillsborough was created in 2020 by mosaic artist Carlos González García and the Orange County Arts Commission. Read more about Carlos Gonzalez Garcia here: https://www.ncmosaics.com/about-3-1.
Nash and Kollock St.: Jack
Jack is a beloved sculpture installed outside of Weaver Street Market by artist Johnathan Bowling. Bowling works out of Greenville, NC, and uses recycled and repurposed materials for his work. Check out his website at https://jonathanbowling.com/home.html.
228 S Churton St: Riverpark Arch
The Hillsborough Arts Council and the Orange County Arts Commission initiated the Riverpark Arch project when a Southern Red Oak on Calvin Street, approximately 250 years old, fell during Hurricane Florence in 2018. The arch uses strips of repurposed wood from the tree. Artist Jonathan Brilliant is an installation artist based out of Raleigh, North Carolina, and was chosen for this project from 32 applicants and 3 finalists. River Park Arch is around 15 feet high with the two bases being inspired by ati (huts) created by the Occaneechi tribe that lived along the Eno River.
Read more about Jonathan Brilliant here: http://jonathanbrilliant.com/bio/
226 S Churton St.: Take the A Train
This colorful mural of Billy Strayhorn, a renowned composer and pianist, lives on the side of Volume Records. It was created by artist Max Dowdle in collaboration with Volume Records co-owner Tony Lopez. The mural is named Take the A Train after one of Strayhorn’s most popular compositions. Strayhorn spent much of his childhood in Hillsborough visiting his grandparents, and there is also a historical marker near where his grandparent’s house was located in Hillsborough. The mural was sponsored by the Hillsborough Tourism Development Authority and the Hillsborough Arts Council.
109 E. King St.: News of Orange Mural
Located on the side of the News of Orange building at 109 E. King St., the Hillsborough mural was painted by artists Richard Nickel and Chris Revels. The mural includes cardinals and “Hillsborough” in large letters that feature a sunny landscape. This project was initiated and sponsored by the Hillsborough Tourism Development Authority and the Orange County Arts Commission.