Updated banners for the uptown public artwork “Wind Sculpture” will be informed by resident feedback provided at six upcoming Virtual Community Engagement sessions.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 2, 2023) – Residents across the City of Charlotte will have an opportunity this month to work with six Charlotte-Mecklenburg artists commissioned by ASC to create replacement banners for the iconic uptown public artwork “Wind Sculpture,” created by the late Charlotte artist Jack Pentes.

“Wind Sculpture” was gifted to the City of Charlotte in 1985 as the first project funded by Queen’s Table, a group of anonymous donors that celebrate Charlotte by funding public art projects that enhance the quality of life in the city.

The stack of six spheres, made from metal and in the shape of a pyramid, originally went up at West Trade and Mint streets in Charlotte’s Third Ward as a gateway to West Charlotte. It was relocated to the intersection of West Trade Street and North Irwin Avenue in 2018.

Central to the sculpture are its six spinning discs. The selected artists will create new designs for the discs after engaging communities within all Charlotte City Council districts through six upcoming Virtual Community Engagement sessions happening in August. The banners they create will be inspired by and representative of the communities of Uptown, Southeast Charlotte, North Charlotte, South Charlotte, East Charlotte and West Charlotte.

“ASC is excited to enlist the help of these six local artists to continue the life of this extraordinary sculpture,” said Todd Stewart, vice president of public art for ASC. “‘Wind Sculpture’ has stood as a landmark at the entrance of Uptown Charlotte for decades. Jack Pentes’ gesture of including other artists in his own artwork was generous and creative. I’m excited to see what common themes emerge from each artist’s work with their respective communities and how those themes are represented through their individual artistic styles.”

Dorne Pentes, the son of Jack Pentes and a Charlotte filmmaker and artist, has been commissioned to design the banner that will represent District 1, or the southeastern part of the city near the central business district. Pentes will meet virtually with District 1 residents from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29.

The five other artists commissioned for this project, the Charlotte City Council Districts they will design banners to represent and the dates of their virtual community engagements, are:

• Jonathan Grauel, District 4 (the northeastern part of the city from The Plaza to the city limits; Interstate 85 runs through the area). Grauel will meet virtually with District 1 residents from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15.
  
  
• Marcus Kiser, District 2 (the northern area of the city; it includes the central business district and neighborhoods such as Third and Fourth Wards, Wesley Heights and many others). Kiser meets virtually with District 2 residents from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8.
  
  
• Monique Luck, District 3 (the western area of the city). Luck meets virtually with residents from District 3 from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10.
  
  
• Bree Stallings, Districts 6 & 7 (the southern area of the city; and the southeastern area of the city, along Highway 51). Stallings will meet virtually with residents of Districts 6 and 7 from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22.
  
  
• Rosalia Torres Weiner, District 5 (the eastern part of the city, including areas near portions of North Sharon Amity, Albemarle Road, Rama Road and Idlewild Road). Torres Weiner will meet virtually with District 5 residents from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31.

RSVP for any of the Virtual Community Engagement sessions or get more information at ArtsAndScience.org.

About Arts & Science Council

ASC is the chief advocate, resource hub and steward for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region’s cultural community. Its core functions include advocacy, cultural education programs, cultural planning, fundraising, grant making, public art and workshops and trainings for the cultural community. ASC works to ensure Culture For All by combining resources from local and state government with those of the private sector to maximize community impact throughout the cultural sector.

ASC believes that arts, culture and creativity play a critical role in creating a sense of belonging to a community. Stay up to date on ASC news and happenings at ArtsAndScience.org and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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