Artists:         David Wilson and Stacy Utley

Location:     Durham County Administration Building II
                    201 East Main Street, Durham, NC 27701 (map)

About the Work:   The Taurus sculpture in front of Durham County Administration Building II was inspired by the history of the site between Church and Roxboro Streets.  The Hotel Malbourne, an iconic 1900's landmark named for B.N. Duke's father-in-law, Malbourne Angier, occupied this location until it was demolished in 1966 and replaced by Durham County's Courthouse.  Taurus was the name originally proposed for the hotel, but rejected by the town matrons in favor of Malbourne.  Thus, the concept of the Taurus (Latin for "the bull") sculpture draws on the association between the Bull City's history and the site's prior use.

In the daytime, viewers see highly polished aluminum that reflects the building's metal, terracotta, and stone.  Other areas of the sculpture are treated with a rainbow-hued patina, symbolically connecting it to the bright stars within the Taurus constellation, the misty cosmic colors of nebulae, and Durham's diversity.  At night, the sculpture transforms to reflect Durham's eclectic downtown nightlife - incorporating dynamic, shifting base lighting of the sculpture and embedded LED's that are patterned to form the nine stars of the constellation.

"We can gain insight into the Taurus personality by taking a look at its symbol - the mighty bull.  Just as a bull relies on its natural strength, determination, and stability to accomplish tasks and make its way through life, so does a Taurus native do the same.... and the people of Durham."

About the Artists:

• David Wilson is an artist who lives in Durham, North Carolina.

• J Stacy Utley is an artist who resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.