From guest writer Sarah Martin,

Thanks to the wonderful artists who shared their talents, many Durham County buildings are looking brighter through our Public Art Program in 2025. The county’s Public Art Program mission is to provide a sense of meaning and beauty to places in our community; to enliven our streets and neighborhoods; to celebrate our unique history, diversity, and creativity; and to engage, enlighten, inspire, and educate all citizens now and in the future. My name is Sarah Martin, and I’m the Public Art Coordinator from the Durham County Engineering and Environmental Services Department. I am excited to take you on a quick tour of some of DCo’s Public Art!

Durham County’s Board of County Commissioners issued a resolution in September 2019 establishing the Public Art Program and the creation of a Durham County Public Art Program Manual.

In early 2024, a committee comprised of Durham County staff, representatives from the Public Art Committee, and local community art leaders undertook the selection process for public art installations throughout the county. This initiative followed a nationally published Request for Qualifications (RFQ), which attracted 164 applications. Among the 12 artists selected, 11 are residents of North Carolina, highlighting local talent. The selected project sites for these installations include the new County Youth Home, the Administration 1 Building located at 200 East Main Street, the renovated Stanford L. Warren Library, and housing developments at 300 and 500 East Main Street.

Claire Daniel created a mural for Durham County’s Innovation Lab on the second floor of 200 East Main Street. The design draws inspiration from the building’s architecture, incorporating references to Art Deco and Bauhaus styles through various shapes. Key elements within the mural include a light bulb, a puzzle piece, and a justice scale, which symbolize problem-solving, idea generation, and fairness. The inclusion of the justice scale also acknowledges the historical significance of the building itself.

Artists Nico Amortegui and Seth Bishop have brought a vibrant flair to the parking garage at 300 East Main Street with their stunning murals. Amortegui’s artwork spans 220 feet along the exterior of the future daycare center, featuring a delightful array of animals that foster a friendly atmosphere for children. Meanwhile, Bishop has crafted striking graphic panels that celebrate North Carolina’s rich textile heritage, warmly welcoming visitors exploring the commercial spaces on the building's first floor.

The lobby of the new County Youth Home has been transformed by local artist Gabriel Eng-Goetz's mural, which depicts a family of Cedar Waxwing birds enjoying crabapples, one of their favorite foods. A special feature of the mural includes a bird flying with an hourglass, inspired by the saying, "Time heals all wounds." This artwork encourages viewers to appreciate the details and reflect on its uplifting message of hope and rehabilitation, which aligns with the mission of the Youth Home.

Additionally, the Youth Home’s three classrooms received a cheerful makeover when artist Max Dowdle painted larger-than-life panels, stylistically inspired by comic books, that celebrate education, music, and friendship.

Last, but certainly not least, Gabriel Eng-Goetz, created a stunning window design for the Stanford L. Warren library which reopened to the public on December 12th. The window artwork features a geometric design inspired by the distinctive bricks produced by Richard B. Fitzgerald, a notable Black entrepreneur, and the great-uncle of civil rights icon Pauli Murray. Fitzgerald owned brickyards in Durham, and his bricks were instrumental in building many key institutions in the city. The artwork also integrates cultural symbols that pay homage to the Hayti community, celebrating progress and honoring the legacy of Stanford L. Warren, who committed his efforts to support underrepresented communities. During the day, natural light interacts with the artwork, creating a vibrant display of colors throughout the stairwell. At night, interior lighting enhances the installation, transforming it into a glowing showcase for the community.

We have some exciting art projects planned for 2025, starting with the 500 block of East Main Street. Three artists/artist teams have designed impressive murals for the new Zom Living building, and painting will commence in early 2025. One of the artist teams, Jhonattan and Samantha Arango will collaborate with students and community members to create a large mural measuring 66 by 18 feet at the Elizabeth Street entrance this spring. “The scene covers the entire wall, playing with the columns as bed “legs”, activating the shapes found within the structure. A young girl is lying under the bed with a teddy bear as her companion. Cool and warm colors create a dynamic contrast. By framing a quick moment in time this composition plays with the viewer, who would be within the child’s line of sight if standing across the street. The surprised expression may also spark one’s curiosity for the nature of her finding, relating to her emotionally. Seeking, finding, wonderment, questions, and answers are more universal concepts with a high level of relativity. A message of hope and healing comes through by shining a light at something hidden, dispelling the darkness in favor of revealing, informing, and assimilating.”  - Jhonnattan Arango                                     

Durham County also has an application available for temporary public art installations inside, on the exterior, or on the grounds of county facilities. Temporary art installations are a perfect vehicle for achieving the goals of our Public Art Program, engaging us in exciting and unexpected ways. Find out how to apply here.

We are thrilled to provide more opportunities for the Durham community to engage in upcoming projects. Feel free to reach out to us at 919-560-0735 or public-art@dconc.gov. Stay tuned for further updates!

Sarah Martin | Durham County Public Art Coordinator