LaNelle Davis, artist, and Steve Carr, building owner, have teamed up to offer Pittsboro a mural mosaic! The installation (in progress) is located at the corner of West Street (Hwy 64) and Rectory Street. The design will honor the building’s former life as a hatchery with a rooster facing Rectory Street and two hens facing West Street. LaNelle has volunteered her time, skill, and insight to design and create the mural made entirely of mirrors, tiles and stained glass. Donations of materials were kindly given to assist with the project by Mark Hewett, Louise Hobbs, Al McCanless & Dover Pottery, Gretchen Niver, Chip Shelby, Snuffy Smith, and Rice’s Glass Company in Carrboro. Lanelle anticipates finishing the artful display by the end of October.
LaNelle worked with mentor and friend, Virginia Bullman, from the early 90’s -2005. Over the course of fifteen years together they created twenty five cement women and other garden structures for public and private commissions throughout the southeast. In 2010, both traveled to Philadelphia to see the work of mosaic mural artist Isaiah Zagar. It was then that LaNelle became convinced that Pittsboro needed its own mosaic mural and spoke with, previous Chatham Arts Director Molly Matlock about her dream. In April LaNelle returned to Philadelphia to attend a hands on class with Zagar. Excited with the prospects of all she learned and what she would be able to offer, she let Molly Matlock know she was ready to create a mosaic mural for Pittsboro. Then, Steve Carr (of Carr Amplifier in Pittsboro) willingly offered his building and everything began to fall into place after collaborating on design ideas. To help her gain a sense of what life was like in the former hatchery, LaNelle would love to speak with any former employees!
Leave a Reply