<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri-Bold;
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
p.MsoHeader, li.MsoHeader, div.MsoHeader
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Header Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.HeaderChar
{mso-style-name:"Header Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:Header;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<div align="center">
<table class="MsoTableGrid" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;border:none">
<tbody>
<tr style="height:81.0pt">
<td width="348" style="width:261.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:81.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:1.0pt"><img width="325" height="73" style="width:3.3854in;height:.7604in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D874FF.E2B3DB30" alt="Title: City of Durham Communications Department"></span><span style="font-size:1.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="360" valign="top" style="width:274.65pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:81.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<b><span style="font-size:5.0pt;color:#00467E"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<b><span style="color:#00467E">News Media Contact<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:#00467E">Amy Blalock, Assistant Communications Director<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:#00467F">919.475.7735 (mobile</span><span style="color:#00467E">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoHeader" align="right" style="text-align:right"><a href="mailto:CommsMedia@DurhamNC.gov"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">CommsMedia@DurhamNC.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:5.0pt;color:#00467E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:3.4pt">
<td width="708" colspan="2" valign="top" style="width:535.65pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:3.4pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="font-size:50.0pt;color:#00467F">News Release</span><span style="color:#00467F;text-transform:uppercase">
</span><br>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#EF3D42">For Immediate Release: May 31, 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:#D3372A"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">Local Artist Team Installs New Public Artwork in Downtown Durham’s Black Wall Street Gardens<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Artwork Pays Homage to Durham’s African American Business Community;
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Opening Celebration Set for June 16<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black">DURHAM, N.C. – Next month, two new public artworks will be celebrated in the downtown Durham green-space known as
</span><a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/3912/Black-Wall-Street-Gardens">Black Wall Street Gardens</a><span style="color:black"> that will pay homage to the Bull City’s African American business community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black">Located at the corner of West Parrish Street, West Main Street, and North Mangum Street, the two new sculptures were installed by local artist team David Wilson and Stephen Hayes to honor the history of African American entrepreneurship
and success on Durham’s Black Wall Street, and to contribute to the City of Durham’s efforts to create an energetic and lively environment in downtown. The community is invited to an
<a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=7340&month=6&year=2022&day=31&calType=0">
opening celebration</a> for the new public art installations on Thursday, June 16 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black">“<i>The Prism</i> looks to shine a light on Black Wall Street’s unsung heroes particularly the women who helped establish Black Wall Street as the hub for business and financial services,” said Artist Stephen Hayes. Hayes is a Durham-based
creator specializing in sculpture, fabrication, ceramics, metal working, and exhibition installation. He received a Master of Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design and has been exhibited in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. and the Nasher
Museum at Duke University, among others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black">The second piece, <i>The Book Tree</i>, features a bronze patina finish that pays homage to the organic nature in which the Black Wall Street community grew and the people who farmed its growth according to Artist David Wilson. “This
finish showcases the growth of entrepreneurial spirit that envisions the past, present, and future through the prism of Southern Blackness.</span>” Wilson is a Durham-based public artist who explores the connection between architecture, nature, and the public
to create site-specific work, with art installations across North Carolina. <o:p>
</o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black">According to the artist team, these public artworks also feature commemorative poems by Village of Wisdom Associate Director of Arts and Culture Aya Shabu, that speak to the legacy of Durham’s African American community and the impact
they continue to make.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black">In addition to these new art installations, the City’s General Services Department has installed lighting, landscaping, and walkway improvements to further enhance Black Wall Street Gardens as a pedestrian-friendly gathering space.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black">For more information about the Black Wall Street Gardens public art installation, visit the
</span><a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/3912/Black-Wall-Street-Gardens">project webpage</a><span style="color:black"> or contact Cultural and Public Art Program Manager Rebecca Brown with the Arts, Culture, and Sustainable Communities Division of the General
Services Department by </span><a href="mailto:Rebecca.Brown@durhamNC.gov">email</a><span style="color:black"> or by calling (919) 560-4197, ext. ext. 21245.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black">For more information about the Cultural & Public Art Program, contact Division Manager Summer Alston with the Arts, Culture, and Sustainable Communities Division of the General Services Department by
</span><a href="mailto:Summer.Alston@DurhamNC.gov">email</a><span style="color:black"> or by calling (919) 560-4197, ext. 21254.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<b><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<b><span style="color:black">About the City of Durham General Services Department</span></b><b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black">The </span><a href="http://durhamnc.gov/733/">General Services Department</a><span style="color:black"> builds and maintains City properties to make Durham a great place for people to live, work, and play. Guided by the City’s
</span><a href="https://durhamnc.gov/183/Strategic-Plan">Strategic Plan</a><span style="color:black">, the department’s core functions include the acquisition and sale of properties, design and management of new construction and renovation projects, building
maintenance, landscaping and urban forestry services, cemeteries management, sustainability and energy management, cultural and public art program management, and supporting the nonprofit
</span><a href="https://keepdurhambeautiful.org/">Keep Durham Beautiful</a><span style="color:black">.
</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="color:#0E0C0C"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="color:#0E0C0C">About the City of Durham Cultural and Public Art Program</span></b><span style="color:#0E0C0C"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:black">The City of Durham’s </span><a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/450/Cultural-Public-Art-Development">Cultural and Public Art Program</a><span style="color:black"> affirms Durham’s rich cultural and arts community is a part of what makes
Durham neighborhoods thrive, attracts tourism, spurs business development, and brings residents together. The Program seeks to bring cultural and public art opportunities into the everyday experience of Durham residents through delivery of culturally relevant
programming. Under the Arts, Culture, and Sustainable Communities Division within the General Services Department, the Program manages the City’s public art collection, festivals and special events funding, and two public advisory bodies: the </span><a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/452/Durham-Cultural-Advisory-Board">Durham
Cultural Advisory Board</a><span style="color:black"> and the </span><a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/453/Public-Art-Committee">Public Art Committee</a><span style="color:black">. Residents and artists interested in art-related opportunities can sign up for
alerts through the </span><a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/2984/Durham-Calls-for-Artists">Calls for Art</a><span style="color:black"> mailing list. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
###<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>