Contact: Lisa McIntosh, Director of Communications
mobile: (919) 210-4104

[email protected]

www.unitedarts.org @UnitedArtsWake

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 25, 2023

Dedication Ceremony for Three New Murals in Rolesville

Raleigh, NC – As a part of the Wake Murals program, the United Arts Council of Wake County in partnership with the town of Rolesville and Ting Internet will unveil their newest set of murals at a dedication ceremony on November 1, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. at the Rolesville Town Hall (502 Southtown Circle, Rolesville, NC 27571).

“Public art is an impactful way to create a sense of place and identity for a community, and murals are one of the most vibrant tools in the public art toolbox,” said Jennifer McEwen, President and CEO of United Arts. “United Arts is proud to have had the opportunity to partner with Rolesville to install the first murals for their town.”

Local artist Gabriel Eng- Goetz was selected to create three murals in downtown Rolesville. After earning his BFA from Syracuse University, Gabriel returned to Durham, where he was born and raised, to be a part of the artistic scene in the Triangle. His vibrant, bold, and colorful murals are inspired by each community to create meaningful representations of their history and the story they want to tell everyone who visits.

In Rolesville, a committee of citizens, town staff, and elected officials came together to work with United Arts to define the scale and scope of the mural project. After Gabe was chosen by the committee, he combined the feedback he received from the community with his own research and experiences in the town and created three murals to explore the town’s strong connection to nature, its rich agricultural history, and its tapestry of diverse cultures.

“Staying true to the descriptions, opinions, and requests from the people of Rolesville is my primary goal for this project and I am grateful to have been met with open arms and open minds,” Gabriel explained.

ROLESVILLE MURAL LOCATIONS

“Night Moves” located at the Town Hall features a blooming tobacco plant bathed in moonlight – a crop that helped fuel the local economy for generations.

“Prepare for Take-Off” located at Main Street Park features a trio of paper airplanes held in the hands of children symbolizing an inclusive future for Rolesville residents.

“Pathways” located at Privette Insurance features an American Beauty Berry branch traversed by a family of ladybugs, inspired by the location‘s proximity to the Greenway.

INSTAGRAM CHALLENGE:

In the buildup to the unveiling of Gabriel’s murals in Rolesville, United Arts is encouraging everyone to visit his murals in the Raleigh area.  When you find one of his murals, be sure to post a selfie using the #GabeGetsWakeArts hashtag, and tag @UnitedArtsWake and @GabeGets on Instagram. Everyone who posts and tags their mural selfies between now and November 1 will be entered into a drawing to win an 11″ x 14″ “Falls Lake” signed and numbered by Gabriel.

The Wake Murals program at United Arts works with municipalities in Wake County to commission new murals that create a sense of place and belonging. Their existing murals in seven towns have added cultural and artistic vibrancy to our region. This program is supported in part by the Wake County Board of Commissioners.  The newest collaboration with Rolesville is supported by Ting as a corporate sponsor.

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About United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County:

The United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County is designated by the Wake County Commissioners and the North Carolina Arts Council as the official local arts agency for Wake County. As a private nonprofit, United Arts has worked for more than 30 years to build a better Raleigh and Wake County through the support of and advocacy for the arts. United Arts partners with businesses, individuals, foundations, and government to provide life-changing arts programming and support to our schools and community, resources and opportunities for artists, and arts integration training for teachers. Learn more at UnitedArts.org