News
September 17, 2007
Meet The Art-On-The-Move Artists, Part 3
[NOTE: This is the last of three press releases featuring the artists whose work will appear on the sides of Capital Area Transit buses as part of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission’s Art-On-The-Move public art project. This press release profiles the remaining four selected artists. The eight other winning artists were featured in press releases issued on Aug. 30 and Sept. 6.]
Part 1 | Part 2
The rebirth of downtown Raleigh, the cartoon character Onion Head Monster, and the use of discarded and recycled items to create art are among the images that will appear on Capital Area Transit buses. Art-On-The-Move is a new public art project sponsored by the City of Raleigh Arts Commission in partnership with Capital Area Transit (CAT). Artwork from 12 artists has been selected to be emblazoned on the sides of CAT buses traveling throughout Raleigh.
Art-On-The-Move will roll out on Saturday, Sept. 22 in conjunction with Visual Art Exchange’s Street Painting Festival and “World Car Free Day.” A bus ‘christening’ will take place at 6 p.m. in Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. Mayor Charles Meeker and other city officials will be in attendance.
The 12 artists whose work will be emblazoned on the sides of CAT buses either live, work or attend school in Raleigh. Included in this exclusive group of area artists are Bart Cusick, Paul Friedrich, Marianne Prince and Mary Storms. The following is information about their winning artwork that will be placed on the sides of CAT buses:
Bart Cusick
Mr. Cusick’s art piece is a tribute to the new construction and development taking place in downtown Raleigh and other parts of the Capital City (larger version).
“Basically, my idea about the bus image (are) my feelings towards the downtown construction in Raleigh and the new growth in town,” he said. “I really don’t want Raleigh to lose its charm. But I’m hopeful that I will like the new Raleigh even better.”
Mr. Cusick works as a graphic designer and flash developer at GCF Global Learning in Raleigh. He has attended the Museum School of Fine Arts and the Massachusetts College of Art, both in Boston, and N.C. State University. While at these schools, he studied a wide range of art mediums, such as illustration, graphic design, painting, print making, digital media and web design. He has created fliers, CD covers, T-shirts, company logos, and websites.
“I’ve always been interested in art,” Mr. Cusick said. “I would always write and draw on everything as a child. As I grew up I was very much influenced by comic book art and the art in large cities such as Boston and New York.”
Paul Friedrich
Mr. Friedrich’s artwork is entitled “Anchor Away” and features his popular cartoon character Onion Head Monster (larger version ).
“Blimps and busses have long been my favorite modes of transportation,” he said. “Though I have never actually ridden in a blimp, I have traveled (on) many types of busses. My cartoon Onion Head Monster has prominently featured busses in its storylines… ”
“The underwater scene I created for this project, ‘Anchor Away,’ features a quick story that can be read as the bus passes you. The viewers can complete the story by coming up with their own ideas of why Onion Head Monster is carrying an anchor and where he might be going,” he added.
A 1989 graduate of East Carolina University with a bachelor’s of fine arts degree, Mr. Friedrich has done art exhibitions in Raleigh and other cities. He has been nominated for the prestigious Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. His work can be seen at www.Onionheadmonster.com and www.Hellcar.com.
Marianne Prince
Ms. Prince likes to use discarded items in her artwork, a practice she said helps to reduce the amount of trash taken to landfills, thus protecting the environment. Ms. Prince used this technique in creating her winning mural for Art-On-The-Move (larger version ). The mural includes a CAT bus carrying people from different ethnic backgrounds.
“I wanted to create a piece of art that displays the charm and diversity of Raleigh while promoting public transportation …,” Ms. Prince said. “In my art I enjoy investigating the past lives of found and discarded objects and reincarnating them in my art and life.
“If you look hard enough (at the mural created for Art-On-The-Move), you will see some of these items peeking through the mural,” she added. “Shredded paper, plastic grocery bags, old notes, (and) discarded books and magazines are just a few examples of items that are given a second life in this mural. Old mismatched buttons were used to represent the faces of the diverse community that is Raleigh,” she added.
Ms. Prince is an exhibit and graphic designer at Design Dimension Inc. in Raleigh. Her arts-related projects have included redesign work for Playspace Children’s Museum in the Capital City. She’s also designed exhibits for the Sampson County Visitor’s Center. Ms. Prince has a bachelor’s degree in art and design from N.C. State University, where she graduated magna cum laude, and an associate degree in graphic design from Trident Technical College in Charleston, S.C.
Mary Storms
Mrs. Storms used torn and cut pages from recycled magazines to create her winning art collage (larger version ).
“For me, Raleigh exemplifies the best of both worlds,” she said. “(It’s) a big city with a small-town feel to it. It has all the cultural, entertainment, political, educational, ethnic diversity, opportunities and offerings of any metropolitan area but within a few minutes drive -- using a CAT bus, of course -- you can be hiking, fishing, picking strawberries or partaking in any number of outdoor activities away from the hustle and bustle of downtown.
“My collage represents both sides of Raleigh. Using torn and cut pages from recycled magazines … I have created a representational image of the city and its surrounding countryside. (The collage) is not intended to be an exact replica … although if you look closely enough, you may recognize some familiar landmarks,” Mrs. Storms said.
Mrs. Storms has an art studio in Raleigh where she works with water color, acrylic, charcoal and pencil as well as collages. Her artwork can be viewed at www.marystorms.com. She has participated in art shows and art exhibitions in the area.
Artists Selections
A panel comprised of community members and representatives from the City of Raleigh Arts Commission and Capital Area Transit reviewed all artwork submitted for Art-On-The-Move prior to making final selections. The panel’s recommended selections of work submitted by 12 artists were reviewed and approved by the Arts Commission and the Raleigh Transit Authority.
The eight other artists whose art will be placed on the sides of CAT buses are Fabrizio Bianchi, Patrick FitzGerald, Matthew Kershaw, Keith Norval, Anna Podris, Timothy Postell, Rebecca Rousseau and Robert Schrag. The artwork will appear on the CAT buses for a period of up to one year.
Art-On-The-Move is a 30th anniversary public art project of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission. For more information, contact Belva Parker, the Arts Commission’s 30th anniversary coordinator, at 890-3610 or email Belva.Parker@ci.raleigh.nc.us.
Established in 1977, the City of Raleigh Arts Commission holds the distinction of being the first municipal arts commission created in North Carolina. Serving as the official advisory body and advocate for the arts to the Raleigh City Council, the Commission’s myriad activities encourage, support, and promote the arts in the Capital City.
Prepared by:
John Boyette
Public Affairs Specialist
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
June Guralnick
Arts Commission, Executive Director
City Manager Department
222 West Hargett Street, Room 504
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-890-3610
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