Rise Up Winston-Salem

Congrats to artist Charlie Brouwer, SECCA, Old Salem, and our community for contributing to the successful creation of Winston-Salem's newest work of public art, "Rise Up Winston-Salem," on display now through April 12 at Tavern Meadow on Main Street in Old Salem.

Building off a recurring theme in many of his own early sculptural works, Brouwer began creating his "Rise Up" series in 2002, using ladders as a representation of the notion of "rising up:" in the words of the SECCA description of his work, "translating the human impulse to strive for something higher into a form of community building." The SECCA website features podcasts of interviews with the artist and a fascinating time-lapse film of the creation of this work. (Acknowledgment should be given, too, to the Moravian blessing upon the weather for this installation - it was a gorgeous early spring day.) In a further nod to community building, the artist and SECCA have recorded stories behind a number of the ladders lent for the creation of this project - including one accidental memory attached to Mayor Joines' ladder - and those are accessible on site and remotely by calling 336-201-0681. The picture above and other photos of this installation can be found at SECCA's MySpace photo site.