The River District Association celebrated the unveilings of a mural and community pollinator garden in separate ceremonies Nov. 13.
The afternoon began with the official unveiling of the North Main Mural at the gateway entrance to the corridor at Riverside Drive and North Main Street while the pollinator garden was officially opened on the corner of North Main and Worsham streets.
The mural project began when the River District Association joined forces with the North Main Visionaries Collaborative Group and commissioned experienced local artist and muralist Billie Jones. Jones created the mural’s design and painted it with assistance from members of the community. The project was made possible by the RDA and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
The turnout was impressive with many members of the community coming together to celebrate the new addition to the city. River City TV captured the live broadcast of the ribbon-cutting and unveiling ceremony which is available for playback on Facebook.
“This is the time we can celebrate and show how community collaboration and dedication can make amazing things happen,” said Lashawn Farmer, Director of Design and Expansion for the RDA. “The gateway mural and pollination garden represent what’s possible when residents, local artists and community partners unite with a shared vision.”
“This mural represents the past, the future and the present time of what’s going on here in the North Main Corridor,” said Shawn Farmer, programs and services director for design and expansion at the River District Association. “We’re so excited the community came together and wanted to make sure this mural was just not a simple mural but represents the history and feeling and life of North Main.
For Farmer, the mural also marked continued growth and revitalization in an area many people had once left for dead.
“A lot of people counted this area out, they were talking about it would never be low-hanging fruit but we saw something different, we saw opportunity to believe in what our ancestors believed in and bringing things to life,” Farmer said. “You can see behind us, we had the opportunity to work with Billie Jones to bring this mural to life.”
And bring the mural to life Jones did.
The main attraction of the mural is of course North Main, representing the neighborhood. Upon closer examination, one will also see the sunset, birds, cardinals (the state bird of Virginia), fruits, shamrocks, “comedies and tragedies,” and Dogwood flowers (state flower of Virginia).
Creating such a beautiful mural might make some a little big-headed, but not Jones who was humble in her creation.
“We want to thank River District Association for all that they have done and I really appreciate the opportunity to be the one to do this job,” Jones said. “I want to thank a lot of the people that honked, I heard everything, and I appreciate all the support, it was a lot of fun. Thank you.”
The North Main Visionaries Collaborative Group partnered with the City of Danville Public Works, Bee City USA, Danville and city of Danville Parks and Recreation to transform the corner of North Main and Worsham streets into one of several pollinator gardens in the city.
The pollinator-friendly space features native plant species such as black-eyed Susans and lavender, an art sculpture and benches for visitors.
Danville Vice-Mayor James Buckner was on hand for the event and expressed his excitement about the project.
“It’s great to see you all here today and man is it a lot of you guys here, this is uncommon, but a beautiful thing to see,” Buckner said. “We’re here to celebrate the unveiling of the community pollinator garden that’s the vision of the North Main Visionaries, I mean they’ve done an outstanding job. Hard-working people, let’s give them all a hand for being here.”
The project not only shows the vision and dedication those involved have to transforming their community but also serves as proof the city’s revitalization efforts are moving outside the River District.
“This spot has had quite the transformation from what it used to be,” Buckner said. “What was once a very ordinary corner, is now an attractive, welcoming space that’s going to be buzzing with life sooner than later. It’s a small space but it says something big. Great things happen when people come together with a shared vision. So thank you again to everyone who has helped bring this garden to life from the planners to the planters.”
Buckner ended with thanks to members of the North Main Visionaries, including Kit Mayo, Roy Gignac, Jerry Meadors and the late Linwood Duncan who passed away earlier this year.
Jessica Smith, horticulturist with the Danville Public Works Department, also spoke at the event and shared her appreciation as well.
“Thanks for coming out, I am super excited that the North Main Visionaries decided to join our Bee City initiative, the Bee City initiative started this summer when council was so gracious to us to approve the resolution so right now this makes our 11th community pollinator garden that is being installed in the city so Lashawn Farmer and Kit Mayo approached me and they wanted to revitalize this space so we decided a community pollinator garden would be just the way to do that,” Smith said. “Jason Watlington was the designer of this space, a lot of the brick is reclaimed brick from downtown and Parks and Rec definitely helped us out with the artwork but we are so happy North Main Visionaries decided to put a community pollinator garden here to help us with this Bee City initiative.”
Kit Mayo, of the Danville Health Collaborative and North Main Visionaries, was also on hand to speak to the crowd gathered at the site.
“I was honored to come out and help and be adopted by the North Main Visionaries to work on the revitalization efforts over here on North Main,” Mayo said. “They actually entrusted myself and Lashawn Farmer to help guide them in the work that’s being done. This is a community-led initiative, revitalization efforts, community members, their input, their vision, their love of the community is all in these projects you’re going to see here and coming forth. This is the starting point. You can see the work, thoughts, plans, coming to fruition in this little pollinator garden and I would like to thank Jessica Smith, she worked with the community members, provided workshops, we know about fillers, thrillers and spillers now because of Jessica. Jason, awesome design. Bert Lewis of Lewis Nursey for bringing those drawings to life.”
Read the original article here (Ceilidh Hicks, Chatham Star Tribune)