Five Points Plaza


Charlotte, North Carolina
Five Points Plaza integrates community engagement, collaboration, and research to produce two public art pieces commissioned by the City of Charlotte for the Historic West End neighborhood. Together, these artworks form the Excelsior Collection, named after the Excelsior Club, a significant landmark in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a cornerstone of the African American community and Historic West End. The individual pieces are titled “Ever Upward” and “Even Higher,” reflecting the Latin meanings of "Excelsior." This project was done in collaboration with the artist James Stacy Utley.
Program
public art

Status
complete

Credits
“Even Higher” is located at the new Five Points Plaza. This piece, inspired by the intricate narratives of a quilt, comprises three panels ranging from 18 to 28 feet tall, symbolizing Perseverance, Inspiration, and Icon. Each panel features a designed perforated section, backlit with images of Dorothy Counts Scoggins, Biddle Hall, and the Excelsior Club signage.



“Ever Upward” is a seven-foot abstract sculpture symbolizing the community's enduring journey of faith. It represents various upward movements: Dorothy Counts' historic walk to integrate public schools in Charlotte, the inspiring path every student takes through the arch of Johnson C. Smith University, the upward ascent along Trade Street from "uptown" to Biddle Hall, and the ongoing prayers for progress. The four sculptures are situated on W Trade Street just beyond the I-77 overpass.

           
Durham, NC
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