FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Bob Hagh
Director of Communications
Downtown Raleigh Alliance
919-821-6977
bobhagh@downtownraleigh.org
RALEIGH, NC (May 22, 2018) – Inspirational words are sprouting across downtown Raleigh as part of Floraffiti, a public art and beautification project between the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) and artist Carter Hubbard.
Floraffiti is a placemaking, community engagement and public art project in which large-scale words are planted with clover seed in downtown mulch beds. Hubbard’s Floraffiti began in 2013 in Chapel Hill and Carrboro and has since become an annual installation. This is the first year for the project in Raleigh. Thirty-three volunteers, including downtown residents, employees, and business owners, planted words across downtown Raleigh in early May at five locations. The words will continue be visible for about 4-6 weeks.
“Florafitti is a special project for the DRA to collaborate on with Carter Hubbard,” said Sue Glennon, Vice President of Production Development at Hampton Inn & Suites. “Creating natural art in downtown Raleigh, for all to enjoy, is a wonderful thing”
The words for Floraffiti are taken from and inspired by the City of Raleigh’s and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s Downtown Plan. The words can speak to anyone but specifically speak to the current and future Downtown Raleigh. In 2015, the City of Raleigh and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance partnered to create a 10-year plan for Downtown Raleigh, building upon successes and providing a map for guiding growth and development in downtown. The plan seeks to improve park spaces, provide more transportation options, maintain authenticity and character, create a robust retail environment, improve affordable housing options, and establish stronger partnerships for downtown’s future. Many of these initiatives are underway or planned. Learn more here.
Below are the words at each planting location:
North Carolina State Capitol Lawn (north side along W Edenton Street): Innovate, Create, Explore, Active
Saint Saviour’s (616 Tucker Street): Bloom, Thrive
Duke Energy for the Performing Arts (2 E South Street): Connect, Discover, Amplify
Nash Square (south, north, and west sides): Grow, Relax, Play, Walk, Breathe, Pause, Community
Duncan Parnell (201 Glenwood Avenue): Inspire
To learn more about Floraffiti and view interactive maps, visit https://downtownraleigh.org/floraffiti/. The online maps show the words and locations as well as a Floraffiti 5K route to see all the sites.
Photos from the community planting in early May can be found here. To view some of the words already blooming, click here.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Master Gardener Sponsor: Citrix
Green Thumb Sponsor: UNC Rex Healthcare
Sunshine and Water Sponsors: Glennon Enterprises, LLC, Hampton Inn and Suites, Pendo, The Dillon Apartments, Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, and visitRaleigh.com
Partners: City of Raleigh, Logan’s Garden Shop, and Raleigh Arts
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About Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA):
The Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) is an economic development, marketing, and place management organization that leads efforts to build a downtown that is safe, accessible, creative, and vibrant. The DRA facilitates this mission through its primary initiatives, including: safety and hospitality ambassador patrols, economic development and storefront business attraction, community-building events such as First Friday and Market on Market, promotional and branding initiatives, advocacy, and real estate market research and analysis.