The Story of "Youthful Journey Up 7th Avenue" Mural by Billy Smith

07/11/24 • 51 min

This week’s guest is Billy Smith, an accomplished artist from Brevard, NC. Billy has painted murals all over Western NC. He is the president of the Transylvania County Arts Council, the county where Brevard is located. Billy teaches art to people of all ages, from 5 to 95, in his private studio in Brevard. He also teaches art to students in the Transylvania County schools. Billy is dedicated to beautifying and improving his community and was the driving force behind creating regulations and policies for murals and public art in Brevard, which previously had no such guidelines for artists and property owners to follow.

Billy joins us today to talk about his work and specifically a mural he painted in Hendersonville, NC titled “A Youthful Journey Up 7th Avenue,” which celebrates the life and culture of an important historical neighborhood in that town.

Previous Episode

The Story of the City of Four Seasons Mural by Diamond Cash

Artist and photographer Diamond Cash created the City of Four Seasons mural for her hometown of Hendersonville, NC. From an early age, Diamond has always had a talent for photography, painting, and drawing. She has a B.A. in Studio Arts from UNC Greensboro. She is passionate about teaching art and believes she can teach anyone who is willing to learn. Diamond’s work has been featured in several magazines, and she has been commissioned by Hendersonville to create several significant public art projects.

It includes two hands clasping in front of the Rainbow flag signifying diversity and inclusion. The name of the town hovers over well-known symbols of the city. As a “Bee and Tree” city, images of both feature prominently. Since bears are a symbol of Hendersonville, two of them lounge at either edge of the scene. The town is very famous for its apples and other delicious veggies. And last but not least, an acoustic guitar highlights the rich musical heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Next Episode

"Artivism" The Power of Art to Bring Social Change: Rosalia Torres-Weiner

Rosalia Torres-Weiner is an artist, activist, and community leader in Charlotte, NC. Her art captures the themes, colors, and rich symbolism of her native home of Mexico. In 2010, Rosalia shifted the focus of her work from commercial art to art activism, after witnessing the repeated injustices and dysfunction of our immigration system. Her work is featured in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum and has been exhibited in venues including the McColl Center for Arts and Innovation, Levine Museum of the New South, the City of Raleigh Museum, the Latin American Center for Arts Gallery, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Mexican Cultural Institute at the Mexican Embassy in Washington D.C. and many other prestigious venues.

Her public murals celebrate the rich history as well as the changing demographics of the South. She also uses her art to document social conditions and to raise awareness about issues that are affecting immigrant communities such as family separation, access to public education, racism and moving beyond common stereotypes.

Through her Red Calaca Mobile Art Studio, a 24-foot “Art Truck” she takes the arts directly to people in underserved areas in Charlotte.

Stay tuned to hear Rosalia’s inspiring story and all about the important work she is doing to bring positive change to her community and beyond. Rosalia is joined by her husband Ben Weiner, who is intricately involved in facilitating Rosalia’s work. They will share their philosophies on a variety of aspects about art, community, and social impact. They will tell us about her latest mural in Hendersonville, NC, titled “Unity in Bloom.” And Rosalia will talk about her feelings about Artificial Intelligence, which might surprise you.