Massive Uptown mural marks the end of Phil’s and the opening of The Local
If you’ve spent any time Uptown in the last few weeks, odds are you’ve noticed the striking technicolor mural slowly engulfing the entire 5th Street façade of the former Phil’s Tavern (slated to reopen at the end of February as The Local). For self-taught local artists Matt Hooker and Matt Moore, that’s the whole point.
“For me this particular project is a small step towards silencing the people who complain that Charlotte doesn’t have an art scene or culture in general,” said Hooker, a 34-year-old Boston native. “One by one their reasons are being debunked. We are a small part of a large group of creative people in all mediums that are silencing the people who don’t believe Charlotte has a thriving art scene. You can’t ignore a 40- or 50-foot wide mural that stands alone amongst the skyscrapers.”
S.T.O.C.K.E.D. Hey @hookermedia & @alxdlrg… let’s get busy. #GOtime
A photo posted by Matt Moore (@puckmcgruff) on Dec 14, 2014 at 12:17pm PST
A photo posted by Matt Hooker (@hookermedia) on Jan 29, 2015 at 2:02pm PST
A photo posted by Matt Moore (@puckmcgruff) on Jan 28, 2015 at 6:02pm PST
I think I like this aerosol thing. #uptownmural #uptowncharlotte #montanapaints #reactjuicecons
A photo posted by Matt Hooker (@hookermedia) on Feb 5, 2015 at 1:34pm PST
The public art piece commissioned by Phil’s General Manager Jayson Befort is being created entirely out of spray paint (excluding a base of house paint) and will take at least three weeks to complete. Though the mural is a massive undertaking, both artists say to expect to see more of their work Uptown in the future. Befort will feature another one of their murals for patrons to enjoy inside The Local (commissioned by PBR) and expects the outdoor mural to make a major impact on the community at large.
“Every bar Uptown has that tavern façade look. So did Phil’s,” said Befort. “We ripped it down and replaced it with the mural because even if you’re not coming in here to get a drink, you’re going to have an experience and probably stop to take your picture in front of it.”
The concept for the mural, inspired by a massive multi-building piece Befort saw in Miami, will depict Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg (real person, in case you missed that bit of our history) detonating an explosive crown that spews a rainbow of iconic images of the city across the wall. And it goes without saying that it is awesome.
“For us it’s a radical and striking way to depict the spirit of Charlotte in the very heart of Charlotte,” said Hooker. “It’s in the shadow of the buildings that make up our beautiful skyline. Neither of us are native to Charlotte. We are both at points in our lives where we could live anywhere but we choose to live here because we love it.”
While commissioned pieces like this mural are considered public art, the city maintains a stringent anti-graffiti policy and has removed more than 5,000 “incidents” since its inception in 2001, which police say helps track and eradicate gang activity. So how can you tell if what you’re looking at is art or a gang tag? Odds are if it’s still up, it’s art. The city removes reported gang-related graffiti within 48 hours.
Looking for more legal street art? You’ll find most of it (not surprisingly) in NoDa.
“I really like the sliver of art that John Norris put on the side of Boudreax’s in Noda,” said Hooker. “Compared to a lot of the other stuff I’ve seen him do it’s so playful and as always it’s well rendered.”
Moore’s favorite is just down the block. “I would have to say Will Puckett’s big mural on the side of Jack Beagles in NODA is my favorite in the city. I discover something new every time I pass it.
The guys say they have their eyes on more public art projects, so where will we find their next piece?
“Anything that requires us to use a boom arm crane,” said Hooker. “We want multi-story walls.”
“Doing some work at the Hornets arena or Panthers stadium would also be pretty rad,” added Moore.
Until then, head over to E. 5th Street to check out the The Local mural. You’ll be a better, more cultured person for it.
“Creating art is one of the few things we do that separate us as a species,” said Moore. “I think it’s incredibly important to witness, enjoy, and further our own creative capabilities.”
Curious about The Local taking the place of one of Uptown’s oldest bars? (Phil’s has been open for 20 years.) Befort says it will have an “LA dive bar vibe like where a band would hang out when it’s not being a band.” Hang tight for more info on that (The Local is currently flying under the radar and we’re down with that).
This story was originally published February 18, 2015 at 12:52 AM with the headline "Massive Uptown mural marks the end of Phil’s and the opening of The Local."