Fan the Flames by Shepard Fairey.
Courtesy of Shepard Fairey
CharlotteFive
Editor’s note: The Shepard Fairey mural has been postponed until after the threat of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 has passed. We will keep you updated with a new date.
If you can’t quite put your finger on how you know the name Shepard Fairey, here’s your memory trigger:
And the coolest part? Fairey has ties to our area. He was born in Charleston and has family living in Rock Hill. That family connection is going to lead to a mic drop for the first official mural planned for downtown Rock Hill’s “Mural Mile”.
Shepard Fairey. Jon Furlong / Courtesy of ObeyGiant.com CharlotteFive
So, how did Rock Hill land a Shepard Fairey art session?
Justin Smith is the owner of Vinyet Architecture in Rock Hill, and he also serves on the RHEDC Quality of Life Committee. Rock Hill resident Wade Fairey Jr. hired Vinyet for a project at his residence.
At one of their first meetings, Smith happened to notice that Wade Fairey Jr. had a Shepard Fairey book. “I’m a fan of his work,” Smith said. “I just kinda jokingly said ‘Are you related to him?’ — not thinking that was a for-real question.”
Smith said Wade Fairey Jr.’s answer surprised him. “‘Yes, that’s my cousin.’”
The connection having been made, a call was put in, and now: a Shepard Fairey mural is coming to downtown Rock Hill in April.
Welcome Visitor by Shepard Fairey. Courtesy of Shepard Fairey CharlotteFive
“We are so excited that an international artist of Shepard Fairey’s caliber has chosen to share his work with our Rock Hill community,” Cathy Murphy, the Development Manager for the City of Rock Hill, told CharlotteFive. “This endeavor will truly bring attention and credence to our ‘Mural Mile’ project being completed over the next few years.”
The mural project is a public/private partnership between Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation (using the Barre Mitchell Community Initiatives Fund), Catalyst Capital Partners/URS Capital Partners and the Women’s Art Initiative. Each group paid a portion of the $35,000 cost.
Shepard Fairey is going to paint a mural on this building in downtown Rock Hill in April 2020. Courtesy of City of Rock Hill CharlotteFive
153 E. White St.: Multifamily, retail, creative space
Catalyst Capital Partners/URS Capital Partners’ property at 153 E. White St. is exciting enough without the mural. The mixed-use, adaptive reuse project is slated to have ground-level retail and second-floor creative space with a large patio terrace.
After the building is complete, you’ll want to visit the market terrace and cafe when you make the drive down to see the Fairey in person. It’s located within a multifamily development with 230 planned apartments, called The Exchange at Old Town Depot. The development team is contributing $250,000 toward public art installations throughout the project. This will allow the creation of public landing places, tenant and neighborhood amenities to enjoy throughout the project, Klenk said.
The property at 153 E. White St. is a mixed-use, adaptive reuse project with planned ground-level retail and second-floor creative space with a large patio terrace. Rendering courtesy of A.J. Klenk CharlotteFive
Managing partner A.J. Klenk (you know him from The Goodyear House in NoDa) said construction will begin in May and should take about four months. The broker for the building is Sink Kimmel with the Nichols Company.
“We are excited to welcome such a world-renowned muralist back to his old ‘stomping grounds’ of Rock Hill and happy to contribute to this great cause,” Klenk told CharlotteFive. “Shepherd’s mural will continue the celebration of all that is great about Rock Hill — past, current and future.”
The building is the original home of the Coca-Cola Bottling Corporation, Klenk said. It’s possible the building’s history will tie into the mural’s theme.
“I asked Shepherd Fairey to do something that was a merging of old and new, highlight the history of the site (old train depot, old Coca-Cola bottling facility) and the new (Class A multi-family, office, retail etc.), Opportunity Zone growth,” Klenk said. “Wanted them to highlight some big picture words like opportunity, hope, change, etc.”
“We’ll see what he comes back with.”
What’s next?
This is just the beginning for Rock Hill’s Mural Mile, a collaboration between the city and the building owners in the downtown area slated for this project.
A second mural is on the heels of Fairey’s, scheduled for a few weeks later. It hasn’t been officially announced yet, but we’ll drop the hint that you know this artist, too. Stay tuned.
Architect Smith told CharlotteFive that both artists have been really interested in knowing what story the city wants to tell. “‘ What’s your hope? What do you want to get out of this piece of art?’” Smith said the artists have asked. “Rock Hill is really big on recognizing the past and honoring it. I’m looking forward to what that means and how that shapes us moving forward.”
Melissa Oyler is the editor of CharlotteFive. When she’s not writing or editing, you’ll find her running, practicing hot yoga, weightlifting or snuggling with her rescue dogs, X and Charlie. Find her on Instagram or X: @melissaoyler.Support my work with a digital subscription
