(Wilson, N.C.) – November 30, 2023 – Sallie B. Howard School is proud to announce the inaugural “Walls of Wilson Project,” a public art exhibit featuring over 50 pieces of SBH student artwork installed in frames of up to 8 feet tall in downtown Wilson.
“Walls of Wilson” launches January 15, 2024 – on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – and will be displayed on buildings along several blocks of Barnes St, beginning at the intersection of Barnes and Tarboro and extending to the train station on Nash Street near the new African American Music Trails mural that features Mrs. Sallie B. Howard.
The theme of the project is “I Am, We Are,” a colorful series of expressions of students’ individual and collective identities. The student artists range from 2nd to 12th graders. Their work consists of drawings, paintings, and sketches that were photographed and digitally printed on PVC boards. Sculptures made of sustainable materials by Crafts & Decor students will also be installed in frames along the exhibit.
“We are thrilled to finally unveil this project, which celebrates the artistic voice of our students and brings their creative visions to life,” said Carrie Nobles, SBH art teacher and WOW project lead. “‘Walls of Wilson’ not only provides a platform for our students’ artistic talents, but it also brings a youthful energy and pride to an area of Wilson that is sometimes overlooked.”
“We encourage the community to come and experience the creativity and talent that our students possess,” said Diana Torres, Dean of Arts at SBH. “‘Walls of Wilson’ is a testament to the dedication and passion our students have for art as well as the enriching environment our art teachers have created at SBH to nurture their gifts.”
The “Walls of Wilson” kick-off event on January 15 will include an afternoon ribbon-cutting celebration at The Edge Wilson Gallery & Studios (127 Barnes St) as well as other special activities. Details will be announced soon. The exhibit will run until April 15, 2024.
Special thanks to Barb White and Sebastian Correa for inspiring the Walls of Wilson Project and to Jerome De Perlinghi for his support and counsel.
“Walls of Wilson” was made possible by a grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Foundation.
For more information on the SBH Arts program, visit salliebhowardschool.com/arts.
About Sallie B. Howard School of Arts & Science
Sallie B. Howard School of Arts & Science, a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School, is a free, public charter school founded in 1997 in Wilson, N.C. that serves 1,200 students in grades K-12. Named after the legendary author, educator, playwright and actress Sallie Baldwin Howard, SBHS is dedicated to ensuring that every child – privileged or underprivileged – gets the kind of education that will allow them to become more than they ever thought they would be. With a performing arts-based curriculum, a study abroad program that has brought hundreds of children to nearly all 7 continents, a culturally diverse faculty and student body, and the addition of a high school, Sallie B. Howard School is preparing its students to become 21st century industry leaders both locally and globally.
