Face Up: Telling Stories of Community Life, a collaborative public art project in Durham engaged more than 1,500 people in a series of events that fostered new connections and dialogue, expanded awareness of local history, and resulted in the creation of 14 permanent public murals.
Now installed in six different locations -- on the exterior walls of businesses, schools, and other publicly accessible places downtown and in Southwest Central Durham, these murals reflect the creative involvement of toddlers, elementary school children, middle and high school students, college students, professors, neighborhood residents, and elders wealthy and working class, African American, Latino, Anglo, and Asian. The project opened artistic and documentary processes to many groups and individuals whose paths had never crossed.
To honor both the history of Durham and contemporary life and culture, several of the murals depict Pauli Murray selected as the central figure for this project because of her Durham roots and her journey as a champion for civil and human rights. A historian, attorney, poet, activist, teacher, and Episcopal priest, she worked to address injustice, inspire community action, and promote reconciliation among cultures and economic classes. Her eloquent words express her vision for true community just as the statements that accompany the Durham Community Portraits reflect the views of the residents they depict.
For more information, visit http://www.faceupproject.org.