Merrick-Moore Park has a Brand New Sculpture
On Thursday, April 25th, residents of the Merrick-Moore neighborhood and additional guests, including the great-granddaughter of John Merrick and Dr. Aaron McDuffie Moore, attended the grand unveiling of a new public sculpture at Merrick-Moore Park. Designed by Durham-based artists Aaron Early and Jeannette Brossart, the sculpture celebrates the legacy, pride, and resilience of the Merrick-Moore neighborhood. The artwork is installed near the entrance of Merrick-Moore Park. The celebratory event was hosted by Durham Parks and Recreation and the Cultural & Public Art Program.
At the start of the event, residents were able to meet with the Merrick-Moore artist team. They were also able to meet with Dare Coulter, the artist selected for the Wheels Skating Rink public art project, to contribute ideas to the new Wheels Roller Skating Rink and learn more about other DPR projects.
Promptly at 6:00 p.m., the program commenced with heartfelt remarks from notable speakers who reflected the diversity and unity of Durham. Councilmember Nate Baker spoke passionately about the importance of public art in fostering community pride and cohesion. E'Vonne Coleman, Chair of the Durham Cultural Advisory Board, highlighted the significance of honoring the legacy of John Merrick and Dr. Aaron McDuffie Moore through art, underscoring their profound impact on Durham's cultural landscape.
Artists Jeannette Brossart and Aaron Early, along with Ayanna Smith, Merrick-Moore Community Vice President, shared their insights into the collaborative process behind bringing the sculpture to life. Their dedication to capturing the essence of the Merrick-Moore neighborhood shone through in every aspect of their work.
The presence of Eileen Welch, descendant of John Merrick and Dr. Aaron McDuffie Moore, added a deeply personal dimension to the event. Her connection to the park's namesakes added a sense of familial pride and legacy to the unveiling.
Wade Walcutt, DPR Director, eloquently tied together the threads of community, art, and history before inviting everyone to participate in the ceremonial ribbon cutting. As the ribbon fell, symbolizing the official unveiling of the sculpture, Walcutt’s introduction marked a pivotal moment in Merrick-Moore's history.
Following the formalities, at 6:30 p.m., attendees eagerly made their way to view the sculpture up close. The artwork stood as a beacon of resilience and pride, a testament to the enduring spirit of the Merrick-Moore community and its founders. As the evening sun cast its warm glow upon the steel and mosaic panels, it seemed to imbue the sculpture with a sense of vitality and hope, inviting all who beheld it to pause and reflect on Durham's rich history.
The Merrick-Moore neighborhood began to develop in the 1940’s, especially as WWII veterans returned from service. The artists worked with neighborhood residents and Durham historians to create a function work of art that depicts the roots of the Merrick-Moore community, highlighting its place in Durham’s history, and the significance of the namesakes, John Merrick and Dr. Aaron McDuffie Moore, founders of North Carolina Mutual. The residents of Merrick-Moore participated in laying select parts of the mosaic panels.
Standing twelve feet high, the sculpture features alternating panels of laser cut steel and mosaic, welded into a semi-circular structure. The interior of the sculpture includes information about the imagery of each panel as well as seating.
ARTIST TEAM
Jeannette Brossart and Aaron Earley
Jeannette Brossart has been a professional mosaic artist for twenty years, and has lived in Durham, NC since 2005. She was initially a self taught artist, with a BA from UNCCH, but has had key learning experiences along the way. Her first solo exhibits were hosted at the Mangum House at West Point On The Eno and The Scrap Exchange. Her work includes public murals, large scale sculpture, custom installations, gallery, and garden art. Jeannette has received numerous awards, appeared in publications, as has designed and facilitated over 200 workshops and residencies for participants from preschool to senior citizens. Utilizing recycled and repurposed materials is important for Jeannette, and she understands the global benefits of taking advantage of these items in her creative process. Jeannette is a professional teaching artist, selected for The Lincoln Center Education program in 2016, and International Teaching Artist Conference in 2018, 2020, and 2022. During the pandemic, Jeannette founded the League of NC Teaching Artists. She is active in local schools, facilitating mosaic art murals, and curriculum based projects.
Visit her website at www.mothernaturemosaics.com.
Aaron Earley was born and raised in Fayetteville, NC, and is currently a sculptor and illustrator based in Durham, NC. He attended East Carolina University and earned a BFA in Sculpture, Painting and Drawing. In 2018, Aaron and two partners purchased the sculpture fabrication company Cricket Forge, LLC, to continue building careers that would allow for daily creative exercise, collaboration with others, and provide unique opportunities to create larger, more complex work.
Visit Cricket Forge's website at www.cricketforge.com.
Photos from the Public Unveiling
