South Slope
Mural Trail

Location #8 - Arts. People. Empowerment.

Arts. People. Empowerment.
 

The Mural:

 At 217 Coxe Avenue, you will find three works of art. On the front building facade is “Arts. People. Empowerment” a collaborative mural between renowned painter Ian Wilkinson and the artists and staff of Open Hearts Art Center. Brit Davis Klepac, a photographer and art instructor, began the process by leading a program with Open Hearts artists to create wearable avant-garde fashions. The artists were then photographed wearing their whimsical creations. From the photographs, muralist Ian Wilkinson, with help from Open Heart’s artists, painted these images in the studio to later be installed as murals on the building’s exterior. Open Hearts says, "We wanted to use imagery that spoke to who we are as an organization, as well as being bold and impactful to attract visitors into our community and gallery."  

Artist: Ian Wilkinson 

Ian Wilkinson is a painter and nationally recognized muralist with works in the national mural registry. Through his work, Ian recognizes the power and obligation of the artist’s platform to do good, empower people and create change. For Ian, working in the public realm is a tool, a way of telling a story, of communicating, of giving a voice to the voiceless. With this he welcomes the potential to provoke, to challenge, but ultimately to enrich the viewer. Finding value in creating work that maintains its relevance, Ian’s work embodies the universal principles of truth, connection and our basic humanity.

For more about Ian Wilkinson:  www.ianthepainter.com 

Instagram: @ianthepainter

South Slope Mural Trail Locations

Building Facade of Asheville Brewing Company on Coxe Ave.

A building façade adorned in mid-century patterning with abstracted, geometric representations of pint glasses.

Building Facade for Hi Wire Brewing, in Downtown Asheville, NC

Created to look like a circus tent, this colorful building pops out of the landscape as an invitation for fun.

Les Tonneliers

This work pays homage to traditional barrel makers, known as coopers, in a trade dating back as far as 2600 B.C.

South Sloper Mural

A mural that celebrates the present-day brewing district while honoring the businesses that existed here a century ago.

100 Years

A celebratory artwork to commemorate 100 years in business.

Twisted Tentacles

This work, created in a comic book style, has a unique three-dimensional feature.

Bower Power

A mural inspired by the bowerbird and their unique courtship behavior.

Arts. People. Empowerment

A collaborative mural to represent the mission of this local and loved non-profit art center.

Liberation / Freedom

Two bright and bold and murals that represent the magic in exploring new places

Inner Workings

To creatively represent the business, this work features bold graphics of deconstructed auto and transmission parts.

Buxton 24

Condensation bubbles run down this building façade to give the impression of a cold and refreshing beverage.

Cubist Parade

A colorful composition inspired by the Cubist art movement of the early 20th century.

Wonder Woman Mural

The Wonder Woman pictured here was inspired by the 2017 American superhero movie based on the DC Comics character.

Taking Over/ Pinnacle

Bright, bold, colorful trees that are emblematic of the artist’s kaleidoscopic aesthetic.

Golden Days

As a reflection of our inner beauty, this floral motif reminds us to nourish our inner garden.

French Broad Topo Impression

This series of planter box murals features graphic, stylized representations of flowing rivers.

Bungy's Stars Mural

A barn quilt painting that breathes new life into the traditionally rural public art form.