South Slope
Mural Trail

Location #7 - Bower Power

Bower Power
 

The Mural:

In 2016, Lara Nguyen created “Bower Power” for the Refinery Building at 207 Coxe Avenue - a creator space full of local artists and makers.  A bower is a small structure built by male bowerbirds to attract a mate. Artists of the bird world, these structures are lavishly decorated with carefully curated objects, colors, and ornamentation.  The mural seen here features a gradient blue sky background with a Flame bowerbird atop a styled bower and a Regent bowerbird in waiting. Calling on the bower’s power of attraction, Lara’s mural seeks to lure people inside to experience the arts, attend events, and support the creative community happening within.    

Artist: Lara Nguyen

Lara Nguyen is an artist, educator, and co-owner of Stone Cloud Studio which focuses on the pursuit of public art opportunities. Her practice includes painting, drawing, installation, performance and muralism – which she considers the “extreme sport” of art making.  Central to Lara’s work is the idea of spreading joy, curiosity and empathy. The act of making is her way of paying it forward, showing care, starting conversations and sparking the imagination.  

For more about Lara Nguyen: https://stonecloudstudio.com/ 

Instagram: @laranguyen00   @stonecloudstudio 

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.