Local Artist Creates New Murals for the Town of Rolesville
A local artist is using his talents to honor the history of a small Wake County town.
Gabriel Eng-Goetz is a multidisciplinary artist selected to paint three murals throughout Rolesville. Once finished, residents and visitors will see the works of art at the Town Hall, Main Street Park, and the Privette Insurance building.
“I’m not painting this for a specific person or myself; it’s for an entire community,” he told WRAL.
In doing so, he said he used community input, the town’s history, and his own experiences to come up with a design and vision for the pieces.
“I’m from Durham…Upon being hired for this job, I had spent no time in Rolesville…so I had a lot to learn,” he said. “We talked to all kinds of people…marginalized communities, children, seniors, everybody. That gives me a pretty wide view of what this town is really all about.”
This passion project is part of a larger one that spans the entire county: The Wake Murals Program. The United Arts Council works with towns and cities to create murals that best represent them. Jenn McEwen, the council’s CEO and president, said they learned tobacco was a driving force for Rolesville’s economy.
“The majority of tobacco plants bloom at night,” she said. “This went from being a bright and sunny mural to having more of a nighttime vibe.”
Eng-Goetz said he also wanted to highlight multiculturalism.
“As people come here, I really want them to feel like it not only aesthetically enhances the area but also tells a story.”
The goals of this mural project are:
- To activate and enhance downtown Rolesville’s cultural connectivity and economic vitality through engaging artwork and creative placemaking.
- To honor the town’s history and natural beauty and build upon its brand identity of a Genuine Community with a Capital Connection.
- To create a mural for residents and visitors that is colorful and inspiring.
- To create a mural that reflects Rolesville’s unique characteristics and assets.
“The impact of the mural program is priceless. When you put a mural in and you have these bright colors, you not only create a sense of place, but you create identity and community pride for its citizens,” McEwen said.
In the buildup to the unveiling of Gabriel’s latest murals in Rolesville, The United Arts Council is encouraging people to visit five of his murals in the Raleigh area.
When you find one of his murals, you can post a selfie using #GabeGetsWakeArts and tag @UnitedArtsWake and @GabeGets on Instagram. Everyone who posts and tags their mural selfies between now and October 27th will be entered into a drawing.
The murals will be officially unveiled at the town’s Fall Fun Fest on Oct. 28.
