Decayed - but not forgotten. The old black business district in Asheville sports fine murals

[Mira]

Black Business had somehow managed to thrive there years before in the shadows of segregation but now "The Block" in Asheville's Eagle Street stands in stark contrast to an otherwise booming downtown in Asheville, NC.
There is controversy not yet resolved about revitalization, and the funds for it.

In the meantime wonderful artwork blooms on the walls of a small old park.










Throwing this one in from another area, just because it shows more wall art, in a reflection shot

[Solly Mack]

1. Thank you, Mira, for both threads!

[Mira]

2. Thank you, Solly! and guess what

there is still one to come, when I have time to gather it.
It will probably be my favorite

[Solly Mack]

3. Looking forward to it. Asheville is an artists community isn't it?

I've heard it described that way.

[AlbertCat]

10. Asheville is an artists community isn't it?

When I was a kid, NC was called "The State of the Arts" because of Asheville and the "Black Mountain School" (Black Mt. is just south of Asheville). In the 50's and 60's it was a haven, not just for artists, but for cutting edge artists. It's where Merce Cunningham, John Cage and Robert Rauschenberg evolved and did their amazing thing! It was the reason the state started the 1st state supported school for the performing arts: The North Carolina School of the Arts. Asheville bid for the school to be there, but Winston-Salem beat them out.

It was a time when even Jesse Helms thought the arts were important to make life in the state better... quality over quantity!. My how things have changed

[Solly Mack]

11. Thank you!

[Mira]

14. A little secret:

The UNC School of the Arts is 3 blocks from my house. In the first year of operation I was the first house mother. Just turned 20, had just immigrated.
My son went there and graduated the Visual Arts program. Now my grandson is there, did Visual Arts there in High School and is now a college student in stage design and production. He is the first son of a graduate to graduate from Visual Arts.

It gives me/us great joy to have what has turned into a school of world renown in our town.

[AlbertCat]

17. The UNC School of the Arts is 3 blocks from my house.

Then I know where you live because I went the NCSA from 1975-1979.

Back then there was no graduate school program, just High School and undergrad college. The great thing about it then was, as an undergrad I could design a main stage production... unheard of! (I did "Three Penny Opera&quot The Dance Dept was amazing with NYCB and ABT coming down regularly and snatching up young dancers. We did amazing productions for the Dance Dept. The Operas the Music Dept. did back then didn't get much attention.
But now that they have a Grad program, the Music Dept, which has always been good, do more involved opera productions (it takes older more experienced singers like you get with a Grad program.... unlike dancers who you want young: high school and undergrad) And they have a Film School now too.

It's an amazing place with unbelievable facilities!

[Dalai_1]

4. Thank you for sharing these

what great art and of course your photography too!

[MynameisBlarney]

5. Awesome

I have quite a bit of family in the Asheville/Hendersonville area.
Love it up there.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

6. I love Asheville. What magnificent art!

I hope they can work out a revitalization plan for the 'The Block' (one that preserves the murals)

[xtraxritical]

12. So where will the poor people and artists live? Screw "revitalization".

[Mira]

18. Believe me they don't want to live there

I photographed the murals. My grandson photographed the buildings - his shots more show the decrepitude of the structures.
Something needs to happen, and I suspect it will, I hope when it does that it preserves the past and sanitizes it into being useful and vibrant again.

[Hoyt]

7. Really cool. Been hoping to get up to Asheville in next month and want to see that.

[Ivywoods55]

8. Hello Mira! Thank you for posting these...

what a great array of beautiful art work. I love the one with the gentleman smoking the cigar, and also the portion of the artwork with the children...such beautiful and poignant faces. Just lovely, thank you! and hello!

[blaze]

9. Those murals are amazing!!!! nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Absolutely jaw dropping.

A true treasure, and what talent!

for those who could not easily read the very moving poem on the right side of the 4th pic,
I found a copy.

Langston Hughes'
Mother to Son

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

[Mira]

15. OHHHH thank you Dixiegrrrrl.

I sharpened the photo all I could to preserve the rest of the visuals - in order to make the Langston Hughes poetry legible.
Where I could not - you picked up and succeeded in bringing it to us.
YES

[Blue_In_AK]

16. These are awesome.

Very well done. I'm such a fan of street art. It's one of the reasons I love walking around in San Francisco's Mission District.

[hkguy35_3se.225]

19. lovely photos

thanks for posting these

[SouthernDonkey]

20. Beautiful!

Thanks for posting! Do you have another shot of the mural with the train and the chain gang? I would love to see it closer. I'm always amazed at how talented these street muralists are. Thanks for posting this!

[Mira]

21. Thanks for your kind comments. All I can do

in the absence of an additional shot is close in and crop it. Just because of that I'll add a new one just for you.

[SouthernDonkey]

22. THANK YOU!

That's greattttt! And the last one as well! Thank you for adding that one.

[Sherman A1]

23. Interesting

thanks for posting these great pics.