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Project Details
Raleigh artist Chandra Cox collaborated with the descendants of Oberlin Village to tell the story of this historic community through a series of public art projects. She worked with the design team to incorporate storytelling elements and artistic historical markers into the streetscape, including sculptures, banners, and bus stop artwork. The first artworks were installed in November 2024, with more to follow in Winter 2024. The project is expected to be completed by Spring 2024.
This streetscape project will improve the area from Groveland Avenue to north of Bedford Avenue. Changes include wider sidewalks, updated traffic lanes and bus stops, landscaping, and public art. The 2017 Transportation Bond funds the project and follows the Percent for Art Ordinance, which dedicates 1% of construction funds to public art. By including art, the city is investing in its community. Public art enhances cultural, social, and economic value, supporting the City's commitment to community identity and equity.
This project is part of the Percent for Art program for Oberlin Road Streetscape Project.
Artist Biography
Chandra Cox, Professor of Art + Design, College of Design, North Carolina State University, is a practicing artist, image-maker who works in a range of mediums from oil, acrylic to digital media.
Cox's work has been presented at museums and galleries around the country, including the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Mint Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry. Her work is included in public collections at North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University, the University of North Carolina Law School, and the Tubman Museum. Cox has been an Artist-In-Residence at the Headlands Center for the Arts and illustrated the children's book Christmas Makes Me Think.
Site Details
The Oberlin Road Project is part of the Cameron Village & Hillsborough Street Small Area Plan that was approved by City Council in Feb. 2018. The Wade/Oberlin Small Area Plan of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan recognized Oberlin Road as the “main street” of the area emphasizing the need to more fully integrate pedestrian, bike, auto, and transit uses into a well-landscaped and attractive streetscape that serves people of all abilities.
The Oberlin Road Streetscape Plan was adopted by City Council on January 6, 2015. The plan focuses on improving the sidewalk environment.
Oberlin Oral Histories Project
In 2017, as a part of this public art project, Raleigh Arts began working with Friends of Oberlin Village and residents to develop the scope and select an artist. During community engagement, Friends of Oberlin Village and Raleigh Arts started recording Oral Histories, ultimately capturing the voices of 27 community members. Interviews were taken throughout 2020-2021, primarily through virtual recording, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Listen to the Oberlin Oral Histories online.
Portraits & Oral Histories
The Voices of Oberlin exhibitions were at the Block Gallery from June 14 through September 22, 2023, and the Village District Library from 2023 to 2024. The exhibition's portraits and oral histories from elders and community members emphasized how unique the Oberlin Village community is.
Michael S. Williams of the Black On Black Project curated the exhibitions, which featured photography by Derrick Beasley and Teresa Moore and oral histories edited by Tamisha Thomas of TooMuchTV Productions.
Visit the Voices of Oberlin exhibition page to view the portraits featured in the exhibition and listen to the oral histories. Some of the portraits are installed at the Jaycee Park Community Center and the Raleigh Muncipal Building.
