New banners add vibrancy & color to downtown Wake Forest

Several colorful pole banners are now on display throughout downtown Wake Forest thanks to a partnership between Wake Forest Downtown (WFD), Inc., and the Wake Forest Public Art Commission (PAC).

Last September, the two organizations issued a “Downtown Boulevard Banner Call for Artists” in which they invited local artists to submit “vibrant original artwork for seasonal boulevard banners in downtown Wake Forest.”

In response, 21 artists submitted over 50 designs. Ultimately, a selection committee comprised of members of the PAC and WFD chose designs by Boni Arendt (flower), Olga Lobastova (steeple), Leanna Van Der Have (tree), and Devanshi Prajapati (lily pad). For their efforts, each artist received a $100 honorarium.

Downtown Development Director Jennifer Herbert released the following statement on behalf of WFD.

“Wake Forest Downtown, Inc. believes that public art enriches the experiences offered in our downtown, as well as adds to the vibrancy, and was excited to partner with the Public Art Commission to make this initiative happen.”

The banners will remain in place through March. For more information, email Jennifer Herbert at [email protected].