In this film mixed-media artist Caroline Armijo tell us about Walnut Cove, NC a town adjacent to Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Power Station, which houses 20 million tons of coal ash. She has partnered with scientists from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to create a series of sculptures that repurpose this hazardous waste material safely and that will become the centerpiece of a public park. She’s going to make 8’ hexagonal-shapes that will work as a perfect geometric shape that’s easily identifiable in nature.
"We started out thinking about a lily mold and the project is even called the The Lilies Project. We want to create small stages at three of the local parks in the surrounding community using artwork placed at various places in town to create a walking tour. We’ll paint lilies on the pieces, like canvas. This project serves as a local pilot for environmental policy that will determine how coal ash is managed in the region."
Much has been said about coal ash since that grimy waste product shot to the top of North Carolina’s political agenda after the 2014 spill into the Dan River. It’s a pretty safe bet that, in all that time, nobody has ever praised the stuff for its beauty or elegance. But Caroline’s projects and tireless work could change all that.
What Caroline Armijo had to say about DIYdoc:
“I loved making the video and would like to make more, specifically to highlight the different people working on the project. I didn’t really know how to thank them, but that was my first thought when using the DIYdoc App.”
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Creativity Lives Here is a year-long digital storytelling campaign to showcase the people and places behind creative community development. #CreativityLivesHere is a collection of grassroots video stories from amazing artists, community planners, local leaders, and allies, who are sharing the ideas, challenges, and inspirations that drive their work every day.
We’re going to share these stories across our social media platforms, and many of our friends and partners are ready to do the same.
The only thing missing is YOUR STORY.
All you need is an iPhone, the DIYdoc App, and a story about how arts and culture is helping address a challenge or opportunity in your community. From there, enlist a friend to help, or shoot the video yourself through the app and add your voice to the growing collection of grassroots stories from across the United States.
Check out some of the stories that have been collected so far on our YouTube Channel and make yours today!