The Lilies Project

Caroline Armijo

Funding Received: 2017
Walnut Cove, NC
$350,000
Funding Period: 2 years and 6 months
https://theliliesproject.org/
Folk & Traditional Arts, Music, Visual Arts | Environment & Energy | Rural
https://www.facebook.com/carolinerarmijo/
https://twitter.com/carolinearmijo
https://www.instagram.com/carolinerarmijo/
Back to search
Amy Adams, Appalachian Voices, compares coal ash to North Carolina red clay, taken at the site of the Dan River Spill, February 2014.
photo credit: Appalachian Voices
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.
photo credit: Caroline Armijo
Group photo taken during first press event at Belews Creek as part of the one year anniversary of the Dan River Spill.
photo credit: Applachain Voices
Sharing about my art "Gray Matter" that led to my work around coal ash. From the film "Persistence: The Power of Prayer," from The Story We Want, Climate Listening Project by Dayna Reggero. This project was sponsored by Moms Clean Air Force. September 2016. http://climatelisteningproject.org/north-carolina/
photo credit: Dayna Reggero
Talking with Tracey Edwards in a scene from the film "Persistence: The Power of Prayer," from The Story We Want, Climate Listening Project by Dayna Reggero. This project was sponsored by Moms Clean Air Force. September 2016. http://climatelisteningproject.org/north-carolina/
photo credit: Dayna Reggero
The Lilies Project Team during the Celebrating Courage Event at Rising Star, August 12, 2018 Left to Right, first row - Tracey Brown Edwards, Danielle Bailey-Lash, Marie Garlock, Caroline Rutledge Armijo, Amy Adams, Leslie Bray-Brewer Left to Right, second row - Ridge Graham, Rev. Gregory Hairston, David Hairston Meet The Lilies Project Team Members on theliliesproject.org
photo credit: Caroline Armijo
The first of three primary goals of The Lilies Project is to advocate for the clean up of the 12 million ton coal ash basin at Belews Creek. We did this on local, state and national levels. We were successful. On April 1, 2019, the state of North Carolina required Duke Energy to excavate all of the coal ash at Belews Creek, as part of the six remaining sites across the state. DEQ Epiphany Press Conference ACT Against Coal Ash Press Conference before the NC Department of Environmental Quality Hearing at Walnut Cove Elementary, January 19, 2019 Left to right: Ridge Graham, Marie Garlock, David Hairston, Mary Kerly, Rev. Gregory Hairston, Caroline Rutledge Armijo with Danielle Bailey-Lash, Leslie Bray-Brewer in background
photo credit: Keri Brown, WFDD
We finally settled on creating 8’ 6” tall hexagonal-shaped posts that will be used in a series of public art installations. The installation of public art using the posts in Walnut Cove will begin in early 2021. Production was delayed due to COVID.
photo credit: Caroline Armijo
Our third primary goal of The Lilies Project is to build community. We did this through a number of public programming activities, ranging from street festivals to arts workshops. We focused on the legend of The Gymnastics Show as a central part of our programming. A springtime talent variety show held at Southeastern Stokes Middle School from 1973 - 1987 was legendary and inspired multi-year-long programming to celebrate the unique history of community and collaboration in Walnut Cove.
photo credit: Meredith Branscome
In December 2018, The Lilies Project held a reunion for students who participated in The Gymnastics Show from 1973-1987. We played old footage, looked at photos, took pictures and danced. Caroline Armijo shares about the reunion live from the Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit South + Appalachia in April 2019.
photo credit: Ephraim Harrell, FilmCove
In December 2019, we hosted The Gymnastics Show Talent Expo, which featured performances by original students from the 70s, local youth and current students from Southeastern Middle School.
photo credit: Ephraim Harrell, FilmCove
Local artist Ephraim Harrell of FilmCove captured the history of The Gymnastics Show in this heartwarming short documentary. Thank you to legendary Big House Gaines for providing the equipment in the early 1970s. An additional video includes the story of his contribution on theliliesproject.org.
photo credit: Ephraim Harrell, FilmCove
Celebrating Courage Weekend included a three-day series of events, including community arts workshops led by Marie Garlock, the premiere of the Celebrating Courage documentary honoring John L. Hairston, whose leadership led to the town’s integration. A curriculum guide accompanies the film for students to dive deeper into a range of topics. The weekend ended with co-hosting a press conference with the Poor People’s Campaign for Ecological Justice Tour.
photo credit: Soul Ash Pictures
Our next phase of The Lilies Project after the art installations include demonstrating that this encapsulated coal ash material as a viable, lightweight alternative to building materials. We seek to build a manufacturing facility at Belews Creek to provide safe jobs reusing coal ash.
photo credit: Keith Langenbeck
Alum of London School sign the alma mater following the Holy Spirit Story + Song Workshop held as part of the Celebrating Courage Weekend. Marie Garlock and Tracey Edwards led the workshop in honoring local teachers and how they shaped our lives.
photo credit: Ana Sapp
Marie Garlock, Danielle Bailey-Lash and Caroline Rutledge Armijo holding a local prayer quilt at the Poor Peoples Campaign Ecological Devastation Tour press conference with former Vice President Al Gore, Karenna Gore and Dr. Rev. William Barber, II. Video of Leslie Bray-Brewer and David Hairston speaking at the press conference is included in Jonathan Scott’s Power Trip on PBS. Leslie is standing on the right with her two sons, Malachi and Elijah. Following the press conference, the Ecological Justice Moral Revival was held in Greensboro. Rev. Barber shared the story of Yara Allen’s “Somebody’s Hurting My Brother,” sung worldwide, at The Vatican, in state capitols across the US, & dedicated to Tracey Brown. The song was inspired by her mother Annie Brown & Stokes County coal ash affected communities.
photo credit: Steven Whitsitt
On Saturday, February 2nd, 2019, we gathered for three events to mark the Dan River Spill in Eden, North Carolina. We hosted an information session for Duke’s three proposed final closure plans at the local library. Next, we held a screening of Celebrating Courage at The ArtsPlace of Stokes for Black History Month kickoff. Finally we ended with a prayer service at the Dan River in Moratock Park.
photo credit: Meredith Branscome
Danielle Bailey-Lash and Caroline Armijo pose for a picture following their interview with Linda Villarosa during the Climate Reality Project Training in Atlanta, GA in March 2019. Their story of friendship and Danielle’s courageous battle with her brain tumor are included in Villarosa’s upcoming book “Under the Skin: Race, Inequality and the Health of a Nation,” to be published by Doubleday Winter 2021. Follow Linda’s writing on environmental justice here.  
photo credit: Caroline Armijo
Community members embraced one another as part of the Excavation Celebration, a party held to celebrate the government requiring Duke Energy to move all of their coal ash into lined storage away from North Carolina’s rivers.
photo credit: Caroline Armijo

Walnut Cove, NC is adjacent to Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Power Station, which houses 20 million tons of coal ash. Local mixed-media artist Caroline Armijo will partner 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. This project will also serve as a local pilot for environmental policy that will determine how coal ash is managed in the region. 

This project is inspired by Jester Hariston, a notable African American composer from Walnut Cove who wrote the song “Amen” from the film Lillies of the Field, which featured  Sidney Poitier.

LEARN MORE

See below for recent updates, press, and events from this project

blog
Planning for Play
Nov 12, 2020
June 18, 2018 Susan G. Solomon has written two intriguing books about play. Her latest book "The Science of Play" talks about how playgrounds fail... Read More
blog
Biography of John L. Hairston
Nov 12, 2020
July 28, 2018 RESEARCH FROM HENRY WIENCEK & CURATED BY JENNIFER MARTIN We will honor John L. Hairston during the Celebrating Courage Weekend August 11th... Read More
blog
Memories of the London Alumni Song
Nov 12, 2020
July 28, 2018 Remembering The Last Time I Heard And Sang The London High School Song WRITTEN BY DAVID E. HAIRSTON, JR. It was 1968... Read More
blog
Dr. Sanjay Gupta Visits Belews Creek
Nov 12, 2020
July 31, 2018 This past May, Dr. Sanjay Gupta visited some of our community members to discuss the health impacts they have been facing over... Read More
blog
Comments For The CCR Rules
Nov 12, 2020
October 16, 2018 This week NC Department of Environmental Quality accepted comments on the updating of the state’s CCR Rules. Many members of our ACT... Read More
blog
Build Community Build - New Workshop Series
Nov 12, 2020
December 8, 2018 This month, The Lilies Project is launching new monthly series at the Walnut Cove Public Library. The purpose of the workshops are... Read More
blog
Bouncing Towards The Gymnastics Show
Nov 12, 2020
December 10, 2018 The Christmas Holidays are quickly approaching and we are getting read for a celebration. We have several videos from the 8os that... Read More
blog
Extraterrestrial Press Coverage From 1983
Nov 12, 2020
December 10, 2018 Without the aid of Wikipedia, I am going to guess the ET came out in the Summer of 1982. The reason for... Read More
blog
State Seeks Public Feedback On Belews Creek Steam Station Draft Consent Order And Permit
Nov 12, 2020
January 17, 2019 DEQ is seeking public feedback on a proposed draft special order by consent for Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Steam Station, as well... Read More
blog
CRITICAL - Comments Still Being Collected For Duke's Final Closure Plan At Belews Creek
Nov 12, 2020
January 24, 2019 DEQ Assistant Secretary Shelia Holman addresses the Belews Creek community on a blistering cold January evening. DEQ hosted a Q&A information session... Read More
blog
Calling On Full Excavation
Nov 12, 2020
This month we wrap on our ongoing push to demand a full excavation for Belews Creek and the additional five sites throughout the state of... Read More
blog
Reflecting On Friendship, Faith, Miracles And Advent
Nov 12, 2020
Danielle Kara Bailey-Lash AUGUST 13, 1974 - NOVEMBER 30, 2019 The following are my remarks at the funeral for Danielle Bailey-Lash, held on Saturday, December... Read More
blog
Our First Labyrinth
Nov 12, 2020
Our first labyrinth was installed last week at Christ Episcopal Church almost historic flooding. Thank you to Neill Caldwell with The Stokes News for covering... Read More
blog
My Comments For The DEQ Excavation Hearing
Nov 12, 2020
Last night, representatives from NC DEQ held a hearing regarding the excavation of the coal ash from Belews Creek. Following are my comments that I... Read More
blog
Live On Voice Of The People
Jun 25, 2018
Last week, I joined Ira Tilley live on the air with Voice of the People. I was a little nervous, but Ira promised that the... Read More
blog
Brain Tumors: Inspiration Behind Organizing
May 30, 2018
May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. I am sad to share that brain tumors in our community are way too common. They struck close to... Read More
blog
Addressing The NCSU Interdisciplinary Studies Class Of 2018
May 14, 2018
What a tremendous honor to be invited to give the commencement address for my alma mater last night. Please enjoy my most hopeful speech given... Read More
blog
Speaking Out Against EPA's Proposed Rollback Of The Federal Coal Ash Rule
Apr 29, 2018
This week our partners from Appalachian Voices traveled to Arlington, VA to speak for three North Carolina moms, who are opposed to the EPA's Proposed... Read More
press
Journal Now: A Greensboro artist wants to create lilies in a field of coal ash
Dec 26, 2017
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... Read More
press
The Progressive Pulse: When life gives you coal ash, make coal ash art
Dec 14, 2017
Caroline Armijo was feeling relaxed, her mind open, during a guided meditation class when she was visited by a creative muse: Why not take coal... Read More
press
88.5 WFDD: Turning Coal Ash Into Public Art
Dec 8, 2017
Caroline Armijo recently won a $350 thousand grant from ArtPlace America’s National Creative Placemaking Fund to install her designs in Walnut Cove, near Duke Energy’s... Read More
blog
ArtPlace America Invests $8.7 Million in 23 Projects Across the Country
Dec 05, 2017
Today, we are proud to announce the 23 creative placemaking projects that will receive funding in communities of all sizes across 18 states and one...Read more
blog
The Amazing Women of ArtPlace
Mar 08, 2018
International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. To celebrate we asked some of...Read more
blog
Ashes To Art: The Intersection Of Art & Science
May 17, 2018
This past February, UNC School of Journalism students asked if I would be willing to be part of an Environmental Journalism class project. I said...Read more
blog
Creativity Lives Here: The Lilies Project
Oct 15, 2019
Walnut Cove, NC is adjacent to Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Power Station, which houses 20 million tons of coal ash. Local mixed-media artist Caroline Armijo...Read more