I’m an Art Pop now!

Actually, Pop is short for popular, not a male parent figure. In which case I certainly do not qualify. But I am proud to be one of twenty artists chosen for the 2023 ArtPop Street Gallery!

ArtPop is a non-profit movement created ten years ago to get artworks out into the open, for all the people of Charlotte to see. So far, over 400 artists have been involved.

I’m very excited about this, for a few reasons. First of all, our art gallery is huge—the entire city of Charlotte, where I live. It takes art out into the open, for everyone to enjoy, and the show will be up and about all year long.

Second, I get to have a billboard again! My first career was in advertising, and my favorite medium to work in, even above making TV ads, was outdoor boards. (See Why I Paint).

Third, the vinyl displays Adams Outdoor stretches over the billboards are not destined for the trash. Other artists will repurpose the material, in fun ways. Maybe I’ll ask for mine—it’d make a magnificent circus tent.

My piece is called Patrol 7.

Digital ArtPop billboard, in Downtown Charlotte. It’s a little bigger than the version I painted!

Patrol 7. Note the similarities between this painting and others to be found in my Sentinel Series.

Patrol 7, the original oil painting. It’s roughly 24” wide. I scanned the image, enlarged and repositioned the flying whatever it is, and cropped the image to fit the billboard.

Waiting for someone to notice my painting at the Reveal Event last December. Photo by Alex Cason.

Vinyl billboard on South Boulevard.

 

Overjoyed (or over-caffeinated?) at the Reveal Event last December. Note the cool model of a billboard I’m holding, provided by Adams Outdoor for each artist. Photo by Alex Cason.

ArtPop in Times Square?! Yes, we all got time on this board for the whole month of February!

Some more of the great art included in this year’s street gallery.

My billboard, at night. Rather regal, I think.

Electronic board, in Charlotte.

Light rail posting, downtown Charlotte. Photo by Matt Henesy.

Electronic board, in Charlotte.