GoApex Route 1 riders can now see a splash of color on their bus trip, thanks to a new collection of sidewalk art from ten local/regional artists who participated in the Town of Apex’s Bus Stop Sidewalk Art Project this year.
Between August and November, artists painted designs at GoApex bus stops as part of a Town-sponsored project to raise awareness of the new transit service, and enhance the bus riding experience.
The idea for the project first came even before GoApex Route 1 had launched service. Members of the Apex Transit Advisory Committee, a group that is charged with reviewing transit plans and services and making recommendations to the mayor and town council, expressed support for adding public art at stops, and explored a few different ideas. The group eventually agreed that a sidewalk art project could be a great first step.
Town staff then identified 12 bus stops that would be a good fit for the project and released an online community survey in summer 2022 to gather feedback from the public on what art styles or themes would be desired, as well as any potential concerns about the project. Based on survey results, the most popular styles that community members wanted to see were designs related to history or culture, or abstract or natural beauty. Some respondents provided examples of what makes Apex feel special or feel like home.
After garnering support for the project from Apex Town Council, staff issued a “Call for Artists” in spring 2023 to find local and regional artists interested in the project.
The Town received 44 design concepts from 18 artists. A selection committee made up of members of the Transit Advisory Committee, members of the Apex Public Art Committee, and town staff reviewed the applications and initial design concepts. They took the results from the community survey into consideration, as well as originality and artistic quality, previous experience working on public art projects, availability/commitment to meeting project installation requirements and timelines, and personal, professional, or artistic connection to Apex or North Carolina.
Katie Schwing, the town’s senior transit planner and project manager for this project, was pleased with the artist response. “I was really impressed by the number of local artists that applied, as well as the quality of their submissions. It was nice to have options to choose from, to help match the feedback we received as well as work well in this large-format sidewalk project.”
Once the 12 final designs were selected, there were also logistical factors to consider. The Town needed to seek an encroachment permit from NCDOT for painting art in the NCDOT right-of-way, and the designs had to meet the requirements of the NCDOT “Art in the Right-of-Way” policy, which ensures the pieces are not distracting to motorists and avoid offensive designs or advertisements, among other considerations.
The artists were required to use a low-slip paint product specially formulated for wood and concrete floors, which limited the color options, but the artists worked within those limitations to refine their design palettes. Katie Schwing said that staff at the local Sherwin Williams store on Laura Duncan Road worked with the Town and the artists to select colors from the Porch and Floor Enamel products that would work.
Those interested in viewing the pieces will be able to see them on the Otocast app, which currently showcases the Town’s sculpture walk. The Otocast app provides a map of the installations as well as photos and an option to hear an audio file of the artists describing their work.
Apex Public Art Committee chair Tom Colwell said he thought the art was a terrific addition to the growing public art scene in Apex, noting, “It is great to see the growing interest in public art from the community, and the support from the Town of Apex has been fantastic, which is evident by their drive to make this project happen.” As he shared with Town staff, “I hope that residents and visitors enjoy the public art, and that it inspires more individuals, groups and businesses to install public art on their properties.”
Sean Durham, one of the local artists selected for the project, said that he hopes people are “invigorated by all the art they see at the bus stops around town.” He noted, “I have always been drawn to public art, and this project in particular, because I want to contribute as much as I can to Apex.”
Poonam Menon, another of the selected artists, also hoped that “each art piece will give [the public] a smile or a message while they travel. This project is my first public art. I love to paint…and getting opportunities from the community we live in is a great feeling.”
So, what comes next for GoApex? After the positive response, Town staff are keeping the option open to identify future opportunities for public art. But before then, the top priorities are adding in more amenities such as benches and shelters at stops in the coming year or so.
The Town will also launch a public survey this spring to find out what priorities the community would like to see for improved transit service in town—such as enhancements to GoApex Route 1 or service to new destinations around town.
A map showing the art locations, along with other information and news about GoApex services, can be found on the Town’s transit webpage at www.apexnc.org/GoApex.
List of Artists:
Noah Bavonese of Asheville
Rachel Castaneda of Apex
Max Dowdle of Hillsborough
Sean Durham of Apex
Hannah Eichhorst of Apex
Britt Flood of Chapel Hill
Poonam Menon of Apex
Johna Ritchie of Apex
Olivia Valiante, recently of Raleigh
Jesse White of Durham
