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past projects
In our nearly 20 year history, Chapman has been a part of some incredible community projects.
Spartanburg Downtown Cultural District
In 2015, the S.C. Arts Commission awarded cultural district status to the City of Spartanburg for Downtown Spartanburg. A “Cultural District” is designated by the SC Legislature as a specific geographical area in a city or town that has a concentration of cultural facilities, activities, and assets. With the help of Chapman’s Culture Counts initiative, which began in 2013, the Spartanburg Downtown Cultural District was approved by the City of Spartanburg and South Carolina Arts Commission in 2015.
This district includes indoor live performance venues, outdoor performance venues, galleries and exhibit spaces, murals and public art displays, museums, artist studios and workshops, historic sites, green spaces, arboretums, creative industry and cultural jobs, and more than 1,000 events and festivals open to the public.
Seeing Spartanburg in a New Light
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Seeing Spartanburg in a New Light brought nine temporary art installations to public spaces in ten neighborhoods throughout the city. The project was a partnership among the City of Spartanburg Police and Community Relations Departments, internationally renowned light and digital media artist Erwin Redl, the Chapman Cultural Center, and neighborhood associations in the city of Spartanburg. Seeing Spartanburg in a New Light, built on National Night Out, an annual event that promotes crime prevention efforts, police-community partnership, and neighborhood camaraderie. In late Fall 2015, artist Erwin Redl began collaborating with the city’s police department and selected neighborhood associations to design and develop LED light installations that would transform open spaces and create safer, more vibrant neighborhoods.
Northside Artlets
The Artlets were the brainchild of the Northside Voyagers, who wanted public art in their neighborhood that would help them show off the prolific talents of Northside residents. They wanted places to play music, stage plays and poetry readings, sing, dance, and just simply be creative with their families and neighbors. Thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and from many generous community partners, the Northside neighborhood is home to:
- The Nest at 159 Pearl Street
- The Neighborhood Porch at 530 Brawley Street
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The Butterfly Theatres at 297 Farley Street
Creative Crosswalk Project
Chapman, in partnership with the City of Spartanburg, OneSpartanburg Inc, and USC Upstate, implemented crosswalk murals at three intersections in downtown Spartanburg. The project sought to use public art to create a more vibrant, safe, accessible downtown for pedestrians; increase the inventory of public art in Spartanburg’s Downtown Cultural District; and engage with local artists and provide opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and professional development.
Spartanburg Area Mental Health Mural - You Matter
Spartanburg Area Mental Health, with funding from the Mary Black Foundation, partnered with Chapman to install a mural that brought a message of hope to the people in our community struggling with mental health issues. The artist was tasked with designing a mural to convey a sense of belonging, of not being alone, of the power of community, and a reminder that “your story doesn’t end here - You Matter.” Artist Lauren Andreu was selected after a public artist call and the mural was officially unveiled through a public ceremony with City of Spartanburg officials on January 3.
The mural is located in downtown Spartanburg within the Spartanburg Downtown Cultural District on the wall of the downtown Starbucks.
Cleveland Park Walkway Project
Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation partnered with Chapman to recruit artists to design and implement a public art installation between Cleveland Park and Berry Field, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The walkway mural was a collaborative project initiated by Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation, managed by Chapman, and created by artists Frankie Zombie and Adrian Meadows. The goals of the project were to create a brighter, safer, more pleasing walkway for pedestrians; to increase the inventory of public art in Spartanburg; and engage with local artists while providing opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and professional development.
Hope Mural
The Hope Mural in downtown Spartanburg was an initiative of Come Closer, a city movement made up of a group of pastors, ministry workers, business and civic leaders who desire to love the city of Spartanburg to life in Christ. Come Closer focuses on important areas of need in the community such as poverty & homelessness, children & orphans, prisoners, internationals & refugees, racial reconciliation and fighting against human trafficking.
Spartanburg is a place where hope exists. It is present in our community and available to everyone. For people of faith, we know that there is hope in Jesus who has the power to change lives. The HOPE mural is meant to be a gift to the residents and visitors of Spartanburg from the Christian faith community. It is meant to direct people who are struggling in our community to services that can help them and bring them hope.
ReGenesis Healthcare Mural
ReGenesis Healthcare Center, Family Medicine, Pediatrics & Teen Center, on S. Church Street, Spartanburg, SC sought to implement a mural with a theme of African savanna and jungle animals in bright colors. The medical facility predominantly serves children and families, and the mural was intended to bring color and cheer to the facility and have a welcoming and calming effect on patients. The mural was designed and completed by artist Breanna Matthews.
