Jeansboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
#Iclapfor #Jeansborostrong
One of the first cities in the world that beamed outside of the U.K was Greensboro, North Carolina, USA - fitting giving the city is nicknamed ‘Jeansboro’
Ian Berry with Evan Morrison in 2018 when he visited Greensboro
Ian visited the famous Cone Denim White Oak plant
Denim Hands for Denim City
The Clapping Hands have been projected in Greensboro, North Carolina in the City’s main Lebauer Park. The city known as Jeansboro because of links such as the historic White Oak plant from Cone Denim (Ian Berry used their material in his New York Secret Garden) Wrangler Jeans (and now LEE) Avery Dennison, Burlington and with Hudson's Hill - who’s owner, Evan Morrison, helped put this together.
The community's textile backbone was on full display as the denim Clapping Hands clapped for #JeansboroStrong under the pink glow of Janet Echelman's Where We Met sculpture, the design of which is derived from Greensboro's historic textile railroad routes coming in and out of the city.
"This art piece has been shown in other areas around the world," said Rob Overman, Greensboro Downtown Parks executive director. "It’s really unique that it has landed in Greensboro. It's intended for folks to pause and take a look, enjoy it and keep moving," Overman said.
The piece was inspired by the nightly clapping that has taken place in recent weeks to show support for workers on the front lines of the pandemic. Evan Morrison, owner of Hudson's Hill, has stepped up to manufacture desperately-needed PPE gear. Morrison helped to connect the artist to Cheryl Stewart of the Community Foundation’s Public Art Endowment and Action Greensboro’s Cecelia Thompson. Together, they worked to scout locations to display the piece and landed in LeBauer Park. The display begins around sunset, which is expected to be at 8:12 p.m., above the Great Lawn in the downtown park at 208 N. Davie St.
The piece will be shown in conjunction with "Light the Night," a community-wide celebration of UNCG and N.C. A&T graduates. Friday and Saturday nights, Greensboro’s downtown buildings will light up in blue and gold to celebrate graduates from both schools.
“What’s so unique about this piece are the multiple threads which tie it to Greensboro, The denim collage is a nod to our rich textile history, the international artist was connected to our community through Hudson’s Hill, and its first display will occur in conjunction with a salute to our local graduates,” “This project couldn’t have come at a better time as we work to lift the spirits of our community and reassert that better times lie ahead.” Overman said.
Organizers hope to display the piece in other locations throughout downtown, as a way to show continued appreciation of front-line workers in the coming weeks.
Ian Berry visited the city in 2018 and had a guided tour by Evan, seeing White Oak and staying at Revolution Mill.