Home » Creative News »
New Mural on W. Trade Street is a Tribute to NC Music Legends
by Tim Miner & Brooke Brown on December 30, 2020
Queen City visual artist Abel Jackson is at it again, painting a third historic mural along West Trade Street, just a few blocks from Johnson C. Smith University and in full view of the Gold Line. (And, we have lovely photos from photographer and CLT mural hunter supreme, Brooke Brown, to give you a glimpse.)
Earlier this winter, Abel painted a mural depicting historic buildings from the Biddleville neighborhood on the exterior of the JCSU ArtFactory across the street. (More on that soon!)
Abel also painted the incredible memorial to three of Charlotte’s legendary Black leaders — J.T. Williams, Thaddeus Tate and William W. Smith — on the Mecklenburg Investment Company Building (MIC) on S. Brevard St. The MIC is one of the last surviving buildings from the old Brooklyn community which was lost to urban renewal in the 70s and 80s.
This new mural on West Trade Street is meant to be a beautiful and inspiring reminder of Black history, too. Over the past three weeks, Abel’s been assisting fellow artist Tafo, on a piece entitled, “NC8 8.” Tafo (a.k.a. Tony Feimster) is one of Abel’s teachers and designed “NC 8” to pay tribute to jazz and blues musicians born in North Carolina. This new work was supported by the Historic West End and the NoDa Neighborhood Association.
- Thelonius Monk – Groundbreaking Pianist
- Nina Simone – the “High Priestess of Soul”
- John Coltrane – Legendary Jazz Saxophonist
- Maceo Parker – Saxophonist for James Brown & Parliament Funkadelic
- Max Roach – Drummer, composer and co-founder of Debut Records
- Roberta Flack – Singer/Songwriter best known for “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”
- George Clinton – Intergalactic leader of Parliament Funkadelic
- Chuck Brown – Known as “The Godfather of Go-Go”
The work should be completed soon. Please go see it … and the incredible murals around it … for yourself. Abel will soon begin a new work he calls “The River of Life.” And you can bet The Biscuit — and Brooke — will share it as soon as the paint hits the wall.
Explore a Gallery of Brooke Brown’s Photos
