^{e/motion, a creation by Olivier Landreville© Init}

Academy Street Artwork Projects (ASAP) presents GLOW, a temporary outdoor display of light and technology art installations on view in downtown Cary from January to March. These pop-up, temporary installations bring a sense of wonder to the darkest parts of winter, surprising and delighting viewers when the artworks are discovered. The annual Under the Silver Moon lantern parade kicks off GLOW  with an evening of community, light, and celebration for the whole family! GLOW will create a dynamic sense of place that adds energy to the street environment, creating memories and moments of celebration for all who encounter the artworks.

Learn more about GLOW.

Spring Daze will host large scale, botanical inspired, sculptures by artists Lisa Gaither and Martin Wannam.

Lisa is a world renowned chalk artist and muralist. As a public artist she uses her creativity to inject joy and beauty into the daily lives of the community.  Her floral sculptures and pop up murals will create moments of color and whimsy to the festival. Pathways covered with Lisa's tempera painted vines will offer opportunities for kids and adults alike to add their own floral decoration in sidewalk chalk to the mural. She also the curator of the Town of Cary’s annual Lazy Daze chalk walk.

Martin is an artist and assistant professor of studio art at UNC Chapel Hill. His larger than life inflatable sculptures will create vibrant landmarks at Spring Daze. Through his sculpture La Ceiba, Wannam reimagines the ancient and sacred Ceiba tree using contemporary materials. The air supporting the inflatable is symbolic of the hope and joy necessary to create a beautiful future for all. His inflatable sculpture Licaste X is a vibrant futuristic flower inspired by the Monja Blanca, the national flower of Guatemala.

Click here to learn more!

To celebrate the 50th Lazy Daze; 15 chalk artists from around the country will adorn the festival with vibrant murals. Chalk curator and public artist Lisa Gaither shares a message about the inspiration for the murals:

“50 years ago, Lazy Daze came about with the idea to “Celebrate the arts and community… celebrating excellence”.

In reading about the festival’s beginnings I decided artists should create pieces that expose what makes them shine, create something of their strength, create what brings out their best.
In doing so this celebrates the artist and means that the public will be exposed to their absolute best."

-Lisa Gaither

Learn more about the Chalk Walk here!

 ^{"Fly Away Home" by Patrick Dougherty, 2022. Photography by Kurt Hilton} 

In March 2022, artist Patrick Dougherty led a community art project creating a monumental willow sculpture in Carpenter Park. Known as the “Stick Wizard”, Dougherty has made willow sculptures all over the world - and now Cary! Dougherty lives in Chapel Hill, NC and his "internationally renowned art manages to make a permanent impact with a temporary footprint. It never strays very far from the notion that one day the wind will blow and this will all be gone –but not before we get a chance to revel in it.” -Jim Moriarty, Pine Straw Magazine

Click here to learn more about Patrick Dougherty and the Willow Sculpture Project.