The first day of the trail started in Charlotte, North Carolina. Just a couple days before we left for this trip, I found out there were loads more than just two frescos in Charlotte Mr. Long has now finished. Here I was thinking that the Bank of America fresco and St. Peter's were the only ones. I'd had the book "Wet Wall Tattoos" by Richard Maschal for years. Mr. Maschal covered mainly the story of the St. Peter's fresco, with some information on the Bank of America one as well. So, there I sat in ignorant bliss thinking these were all there were to see.
Richard Maschal's
Was I ever ever wrong! Mr. Long has work in many sites in North Carolina. Thus, it is now called the "Ben Long Fresco trail". When I realized this, I grew more and more excited! Quickly printed out basic information for each site & mapped a tentative plan on how to manage seeing all the frescos in 3 days time. Googlemaps was telling me it was over 6 hours straight driving time, not including stops, but there was no way we could pack in all the sites in one day. Not with many of the sites being in mountainous terrain, especially. Not for this kid, anyhoo.
I love North Carolina, deeply. Especially the western ridge where the Appalachian Mountains exist. Or, as they are better known "The Smokies". The Smoky Mountains are called this because there usually is a misty haze of clouds over them much of the time. So they are cloaked in this atmospheric condition and it lends an immense aura of intrique and mystery to them. There are also glowing eerie lights many areas have especially at night which locals call "foxfire". There are myths which surround the foxfire such as fairie glens, etc., but I believe it has been found to be a certain type vegetation which gives off phosphorescant light.
Sorry, I digress somewhat, but I just love North Carolina, do forgive me.
So, we rented a vehicle (I've had car problems and gotten stuck on a steep mountain climb TO North Carolina, actually is why I rent nowadays!) and trucked to Charlotte.
Charlotte is a lovely modern city. They have added all manners of trees, street lamps, benches, statuary, modern street signage, mass transit systems, ample parking garages, and lovely pavement work to their central city to make it a glorious place in which to be in for the most part. Which we did on Saturday and especially Sunday. Sunday morning it was quiet and only a few people out and about. It felt like we nearly had this whole city to ourselves and it was a lovely feeling!
We managed on Saturday to get our bearings somewhat and located the secular fresco in the Bank of America. It is a massive triptych of panels unlike anything on a size I'd previously seen of Mr. Long's works. They allow photographs of the murals if you ask, but nothing else inside the building. And they quickly let you know this as my daughter had attempted to photograph what is in front of the frescos and it wasn't allowed. There were at least two guards with walkie-talkies I saw while there. I'm sure there is someone somewhere watching on security monitors. You're certainly aware of being closely watched when you are in or near this building.
Ben Long's triptych panels inside
the Bank of America, Charlotte, North Carolina
Richard Maschal's "Wet Wall Tattoos: Ben Long and the Art of Fresco" book
Was I ever ever wrong! Mr. Long has work in many sites in North Carolina. Thus, it is now called the "Ben Long Fresco trail". When I realized this, I grew more and more excited! Quickly printed out basic information for each site & mapped a tentative plan on how to manage seeing all the frescos in 3 days time. Googlemaps was telling me it was over 6 hours straight driving time, not including stops, but there was no way we could pack in all the sites in one day. Not with many of the sites being in mountainous terrain, especially. Not for this kid, anyhoo.
I love North Carolina, deeply. Especially the western ridge where the Appalachian Mountains exist. Or, as they are better known "The Smokies". The Smoky Mountains are called this because there usually is a misty haze of clouds over them much of the time. So they are cloaked in this atmospheric condition and it lends an immense aura of intrique and mystery to them. There are also glowing eerie lights many areas have especially at night which locals call "foxfire". There are myths which surround the foxfire such as fairie glens, etc., but I believe it has been found to be a certain type vegetation which gives off phosphorescant light.
Sorry, I digress somewhat, but I just love North Carolina, do forgive me.
So, we rented a vehicle (I've had car problems and gotten stuck on a steep mountain climb TO North Carolina, actually is why I rent nowadays!) and trucked to Charlotte.
Charlotte is a lovely modern city. They have added all manners of trees, street lamps, benches, statuary, modern street signage, mass transit systems, ample parking garages, and lovely pavement work to their central city to make it a glorious place in which to be in for the most part. Which we did on Saturday and especially Sunday. Sunday morning it was quiet and only a few people out and about. It felt like we nearly had this whole city to ourselves and it was a lovely feeling!
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| Lovely alee through central Charlotte on peaceful Sunday morning |
We managed on Saturday to get our bearings somewhat and located the secular fresco in the Bank of America. It is a massive triptych of panels unlike anything on a size I'd previously seen of Mr. Long's works. They allow photographs of the murals if you ask, but nothing else inside the building. And they quickly let you know this as my daughter had attempted to photograph what is in front of the frescos and it wasn't allowed. There were at least two guards with walkie-talkies I saw while there. I'm sure there is someone somewhere watching on security monitors. You're certainly aware of being closely watched when you are in or near this building.
the Bank of America, Charlotte, North Carolina
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