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The Biophilic Community That Wants To Change How We All Live
When I arrived at the Biophilic Leadership Summit in late April, I fully expected to be thrown into the deep end of academic and professional discussions dedicated to a concept striving to evolve into a worldwide movement. The roster of researchers and practitioners spanning fields from architecture, landscape design, horticulture, education, urban planning, governance, and the neurosciences promised big ideas in response to the enormous challenges existing between housing, health, and the environment. Some were there to divulge ongoing research, others to promote practices, and some even to rally debate about the core tenets of biophilic design.
Serenbe’s planners can certainly see the forest for the trees – and vice versa. The verdant expanse of Chattahoochee Hill Country in Georgia located about 40 minutes outside of Atlanta is now home for over 800 residents and ever growing. Photo: Serenbe
Oft connected to the work of social ecologist Stephen Kellert and Edward O. Wilson’s seminal 1984 biological hypothetical Biophilia, practitioners of biophilic design endeavor to reorient the built environment into holistic experiences beyond donning the veneer of nature. In simplest terms, biophiliacs believe we’ve evolved as a species to be our happiest, healthiest, and most productive surrounded by nature, so why not design our communities to tap into that deep seeded wellspring of good vibes?
The multi-day conference focused upon the theme of “Emerging Concepts in Biophilia.” “Nature & Neuroaesthetics” with Anjan Chatterjee, M.D. in Conversation with Jennifer Walsh kicked off the first of many presentations.
Serenbe co-founder, Steve Nygren
With obvious intent, the strongest case for biophilic design as a realizable goal is the site of the summit itself. Founded by Steve Nygren and Marie Lupo Nygren in 2004, Serenbe exists both as a developing proposition and an established example of biophilic design put into action. It’s also a residential concept that isn’t really new at all.
Biophilic Leadership Summit speakers such as Bill Browning of Terrapin Bright Green (above), architect Tuwanda Green, Professor of Architecture Phillip James Tabb, and Professor of Neurology, Psychology, and Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania Anjan Chatterjee were amongst experts in attendance discussing biophilic design from various perspectives. Author and former Senior Partner and Global Managing Director for design firm IDEO Fred Dust presenting the keynote.
Comprising an interconnected network of homes, small businesses, parks, community centers, and even a working farm, the sum of Serenbe evokes a nostalgic and idyllic remembrance of small English countryside townships, complete with hallmarks of agrarian structures interspersed alongside modern architecture worthy of a Dwell feature (and in fact, a few homes have been featured as noteworthy architecture across numerous outlets).
The forest is ever present, with creeks and footpaths winnowing between homes, the sounds and scents of the natural world just as much a neighbor as the residents themselves.
Serenbe is shaped by twelve biophilic principles, each intended to influence planning and design in service of four goals: community engagement, national security, global balance, and personal wellbeing.
Nygren says Serenbe’s imprint upon the landscape is always intended to be minimal, abiding by a 70/30 ratio no matter how much land is eventually appropriated into its limits, with 70% of total land protected from development, the remaining 30% developed with minimal intrusion. The resulting neighborhood(s) invite walking, biking, and unplanned socializing as natural outcomes of a plan deemphasizing the car (automobiles are visible aplenty, possibly more a charge against American lifestyle than city planning).
Exploring Serenbe by foot, its hard not to consider the trees as much part of the citizenry as the residents themselves, an orchestrated sensation conjured by its 16 miles of nature trails principles and the integration of “sacred geometry” – shapes found in the reoccurring patterns and ratios within nature (think: Fibonacci Spiral) – prevalent in every small and large detail strewn throughout the town’s limits.
2021 Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Serenbe Designer Showhouse, built by South Haven with Landscape Design by Floralis
The Naturally House in the Serenbe hamlet of Mado was architecturally inspired by a treehouse.
Architecture in Serenbe ranges from traditional, historic, mid-century to contemporary. Buyers can purchase plots of land and hire their choice in architects if desired (requiring they meet certain sustainable design qualifications).
Nygren makes special effort to point out while Serenbe is suburban in plan, its was conceived from the start to invite a level of density no longer permitted in most new community developments. “See that large house there?” asks Nygren, stopping to point toward a residence during a tour. “Across the street we’ve built several houses closely together. And over there are apartments and businesses. That sort of multi-residence isn’t allowed elsewhere because of zoning laws.”
Larger plots measured in acreage are available to develop, but just as numerous are slim multi-storied condos and smaller homes. Senior residential housing is available, inviting an inter-generational populace; Nygren’s grandson scurried happily across a park to greet him along the tour. In certain sections of Serenbe this density imparts the community with an old European city vibe, complete with bridges and narrow cobblestone paths. The only tells being the general emptiness of many sections of the community, alongside an occasionally artificial veneer of age (this can sometimes give Serenbe the semblance of a beautiful movie set still waiting for cast and crew to arrive).
But the most visible imbalance in Serenbe is its lack of socio-economic-racial diversity, something Nygren acknowledges in passing before emphasizing the availability of affordable housing and rental options as a developing antidote for sprawl.
Beyond Serenbe’s architectural diversity and communal planning, it is the blurred transition between Serenbe’s residential plots and the surrounding natural landscape that proves quietly satisfying for residents and visitors alike. Everywhere shaded stairs and walkways needle between homes, allow walking as an inviting option. Viridescent canopies of trees and the understory untouched by landscaping are a constant presence, with curving sight lines rather than stringent grids defining the community. This hazy and meandering intersection of personal and communal space results in a gradient rather than the harshly demarcated lines typical of modern American suburban living.
Serenbe’s tapestry of green spaces are communal threads intentionally positioned to tighten the bonds of its residents across specific neighborhoods (“hamlets” in Serenbe parlance), independent businesses, and communal spaces.
What began as a 60-acre farm purchased by the Nygrens in 1991 as an escape from the urban life rather than a permanent address has slowly evolved into a convincing argument housing should be developed with considerable thought beyond all the selling points currently defining real estate. Biophilic design can be the foundation, roof, and walls to a better life. For better or worse, Serenbe may be the closest realization to a suburban utopia imagined through the lens of American society ever realized. In fact, its success has gone on to garner attention and inspire new developments of environmentally-focused, integrated walkable communities, with more to come.
Artist and photographer Thomas Jackson tulle and plastic cup installations inhabit secret corners of Serenbe’s forests.
A sense of surprise permeates every section of Serenbe, including public art strewn in easily accessible and within hidden pockets of its forested border, something that elicited joy throughout our tour and my own exploration of the community. A memorable example was found behind Serenbe’s Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop, the smallest Silver LEED-certified building in the nation. Just around its corner, an intimate courtyard hosts a chalkboard wall covered in friendly messages left by visitors and residents alike. A quarter turn of the heel to the left and a dappled shaded path hints views of shaded woodlands – tempting awe rather than fear. Getting lost and eventually finding your way in Serenbe seems to be essential to the experience.
This Photographer Captures The Essence Of Daily Life In The Japanese Streets, And Here’s The Result (42 New Pics)
Shin Noguchi, a talented photographer based in Kamakura and working in Tokyo, possesses a remarkable ability to capture intriguing snapshots of peculiar, and even somewhat whacky moments involving passers-by.
His photographs, taken in various locations throughout Japan (mostly in Kamakura), present an unbiased perspective, offering glimpses into authentic, unguarded moments that evoke a sense of mystery and occasional humor. Noguchi’s keen eye for detail and his aptitude for seizing spontaneous instances allow him to create a captivating visual narrative that showcases the quirkiness and unique charm of everyday life in Japan.
The photographer has also been featured on Bored Panda previously, and if you’d like to see more of his photographs, then make sure to click here!
More info: Instagram | shinnoguchiphotography.com
Frenzied Emotions Swirl Through Changyu Zou’s Poetry-Inspired Illustrations
“Starry Bird 7.” All images © Changyu Zou, shared with permission
Tinged with magic and metaphor, the energetic illustrations by Savannah-based Chinese artist Changyu Zou are emotionally candid and reflect her reactions to verse. “I think poetry uses the most beautiful words to express what’s most real in the poet’s heart. Although these words sometimes are very abstract and not easy to understand, they can give me unlimited imagination,” she says, sharing that she tends to pull a few terms or phrases from a poem and then use those as the basis for her drawings.
Zou strives for an interplay between the original text and her visual language, which often relies on a feverish mishmash of figures and symbols. The mixed-media illustrations—she works with both digital and analog materials, including gouache, acrylics, crayons, colored pencils, and sometimes collaged details—draw directly from the Misty Poets, a tradition that emerged in defiance of the restrictive Cultural Revolution of 20th-century China and is characterized by its obscure haziness. This mysterious and indeterminate quality arises in Zou’s works as birds, human hands, cars, houses, and other objects appear to whirl in chaotic motion.
In addition to the Misty Poets, the illustrator mentions Kahlil Gibran, Haizi, and Rabindranath Tagore as influences. One line of Tagore’s “Starry Bird” reads “light in my heart the evening star of rest and then let the night whisper to me of love” and inspired Zou’s series by the same name. ” Because Tagore’s poetry expresses the harmony of life and nature, I chose elements for these to represent humans, such as cars and houses, and also elements that symbolize nature, such as birds,” she shares. “They are together on a planetary ring, expressing a state of harmony and love.”
Zou is preparing for a solo exhibition this fall, so keep an eye on her Instagram for news about that show and other projects. (via Creative Boom)
“Starry Bird 1”
“Plan Adviser 1”
“The World Remade”
“Starry Bird 6”
“Starry Bird 4”
“Plan Adviser 2”
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Frenzied Emotions Swirl Through Changyu Zou’s Poetry-Inspired Illustrations appeared first on Colossal.
Rams Set for 2023 Spring Commencement Activities
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – It’s Commencement Week at Colorado State University, and 73 Rams will become graduates this weekend!
Representing every sport program the department offers, these Rams have earned their degrees from one of the nation’s leading academic research institutions and can proudly call themselves a college graduate. Though many have elected to return to complete their collegiate eligibility next season and beyond, commencement offers another step in the closing of this chapter for many of these Ram graduates.
A complete list of graduates below. Commencement activities begin on Friday and continue through the weekend inside Moby Arena.
Men’s Basketball
Nicholas Bassett (Business Administration)
James Moors (Business Administration)
Isaiah Stevens (Communication Studies)
John Tonje (Business Administration)
Women’s Basketball
Petra Farkas (Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts)
Mckenna Hofschild (Business Administration)
Sydney Mech (Art)
Destiny Thurman (Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts)
Cheer
Emily Brandenburg (History and Sociology)
Sarah Klatt (Psychology)
Grace Linscott (Biological Science)
Antonia Lopez (Psychology)
Juan Barreras Luna (Social Work)
Sophie Vigil (English Education)
Presley Porter (Business Marketing)
Bailey Usher (Biology)
Football
David Bailey (Interdisciplinary Studies)
Troy Golden (Communication Studies)
Mohamed Kamara (Human Development & Family Studies)
Dane Olson (Business Administration)
Jaylen Thomas (Business Administration)
Gary Williams (Interdisciplinary Studies)
Golden Poms
Mackenzie Hora (Psychology)
Rylee Zurbrigen (Human Development and Family Studies)
Jacy Pringle (Communications)
Mackenzie Lorenzen (Early Childhood Education)
Grace Whitworth (Health and Exercise Science)
Rylie Shipman (Human Dimensions of Natural Resources)
Mckenzie McMillan (Health and Exercise Science)
Gianna Jackson (Communications)
Men’s Golf
Connor Jones (Business Admin – Marketing)
Women’s Golf
Andrea Bergsdottir (Health and Exercise Science)
Tomine Bjerkelo (Human Development & Family Studies)
Gabriella Minier (Business Administration)
Soccer
Kaitlyn Abrams (HES Health Promotion)
Aleyse Evers (Biomedical Sciences)
Rachel Hall (Business Administration)
Softball
Peyton Allen (Business Administration )
Julia Cabral (Communications Studies)
Kaitlyn Cook (Health and Exercise Science)
Swimming and Diving
Jessica Albanna (Health and Exercise Science)
Katelyn Bartley (Mechanical Engineering )
Amanda Hoffman (Human Development and Family Studies)
Liza Lunina (Nutrition and Food Science)
Sarah Mundy (Nutrition and Food Science)
Caroline Perry (Health and Exercise Science)
Hannah Sykes (Nutrition and Food Science)
Sydney Whitty (Human Development and Family Studies)
Tennis
Radka Buzkova (Communication Studies)
Emily Dush (Tourism Management)
Ky Ecton (Finance)
Sarka Richterova (Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts)
Men’s Track and Field
Dawson Besst (Biomedical Sciences)
Ryan Birkmeier (Civil Engineering )
Noah Bodewes (Biomedical Sciences)
Mason Brown (Business Administration )
Thomas Chaston (Economics)
Brock Dykema (Health and Exercise Science)
John Fulton (Biological Sciences)
Lars Mitchel (Mechanical Engineering)
Michael Mooney (Communication Studies)
Jared Putney (Communication Studies)
Cameron Ross (Economics)
Drew Thompson (Biomedical Sciences)
Women’s Track and Field
Bailee Carr (Business Admin-Accounting )
Yolonda Johnson (Political Science)
Lexie Keller (Human Development & Family Studies)
Lauren Neugeboren (Biomedical Sciences)
Sydney Petersen (Biomedical Sciences)
Annabel Stafford (Animal Science)
Lauren Turner (Environmental Health)
Carly Wall (Biomedical Sciences)
Volleyball
Kennedy Stanford (Journalism and Media Communication)
“Something For The Pain” Will Make You Look at Your Meds in a New Light
Artist Beverly Fishman has had the same focus throughout her decades-long career – abstract investigations of disease, identity, and medicine. Over the past 20 years, she’s leaned further into the latter, particularly the promises of pharmaceutical cures. Her collection of sculptural paintings – Something For The Pain – is currently on exhibit at Miles McEnery Gallery in New York City. This is Fishman’s third solo exhibition with the gallery, which will be on view through June 3rd, exploring the concept of polypharmacy, or the prescription of multiple medicines to one individual.
In Something For The Pain, the artist uses urethane neons that glow and matte geometric forms of wood to illustrate an individual’s unique prescription cocktail. These elements are stacked into compositions that include some complete shapes and others partial to represent whole and partial doses. In the collection, Fishman has used parenthetical titles to indicate each ailment being treated.
Overall the sculptural paintings give off a happy vibe, only becoming a bit unsettling once the inspiration and titles are revealed. Seemingly floating, their edges are slightly beveled towards the wall where the neon undersides reflect an artificial glow. Fishman’s Something For The Pain will likely leave you with more questions about Big Pharma and the medications you’re taking for your own well-being.
The Detroit-based artist has been the subject of recent solo exhibitions at The Contemporary Dayton, Dayton, Ohio; Kavi Gupta Gallery, Chicago, Illinois; Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, East Lansing, Michigan; Walter Storms Galerie, Munich, Germany; Gavlak Gallery, Los Angeles, California; Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, New York; Library Street Collective, Detroit, Michigan; Ronchini Gallery, London, United Kingdom; and the CUE Art Foundation, New York, New York, among others.
Untitled (Abortion, Abortion, Anxiety, Depression), 2023 Urethane paint on wood, 45 x 41 1/2 inches, 114.3 x 105.4 cm
Untitled (Abortion, Anxiety, Anxiety, Depression, Epilepsy), 2022 Urethane paint on wood, 42 1/2 x 73 inches,
108 x 185.4 cm
Untitled (Abortion, Depression, Abortion), 2022 Urethane paint on wood, 65 x 56 1/4 inches, 165.1 x 142.9 cm
Untitled (Alcoholism, Anxiety, Depression, Abortion), 2022 Urethane paint on wood, 48 x 118 inches, 121.9 x 299.7 cm
Untitled (Abortion, Depression, Depression), 2022 Urethane paint on wood, 45 x 42 inches, 114.3 x 106.7 cm
Untitled (Birth Control, Abortion, Birth Control, Birth Control, Pain), 2023 / Urethane paint on wood, 48 x 117 inches, 121.9 x 297.2 cm
Untitled (Abortion, Opioid Addiction, Panic Disorder, Birth Control), 2022 Urethane paint on wood, 44 x 44 1/2 inches, 111.8 x 113 cm
Untitled (Depression, Depression, ADHD, Diabetes), 2022 Urethane paint on wood, 43 x 41 1/4 inches, 109.2 x 105.1 cm
Untitled (GERD, Parkinson’s, Depression, Insomnia), 2023 Urethane paint on wood, 44 1/4 x 82 3/4 inches, 112.4 x 210.2 cm
Untitled (Insomnia, Anxiety, Osteoporosis, Anxiety, Muscle Spasm), 2023 Urethane paint on wood, 45 x 45 inches, 114.3 x 114.3 cm
Untitled (High Blood Pressure, Depression, Depression, Abortion, Anxiety), 2022 Urethane paint on wood, 48 x 120 inches, 121.9 x 304.8 cm
Untitled (Insomnia, Weight Loss, Insomnia, Opioid Addiction, Birth Control), 2022 Urethane paint on wood, 44 x 80 inches, 111.8 x 203.2 cm
Untitled (Migraine, ADHD, Pain, Pain), 2022 Urethane paint on wood, 44 x 43 5/8 inches, 111.8 x 110.8 cm
Untitled (Missing Doses, Abortion, Abortion, Anxiety, Depression), 2023 Urethane paint on wood
Untitled (Osteoporosis, Abortion, Depression, Anxiety, Birth Control), 2022 Urethane paint on wood, 44 x 40 inches, 111.8 x 101.6 cm
To learn more, or to see Something For The Pain in person before June 3, 2023, visit milesmcenery.com.
The Art of: Assessing the Yield
Hurricane season is an uneasy time for Wesley Rentz ’02. As senior director for Southeast Cotton Operation at Olam Cotton, he’s tasked with buying cotton futures — usually two years in advance — and cotton bales at the farm gate. Asa rain-set crop, the timing and the amount of rainfall is the difference between a harvest of low-grade to mid-grade bolls. And that translates into dollars in or out of pocket.
The Southeast, he explained, doesn’t typically produce high-grade cotton, and that’s directly linked to the weather. “October and November are fairly wet months, and that’s whenthe cotton bolls open. The years where we’ve had a lot of rain created some challenges in finding enough buyers to take those lower-grade bolls.”
When Rentz signs a forward contract with the grower, he obviously won’t know the quality of the cotton until it’s harvested. “That’s an area we want to make sure we have a good relationship with that farmer — that they’re a good credit risk.
“It’s a fairly high-stress environment,” he mused. “Risk management is one of the most important skills to have in this job.”
After teaching English in Thailand and China for a few years, Rentz joined Weil Brothers Cotton Inc. in 2005. When cotton futures dramatically spiked in 2008, the 100-year-old family-run company decided to close, and Rentz opted for an MBA to see where that led him. It took him right back to the cotton division within Olam International, the second-largest exporter of U.S. cotton. An early assignment was to grow the firm’s market share in Mexico. “We went from 0% to 10% of the market share in two years. Mexico is a tricky country to work with — there’s a lot of credit risk — but it was really neat to build the supply chain and work on the marketing, sales and management aspects.”
Rentz, who is based in Greenville, South Carolina, and is amember of the American Cotton Shippers Association, sources his cotton from Virginia to Alabama. “We basically buy any cotton we can get our hands on. The U.S. mills use mostly mid- and low-grade cotton to manufacture your white t-shirts, your underwear, your socks and some home furnishings.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Rentz breathed a sigh of relief. “Parts of South Carolina were hit pretty hard, but so far this fall has been good for the cotton crop in the Southeast,” he said. “However, there’s never a dull moment.”
Waterfalls & hidden gems: Most Instagram-worthy spots in Raleigh
With beautiful spring and summer weather on the horizon, you may be looking to get out of the house and explore. Whether you’re searching for the perfect photography location or just want to go for a walk in some of Raleigh’s most beautiful locations – here are some of the most Instagram-worthy spots in the Raleigh area.
1. North Carolina Museum of Art
The North Carolina Museum of Art is, not surprisingly, full of beautiful locations – both indoor and out.
There are always interactive exhibits outside – like their giant metal brain, their enormous science-fiction rings, their ever-popular ‘Hobbit house’ and a literal ‘talk bubble’ that encourages you to pose with a friend or loved one.
You can see here that I’m all my dog Willow ever talks about!
The museum has rotating exhibits that feature unique photographic opportunities as well – including unusual uses of light, shadow, sound and flowers. Their You Are Here: Light, Color and Sound experience brought incredible opportunities for surreal photos. Their Art in Bloom also brings unique photography opportunities.
While their rotating exhibits bring a string of temporary photographic opportunities – and you can always check their current and upcoming exhibits on the NC Museum of Art’s website.
Their rolling, grassy field is always perfect for a beautiful day outside, and it includes enchanting natural spaces like gardens, wooden bridges and even a weeping willow over a bubbling stream.
Plus, the NC Museum of Art has several Instagram-worthy views and secret messages you can only see from above. Take a look!
2. Pullen Park
If you’re looking for blue skies, arched bridges and gazebos over a sparkling lake, Pullen Park offers countless Instagram-worthy spots.
Pullen’s meandering pathways and ornate gardens are perfect for a day outdoors – and they’ve been drawing crowds for more than century.
Their historic, century-old carousel offers a colorful and artful backdrop for any photo; plus, it’s just fun to ride on a beautiful spring day!
Plus, the park has several ‘hidden’ locations that are as aesthetic as they are fascinating: Take a selfie with Andy Griffith and Opie alongside a monument that has quite a history of drama and intrigue – including causing strife between Raleigh and Mt. Airy.
There’s also a ‘secret garden’ that hides the historic remnants of an era when Pullen Park had its own zoo. Today the lovely circular garden is planted in the footprint of the old alligator pit.
Pullen Park is located at 520 Ashe Ave, Raleigh, NC 27606.
3. Historic Yates Mill County Park
Take a selfie with history!
If you visit the beautiful trails and dazzling lake in the woods surrounding Yates Mill, you’ll almost always see several people stopping to pose for a picture on the rocks.
Featuring one of the only waterfalls in Raleigh, couples can often be seen snapping engagement photos with the water rushing in the background.
Even if you’re not there for photography, the hiking trails and scenic views offer a perfect mixture of nature and history.
The Historic Yates Mill County Park is located at 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603.
4. WRAL Azalea Gardens
The WRAL Azalea Gardens have been open since the 1950s, when a thousand colorful azalea bushes were planted outside the WRAL studio.
In the decades since then, WRAL’s gardens have become a popular springtime destination near downtown Raleigh, with thousands of visitors coming for picnics and walks, to snap prom or quinceañera photos, or even to celebrate a wedding.
The meandering pathways surrounded by dozens of colorful petals offer the perfect floral backdrop. Many families also love posing with the ornate fountain tucked away in the foliage and hedges.
Even better, WRAL currently has a very unique photo opportunity already drawing crowds: Our ‘once-in-a-century’ blooming of the enormous century plant. These rare plants look like something out of Jurassic Park. Already around 10 feet tall, the blooming plant is expected to grow to over 20 feet before bursting into yellow flowers. It’ll only last a few weeks, and then the plant dies – so this photo opp is limited!
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the WRAL Azalea Gardens — and here’s everything you need to know about visiting our century plant!
The WRAL Azalea Gardens are located at 2619 Western Blvd, Raleigh, NC.
5. Lassiter Mill
Did you know a beautiful waterfall is hidden right in the middle of a Raleigh neighborhood?
Another blend of history and nature, this hidden gem is tucked away inside the Beltline at the intersection of Lassiter Mill Road and Lassiter Falls Circle.
Originally known as the ‘Great Falls of Crabtree,’ this section of creek has been used as a mill site even before the City of Raleigh existed. Today, you can see remnants of a mill, including a grand stretch of falls reaching across the entire body of water. Beautiful homes surround the site, which today serves as a popular city park.
6. Boylan Bridge
If you want a skyline shot of Raleigh, this is one of the most popular places to snap that photo.
Boylan Bridge offers sweeping views of Raleigh, including the iconic shimmer wall on the convention center, the glowing point of the PNC building and the train tracks entering the historic warehouse district. The view is equally aesthetic on a sunny day with blue skies, during a dazzling purple sunset or with the glowing lights at night.
Bonus: You can stand on the bridge and pose with the city skyline behind you.
7. Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve
Blue skies, rolling green fields, giant boulders, nature trails and even a secret fairy garden – there’s plenty to see and photograph at the Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve. Deer frolic past. A tranquil lake sits in the distance.
A doctor who delivered more than 8,000 babies in Raleigh donated her home and land to become a nature preserve after she died. Now, her scenic home sits frozen in time for thousands of locals to explore and enjoy.
Wilkerson’s home and farm, which she bought in 1953, sat on over 150 acres of land near Falls Lake. Today, her farm and house are still there – and her land has become yet another gift for Raleigh’s mothers and children.
When she passed away in 2005, she left the entire site to the City of Raleigh. She required the land remain mostly untouched so generations of future children could roam the wild, open landscape where Wilkerson once gathered her own nephews and nieces.
There’s even a secret trail that leads to a fairy village in the forest – a quiet haven of magic amidst a busy world.
The Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve is located at 5229 Awls Haven Dr, Raleigh, NC 27614.
8. Dix Park
Like many locations on this list, Dix Park offers multiple sites worthy of Instagram photography.
Every summer, thousands of people come from across the Triangle to see the incredible sunflower fields. Often, families come wearing their finest yellow dress to match the aesthetic and snap everything from family photos to Instagram-worthy feature images.
Even when the sunflowers aren’t in bloom, however, there’s plenty to see at Dix Park. Their field offers a beautiful view of Raleigh’s skyline. It’s the perfect place to snap a photo with a unique and scenic backdrop.
Dix Park can be found at 1030 Richardson Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603.
Honorable mentions – not far from Raleigh
Not far from Raleigh is a world of Instagram-worthy spots in the Triangle area – they’re worth the day trip if you enjoy traveling!
Cary Town Hall campus: With hedge mazes, public art, picturesque water features and gardens and even a redwood forest, the Town Hall campus in Cary is one of the most beautiful town halls you’ll ever see.
It’s not technically in Raleigh, but it’s only 15 minutes from downtown Raleigh – not far to drive for the experience!
With tropical trees, historic buildings and beautiful artwork, the scenic stroll is worth the trip.
Occoneechee Speedway: The abandoned remnants of an entire 1940s NASCAR speedway frozen in time on a hiking trail.
Its located near the Eno River and can be found at 320 Elizabeth Brady Rd, Hillsborough, NC 27278.
Rocky Mount Mills: These historic mills sit on the very ‘Rocky Mound’ for which the city gets its name. Preserved and renovated, these mills have become a hotspot for visitors, including trendy breweries and restaurants.
They even have a tiny home hotel so you can stay on campus and enjoy the aesthetic a little longer.
Secret garden in Tarboro: Did you know North Carolina has its very own ‘secret garden’? Enclosed in a gothic-style churchyard, the ground and graves alike are cloaked in ivy. Century-old trees, crooked with age, create a green dome that, in some places, blocks the sky.
The Calvary Episcopal Churchyard is located at 411 E Church St, Tarboro, NC 27886.
What did we miss?
Do you have an incredible Raleigh view that you think we should have included? Let us know about it! Email hleah@wral.com.
Pandemic Hobby Leads to New Career for UA Little Rock Grad
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Olivia Fitzgibbon was an active and engaged college student, living on campus and enjoying life in the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
“Being in the Donaghey Scholars was good,” Fitzgibbon said. “When I was on campus, being in such a close environment, you get to make friends and pick each other’s brains. I’ve been off campus since COVID. Dr. Hawkins and Dr. Scott supported me and have been rocks for a good many years. It’s been unconditional support when it matters.”
When COVID came on the scene, the Little Rock native found herself living at home, taking classes online, and no longer able to get out and see her friends. Like many, she explored new hobbies to fill up her free time.
A marketing major, Fitzgibbon had always been a creative person, enjoying photography, graphic design, and web design. She had always wanted to learn more about sewing, and she used her unexpected free time from the pandemic to do so.
“When the pandemic hit, I needed an outlet because I wasn’t on campus anymore like I was the first two years of college,” she said. “I’m really happy to see myself grow. I think I am better for it.”
Three years later, and the graduating senior has turned her love of sewing into a new career. She will be working as a fiber arts teacher at the newly reopened Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, teaching art enthusiasts the art of sewing and mending.
“I’ll also be teaching some classes on how to repurpose garments into other things,” Fitzgibbon said. “I’m excited about that class. I think it will be popular with younger people who are into repurposing clothes.”
She even combined her new love of sewing to complete her capstone project for the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program.
“The project was a mixture of history and sewing, an anthology of different historical textile pieces that was called ‘Unfettered Stitches,’” Fitzgibbon said. “It was nice to do something creative outside of my degree.”
Fitzgibbon will graduate this semester with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. Along with her job at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, she will also be looking for a job to put her marketing skills to use. She already works part time at Andrews Autosport since 2020, where she maintains the company’s website, created their logo, and helps with branding.
Fitzgibbon is especially grateful to Dr. Seunghyun Kim, assistant professor of marketing, who taught her graphic design and web design skills through the Adobe Creative Suite programs. She said that the skills she learned in Dr. Kim’s classes have been helpful in building her career, leading to many internships.
She’s worked as a communications intern at the Clinton Foundation, where she filmed weekly video segments from the children’s culinary camp, organized the Green Expo, wrote press releases, and helped plan the Ruth Bader Ginsburg lecture.
“Working at the Clinton Foundation was fun because there was always something going on,” Fitzgibbon said. “I’d run around and interview kids and make videos. Kids will say and do anything to get in front of the camera, so we were always laughing.”
She also worked as a public relations intern at the Sells Agency, an intern at BSR REIT, and as a web developer intern at Doughnate House.
“I did internships for several summers, and I’m glad I did them,” she said. “I think the experiences and the chance to try something new is invaluable for my career.”
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F5: Ntiense Eno-Amooquaye Explores Self-Portrait in the Spotlight
Ntiense Eno-Amooquaye’s practice brings together the visual, written, and spoken word through print, text, image, and live performance. In her words, “I am a writer, performer, and maker of artwork. I explore the relationships between words and images, the artist as someone who listens, recording to collect the writing as well as the drawings. I want to present what I am doing in performance and reading in performance but also ask – where do people find me in the exhibition when I am not there?”
Ntiense credits her career in art to her talent and lots of hard work as a member of the London-based Intoart collective. It’s a place where she connects with other people and artists while creating self-confident, self-portrait and autobiography for the spotlight, the red carpet, and the catwalk. “I remember seeing artworks by Andy Warhol, with the photographs of actresses, like Marilyn Monroe, doing the role-play as a model and icon,” she recalled. “Artworks like “Gold Marilyn Monroe” are about her creation of an idol, about her self-portrait. Marilyn Monroe is an artist as well.”
“It is important for me to be an artist and to keep showing new projects, to be thinking about future projects,” she shared. “To have a point of view and to add ideas through my artwork, performance, and film. It’s good to keep finding new references, to travel, and to have new experiences as part of my work.” Ntiense also notes the importance of recharging and relaxing in between, even if her wheels are still spinning. “On summer holidays I like to read, but I always like to have a topic to work over and write about, to make notes about, to find out the details.”
Ntiense’s most recent performance – “Art Deco Zebra Crossing” – was developed at Flat Time House, an archive and artist’s residency space in the former home and studio of John Latham. The performance explores the intersections of writing, scenography, and performance within the domestic setting of Flat Time House and in conversation with the John Latham archive.
The central elements from “Art Deco Zebra Crossing” reappear at White Columns, New York, alongside “African Bird Dynasty,” a group of four new large-scale silk wall hangings that combine Shibori tie-dyeing and hand screen-printing. Each wall-hanging functions as a backdrop to a scene to be performed by Eno-Amooquaye as part of a new film. Ntiense was awarded the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists in 2022.
We’re pleased to have Ntiense Eno-Amooquaye join us today for Friday Five!
Photo courtesy Intoart
1. The National Poetry Library, Southbank Centre, London
The Poetry library is on the 5th floor of the Southbank Centre, overlooking the river Thames. It’s got a good vibe and loads of books and space to work in. It’s where I search for themes and write notes as I read to record and to write new poetry.
Photo courtesy Intoart
2. Japanese Calligraphy Ink from Sekaido, Shinjuku, Tokyo
I like traveling to see different types of cityscapes, the architecture and the interiors. I take lots of photos and notes to bring back to the studio. I bought this ink from a huge art shop, Sekaido, in Shinjuku, Tokyo. I work a lot in black and white, with ink on paper. This ink is made for Japanese calligraphy, and it’s the ink I always use now – I like the thickness and the finish.
Photo: Ntiense Eno-Amooquaye
3. Times Square, New York City
I loved seeing the edges of the buildings in Times Square, the writing in bold line work. It’s a vibrant experience, seeing the images and words coming together live, in the air. Seeing the relationship between the buildings and the screens, the text as part of the cityscape and skyline.
Photo courtesy Enfleurage Inc
4. Enfleurage Inc, New York City
I find inspiration exploring shops, this tiny shop Enfleurage Inc in New York City sells ‘aromatics from the natural world.’ The essential oils are in individual bottles. I enjoyed smelling the different fragrances and reading about them, too. They also have great books and charts. I bought ‘Blackcurrant Bud in perfumery’ published by Nez + LMR and ‘Natural Perfume Wheel’ by Atelier Perfumes.
Photo: dashu83a, Freepik
5. Peach Bellini Cocktail
I love fruit in cocktails, my favorite is a peach Bellini. The fizz of the Prosecco, the velvet and sweetness of the peach. It reminds me of growth.
Recent Work by Ntiense Eno-Amooquaye:
African Bird Dynasty, White Columns Photo: Marc Tatti
African Bird Dynasty, White Columns Photo: Marc Tatti
Art Deco Zebra Crossing, Flat Time House Portrait Photo: Josef Konczak
Art Deco Zebra Crossing, Flat Time House Photo: Josef Konczak
