Top three candidates chosen from more than 50
artists nationwide; Winning artist to be selected next month
following formal presentations of original concepts
PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The nationwide search for an
artist to help honor civil rights pioneers The Greensboro Six has
officially narrowed to three finalists: Vincent Ballentine of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Raman
Bhardwaj of Greensboro,
N.C. and Abel Jackson of
Charlotte, N.C.
Selected by a committee of key community figures and
organizations, more than 50 artists from across the nation
submitted qualifications for consideration. The outdoor mural,
slated for installation at historic Gillespie Golf Course, is being
commissioned by Wyndham Rewards®—proud title sponsor of
the PGA TOUR's Wyndham Championship—and overseen by the
City of Greensboro in partnership
with First Tee - Central Carolina.
"The Greensboro Six left a lasting legacy at Gillespie—one
that deserves to be memorialized for generations to come. Our
chosen finalists have unparalleled talent and passion for their
craft, and the quality of their work makes us confident these men
will have a permanent place to be celebrated in our
community."
- Ryan Wilson,
CEO, First Tee – Central Carolina
Meet the Finalists
Selected from a pool of more than 50 artists nationwide, the three
finalists collectively bring more than 80 years of experience while
representing a variety of styles and skills.
- Vincent Ballentine (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Vincent is a multi-disciplined visual artist with a degree in film
and education from the University of the
Arts in Philadelphia, and
continued study in film at Cleveland Institute
of Art. His work ranges from digital illustration and
animation, to large-scale murals and street art and has been
commissioned by the likes of NCAA, MTV and BET, among others. In
approaching the opportunity with Gillespie, his aim is to delve into the
intricate and layered history of Greensboro while producing work that
captivates and inspires.
- Raman Bhardwaj
(Greensboro, N.C.)
Raman is an accomplished, multi-medium artist with multiple degrees
from Panjab University in India. A
lover of drawing from the age of six, he spent the early years of
his career as an illustrator before branching out as a full-time
freelance artist. Today, Raman lives in Greensboro creating murals, portraits,
paintings and illustrations for a wide range of clients—from
national brands like the Charlotte Hornets to local groups like
Arts Council of Greater
Greensboro.
- Abel
Jackson (Charlotte,
N.C.)
Abel is a talented and deliberate visual artist with a passion for
creative visual expression. A graduate of Winthrop University with a degree in graphic
design, he is known for his open approach to his medium of choice
and the belief that as an artist, you can "paint anything on
anything." Specializing in fine art, custom portraits and murals,
he has a passion for creating thought-providing work that
cultivates unity, pride and inspiration.
The Legacy of The Greensboro Six
In 1955, one week after Rosa Parks was arrested for
refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, six
Black men led by Dr. George Simkins started a local
movement of their own by defiantly playing a round at the
whites-only Gillespie Golf Course. They were later arrested,
convicted of trespassing and spent 15 days in jail. Seven years and
numerous court cases later, their actions led to Gillespie desegregating, and later, seeing The
Greater Greensboro Open (now the Wyndham Championship) become the
first PGA Tour event in the South to welcome a Black player
(Charlie Sifford).
Today, Gillespie is home to First Tee - Central Carolina, a
national youth development program using the game of golf to create
life-changing opportunities for local youth on and off the course.
It also has the distinction of being the first course in North
Carolina to offer PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots
Everywhere), a national program leveraging golf to enhance the
wellbeing of active-duty military and veterans and is one of the
only courses in the Triad catering to players with spinal injuries
and disabilities through adaptive equipment and free programs.
To learn more about the Greensboro Six Mural Project
at Gillespie Golf Course,
visit FirstTeeCentralCarolina.org/Mural-Project.
Images associated with the above release can
be downloaded here.
About The City of
Greensboro
Built around the core values of respect, inclusiveness, safety,
innovation and sustainability, the mission of the City of Greensboro is to shape an inclusive
future for equitable economic opportunity and sustainable, safe
neighborhoods through resident focused services and programs. The
Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department exists to provide
professional and diverse leisure opportunities through inclusive
programs, facilities, parks, and open space, ensuring that
Greensboro is a desirable place to
work, live, and play. Learn more at Greensboro-NC.gov.
About First Tee Central Carolina
First Tee - Central Carolina is a youth development
organization that enables kids to build the strength of character
that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. Using golf
and life skills as our tools, we provide kids opportunities on and
off the course they may never have otherwise. We are active
throughout the Triad region, and specifically focused on serving
the East Greensboro and East
Winston-Salem communities. Learn more
at FirstTeeCentralCarolina.org.
About The Wyndham Championship
Contested annually on
the Donald Ross-designed golf course
at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro,
N.C., the Wyndham Championship was founded in 1938 and is
the seventh-oldest event on the PGA TOUR, excluding the Majors. As
the last tournament of the regular season, it sets the 70-player
field for the FedExCup Playoffs. The tournament thanks title
sponsor Wyndham Rewards and presenting sponsor Truist for their
continued support. Additional tournament information is available
at WyndhamChampionship.com and the tournament's social
media channels (@WyndhamChamp)
on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.
About Wyndham Rewards
Proud title sponsor of the Wyndham Championship, Wyndham
Rewards® is the blue thread tying together some of
the world's largest and most well-known travel companies and
brands: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest
hotel franchising company and Club Wyndham®, the
flagship vacation ownership brand of Travel + Leisure Co.
Recognized as the #1 hotel rewards program by both U.S. News and
World Report and USA Today, members—over 106 million
enrolled around the world—earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every
qualified stay and can redeem for free nights starting at just
7,500 points. With more than 60,000 hotels, vacation club resorts
and vacation rentals globally, no other hotel rewards program is
more generous or offers more places to stay. Join for free
at WyndhamRewards.com.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wyndham-rewards-unveils-finalists-for-gillespie-wall-mural-honoring-greensboro-six-302120909.html
SOURCE Wyndham Hotels & Resorts