US: Artist Vincent Ballentine has been selected to design and install a commemorative mural honouring civil rights pioneers, The Greensboro Six, at the historic Gillespie Golf Course in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Wyndham Rewards, in collaboration with the City of Greensboro and First Tee – Central Carolina, launched a nation-wide search which saw more than 50 submissions from artists coast-to-coast.
Ballentine’s vision and work will formally be unveiled during a celebration at Gillespie on August 5th, ahead of the PGA TOUR’s 85th Annual Wyndham Championship.
His interpretation of history details the Civil Rights heroes as they walk through the doors of the Gate City, a nickname for the city of Greensboro, and ushers in a new day for golf and the world we live in today.
The image is complemented with nods to the continued significance Gillespie plays in the community today, particularly through the work of the First Tee.
Brooklyn-based Vincent Ballentine 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.
Ryan Wilson, CEO, First Tee – Central Carolina said: “This mural is a special reminder of our tremendous history in Greensboro, and the impact The Greensboro Six had on the sport of golf and beyond. Vincent’s design captures our vision of bringing the community together through the power of golf and will serve as an everyday reminder of our storied past—and because of that—our beautiful future.”
Ballentine said: “The Gillespie mural honours courageous men who overcame deep-rooted racial challenges to inspire incredible change. My hope is that the mural sparks meaningful conversations among younger generations about our history and the importance of inclusivity while establishing a permanent fixture paying homage to the Greensboro Six.”
You can read the legacy of The Greensboro Six in this report here.
Wyndham unveils finalists for mural honouring the Greensboro Six
Image supplied by Wyndham