97ɫ��

Two 97ɫ�� students were recently selected to be a part of the Uproar Festival of Public Art contest.  Both Archer Fralix, a fine arts student, and Stu Beavers, in the welding program, started formal training in their art at the College, and while they may work in different mediums, they both have a passion for public art.

Fralix, a carpenter and artist, uses conventional building materials, such as wood, steel and concrete to create sculpture. He will graduate this December with an associates in fine arts.

“It was during my time at 97ɫ�� that I realized I enjoyed combining skilled trade with artistic design,” Fralix said. “I draw inspiration from the natural world, particularly the shape or motion of water, smoke and fog.”

Beavers, is a metal artist and will graduate with a welding certificate.  His mother was a welder and she tried to pass her skill on to him at an early age, but at that time he was more into painting, drawing and “being a teenager”.

It wasn’t until he took a formal welding class at 97ɫ�� that those lessons with his mother “clicked” and he understood her love of metal.

“I’ve been obsessed ever since,” Beavers said. “As a handyman by trade and a hobbyist auto mechanic, my materials are always close by and I see the potential in the everyday objects around me.”

Both artists went through the process of applying for Uproar. The process included sharing a description of the piece being worked on currently or the idea for a piece. Sixty artists were selected and their art was showcased in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough through August. With Fralix’s piece in front of the Drakeford Library Complex in Carrboro and Beavers’ work at the Bicycle Chain on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill.

Neither student had done anything as large scale as the Uproar contest.

“It was a nerve-wracking couple of months waiting to see if my art was accepted and then once it was I realized the big name artists involved and was pretty impressed,” Beavers said. “To be in that community with my piece titled, A Feather in Time, was awesome.”

Beavers piece depicts a barn owl perched atop a giant clock. The clock is functional and the sculpture is made from almost 100% recycled materials. The sculpture represents the patience, perseverance, time, and skills an artist hones throughout the years.

Beavers finished second runner up overall and has another piece showcased at the Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill.

“Getting in was great,” Fralix said. “My piece, titled Momentum, is a larger scale version of an assignment piece I did at 97ɫ��. It’s made of wood posts of different sizes painted in different colors.”  

Fralix’s piece won the Sponsors’ Choice award.

Uproar began in 2023 with support from municipalities, community organizations and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The contest featured 60 outdoor pieces of art showcased throughout Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough. Cash prizes were awarded based on public voting and a jury panel of experts. Uproar has become not only the first public art festival of its kind for Orange County, but in the state of North Carolina.

“97ɫ�� has been instrumental in pushing me to look at things differently,” Fralix said. “Especially in my Sculpture and Wood Design class. All my instructors were encouraging and gave insightful feedback.”

“I would not have learned to love welding if not for 97ɫ��,” Beavers said. “If you told me five years ago I’d be making metal art I would have laughed.”

Both artists say they look forward to Uproar 2027, the event happens every two years, and other art contests. They also shared their belief in the importance of public art.