Artist Elizabeth Palmisano engages residents in a first of its kind, sculptural mural, funded by Grubb Properties

CHARLOTTE, NC (March 21, 2023) -- Make a wish and become part of a historic Charlotte public art project led by local artist Elizabeth Palmisano.

The over 23,000 sq ft, multi-dimensional, sculptural mural, #NoDaCloudWall, will transform the parking deck and surrounding buildings on Grubb Properties’ new Link ApartmentsSM NoDa 36th. By summer’s end, light rail riders coming into the city will be greeted by Palmisano’s cloudscapes floating alongside the 36th Street station.

Located on the former site of Herrin Ice at the corner of 36th St. and the light rail, the 532-unit Link ApartmentsSM NoDa 36th includes one commercial and two residential buildings, all served by a 566-car parking garage. Like all Link ApartmentsSM communities, it will provide essential housing for Charlotte, targeted at those in the middle of the income spectrum.

A major art installation, and the first of its kind, Palmisano is gathering handwritten wishes to inscribe on the back of the fabricated metal clouds.

“In a wave of Charlotte development, developers who invest in the communities in which they build stand out,” says Palmisano. “Inviting the communities to include their voices in the evolution honors them as neighborhoods develop and change.”

Visitors will be able to explore the parking deck and glimpse the hidden wishes. Palmisano will gather residents’ wishes at free community events over a six-week period beginning Sunday, March 26th at ArtWalks Clt in Downtown Noda at 2 pm at Summit Coffee Co. - Noda 416 East 36th Street.

In addition to the art-focused walking tours in partnership with ArtWalks CLT, the wish-gathering events will include free artmaking workshops. Residents can also place their wishes in collection boxes at Free Range Brewing 2320 N. Davidson St and at the Johnston YMCA lobby 3025 N. Davidson St., or submit them online at ellafaeart.com/submit-a-wish. Follow the calendar for continuously updated events and pop-ups with Palmisano here.

Grubb Properties is privately funding the massive community art project and partnering with the boutique consulting firm, Gökotta, which helps developers foster a creative link in the community.

Rooted in NC, Grubb Properties believes that art is instrumental to building strong communities - both inside and outside of their projects.

“NoDa is known as the artistic hub of Charlotte, and we wanted to reflect that in our Link Apartments community,” said Brian Bradley, Senior Associate of Development, Grubb Properties. “Elizabeth was the perfect partner, both for her artistic talents and for her passion for bringing the wishes of community members quite literally into the art.”

For more information on the project and how to contribute a wish to the installation, visit www.ellafaeart.com/NoDaCloudWall and follow Elizabeth Palmisano on Facebook & Instagram at @ellafaeart.

About Elizabeth Palmisano

Elizabeth Palmisano is an award-winning mixed-media installation and fiber artist living and working in Charlotte, NC. Her work has been exhibited at galleries and museums such as The Mint Museum, The McColl Center, and Bliss Gallery. She was voted “Best Visual Artist” in the QC Nerve 2020 and 2022 Best in the Nest Awards. As a boundary-pushing fiber artist, Elizabeth combines abstract painted surfaces with textiles and collage, creating rich, multi-layered compositions. Experimentation, exploration, and play are key to her creative process. Each piece serves as a visual prayer, an affirmation, or an intention. Palmisano’s “Wishes and Whispers” was on display during the 2022 Charlotte International Arts Festival, inviting the public to engage with art in a playful way and reveal the wishes of Charlotteans hidden within. The installation is a physical manifestation of hopes and dreams collected during Palmisano’s residency as a Blumenthal Fellow at Immersive Van Gogh Charlotte in 2021.

About Grubb Properties

Founded in 1963 in Lexington, NC, Grubb Properties is a vertically integrated, real estate company focused on the Essential Housing space through its Link ApartmentsSM brand. The company targets residents in the middle of the income spectrum, directly addressing a growing crisis for essential housing, while providing residents with exceptional living spaces. Grubb Properties maintains a long-term perspective and its careful and measured approach to real estate investment has delivered resilient and impressive returns. Grubb Properties has received numerous sustainability designations and recognitions, and undergoes annual ESG assessments through GRESB. For more information, visit www.grubbproperties.com.

About Link Apartments NoDa 36th

The combined residential and commercial property will be located at the intersection of 36th Street and the light rail, on the former Herrin Ice property. Walkable amenities include music venues, art galleries, breweries, and approximately 60 restaurants. The project will include three buildings — two residential and one commercial. The first phase of multifamily will include 292 apartments that are primarily oriented towards the new greenway. The second phase will contain 240 apartments and 130,000 square feet of commercial space. A 566-car parking garage will run parallel to the light rail line and platform.

About Gökotta

Gökotta is a boutique consulting firm founded by engineer Jenny Vallimont in 2017 to help others find meaningful ways to connect with their community. Using her unique background in corporate real estate, construction, community engagement and public art, Vallimont helps developers and organizations discover and create the special sauce. Vallimont believes that the key to good placemaking is genuinely understanding the people and needs of the communities in which businesses operate.