Client: North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources + Kinston Arts Council

Overview

The park sits on four acres of land, roughly half of which is public space, and features the signature element of the music park – Intersections – a 12-foot high, 23-foot-wide sculpture with images of famous jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, and gospel musicians from Kinston and surrounding communities. At the center of the sculpture are glass panels that feature historic photographs, vintage maps, and original artwork that all pay tribute to Kinston’s African American musical community. A large ring of benches surrounds the artwork, a perfect place to view the sculpture. Visitors will find quotes from area musicians, as well as lyrics and song titles etched in concrete throughout the park.

Wilson worked very closely with NC State University’s School of Landscape Architecture on the overall design of the roughly 4 acre site.

Goals

Design and create a monumental, free-standing sculpture that could serve as the centerpiece to the music park. The sculpture needed to narrate the history of Kinston's African American musical community, be vibrant and eye-catching, be composed of materials that were durable and low-maintenance. The choice of glass, metal, concrete and high-pressure laminate as a combination of materials was a direct fit with the project goals and integrated seamlessly into the existing landscape.