The Lilies Project

Caroline Armijo

Funding Received: 2017
Walnut Cove, NC
$350,000
Funding Period: 2 years and 6 months
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Walnut Cove, NC is adjacent to Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Power Station, which houses 20 million tons of coal ash. Local mixed-media artist Caroline Armijo will partner with scientists from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to create a series of sculptures that repurpose this hazardous waste material safely and that will become the centerpiece of a public park. This project will also serve as a local pilot for environmental policy that will determine how coal ash is managed in the region. 

This project is inspired by Jester Hariston, a notable African American composer from Walnut Cove who wrote the song “Amen” from the film Lillies of the Field, which featured  Sidney Poitier.

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See below for recent updates, press, and events from this project

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June 18, 2018 Susan G. Solomon has written two intriguing books about play. Her latest book "The Science of Play" talks about how playgrounds fail... Read More
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July 28, 2018 RESEARCH FROM HENRY WIENCEK & CURATED BY JENNIFER MARTIN We will honor John L. Hairston during the Celebrating Courage Weekend August 11th... Read More
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July 28, 2018 Remembering The Last Time I Heard And Sang The London High School Song WRITTEN BY DAVID E. HAIRSTON, JR. It was 1968... Read More
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July 31, 2018 This past May, Dr. Sanjay Gupta visited some of our community members to discuss the health impacts they have been facing over... Read More
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October 16, 2018 This week NC Department of Environmental Quality accepted comments on the updating of the state’s CCR Rules. Many members of our ACT... Read More
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December 8, 2018 This month, The Lilies Project is launching new monthly series at the Walnut Cove Public Library. The purpose of the workshops are... Read More
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December 10, 2018 The Christmas Holidays are quickly approaching and we are getting read for a celebration. We have several videos from the 8os that... Read More
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December 10, 2018 Without the aid of Wikipedia, I am going to guess the ET came out in the Summer of 1982. The reason for... Read More
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January 17, 2019 DEQ is seeking public feedback on a proposed draft special order by consent for Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Steam Station, as well... Read More
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January 24, 2019 DEQ Assistant Secretary Shelia Holman addresses the Belews Creek community on a blistering cold January evening. DEQ hosted a Q&A information session... Read More
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This month we wrap on our ongoing push to demand a full excavation for Belews Creek and the additional five sites throughout the state of... Read More
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Danielle Kara Bailey-Lash AUGUST 13, 1974 - NOVEMBER 30, 2019 The following are my remarks at the funeral for Danielle Bailey-Lash, held on Saturday, December... Read More
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Our first labyrinth was installed last week at Christ Episcopal Church almost historic flooding. Thank you to Neill Caldwell with The Stokes News for covering... Read More
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Last night, representatives from NC DEQ held a hearing regarding the excavation of the coal ash from Belews Creek. Following are my comments that I... Read More
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Last week, I joined Ira Tilley live on the air with Voice of the People. I was a little nervous, but Ira promised that the... Read More
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May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. I am sad to share that brain tumors in our community are way too common. They struck close to... Read More
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What a tremendous honor to be invited to give the commencement address for my alma mater last night. Please enjoy my most hopeful speech given... Read More
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This week our partners from Appalachian Voices traveled to Arlington, VA to speak for three North Carolina moms, who are opposed to the EPA's Proposed... Read More
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Dec 26, 2017
Much has been said about coal ash since that grimy waste product shot to the top of North Carolina’s political agenda after the 2014 spill... Read More
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Dec 14, 2017
Caroline Armijo was feeling relaxed, her mind open, during a guided meditation class when she was visited by a creative muse: Why not take coal... Read More
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Dec 8, 2017
Caroline Armijo recently won a $350 thousand grant from ArtPlace America’s National Creative Placemaking Fund to install her designs in Walnut Cove, near Duke Energy’s... Read More
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Today, we are proud to announce the 23 creative placemaking projects that will receive funding in communities of all sizes across 18 states and one...Read more
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International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. To celebrate we asked some of...Read more
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This past February, UNC School of Journalism students asked if I would be willing to be part of an Environmental Journalism class project. I said...Read more
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Walnut Cove, NC is adjacent to Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Power Station, which houses 20 million tons of coal ash. Local mixed-media artist Caroline Armijo...Read more