Last weekend for Rail Trail Lights in South End

Visit the Rail Trail from February 3rd to 19th, 2023, and experience Rail Trail Lights, six never-before-seen interactive light installations.

It’s a .7 mile walk to see all six installations. See addresses below. Also, scroll down for an interative Google map of the installations.

Installations on Rail Trail Lights

Descriptions are from charlotterailtrail.org/lights

Cheeks Laboratory

Location: The Pavillion, next to Futo Buta, 222 E Bland Street
Artist: Cheeks McGee
Description: Cheeks’ Laboratory presents an elaborate interactive machine for you, the curious scientist, to witness your own experimental reaction. Press the red or green button to see what happens. Let your imagination be free and explore the world of technology and creation.

Kaleidoscopic

Location: The Wedge Patio near Flower Child, 1537 Camden Road
Artist: Studio Cultivate (Kathryn Godwin)
Description: Kaleidoscopic plays off the refraction of light and invites the public to experience a depth of color layered through tinted glass window panes. New life will be given to old windows pulled from demolished or renovated homes with freshly painted swaths of color applied to the glass with window film. Built upon the idea of light as a bright spectrum of color, Kaleidoscopic creates vivid, magical experiences.

Gold Rush

Location: Flower Child, 1537 Camden Road (behind Flower Child, next to the Blue Line.)
Artist: Studio Dickey (Sage Duffey, Sierra Grant, Sarika Merchant, Elijah Rutkowski, Rachel Dickey)
Description: The Gold Rush installation draws upon Charlotte’s history, from mining for gold (1799), to the minting of gold coins (1836), and now as a banking hot spot. The installation is reminiscent of a metallic sparkle by gold mirrored panels that generate shimmering reflections and dancing light patterns. The overall form of the installation encourages interaction and spaces for people to photograph during their visit.

Moment

Location: Kingston Connection near the Rail Trail Chalkboard, 108 E Kingston Avenue
Artist: G. Scott Queen
Description: Moment is a new media public sculpture that builds on the influences of a historical internet diagram, coupling AI with iterative design inputs that seek to provide a moment of clarity and reflection to viewers in a vibrant urban setting.

The Lighted Cube

Location: Design Center Plaza near Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, 1920 Camden Road
Artist: Sir Will
Description: The Lighted Cube is meant to break the normal concept of passively looking at art by allowing the viewers to become part of the artwork themselves. Drawing upon his inspiration from Southern imagery and artwork, he brings his lighted story of Southern Culture to you. This cube is meant to be the ultimate photo moment.

High Beams

Location: Atherton Plaza near Trolley Barn, 2101 S Blvd
Artist: Matthew Steele
Description: Through intervention, an ordinary sedan is transformed into something else with some surreal form of persona. The bulbs protruding through the car’s exterior illuminate when it senses the viewer, demonstrating an awareness – alluding to animation or social intelligence. High Beams was created with support of Alex Cabral and Keith Jung.

Getting to I Heart Rail Trail Lights

The following light rail stops will get you along this stretch of the Rail Trail:

Bland Street Station (closer to Cheeks Laboratory and Kaleidoscopic)
East/West Blvd Station (closer to Moment and The Lighted Cube)

If you’re driving, use this parking map.

2021 I Heart Rail Trail

This is the third year of I Heart Rail Trail: Lights. Check out some pictures from 2021…

Threads by Kit Kube. Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
Light Beams by Luvly Moon. Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
COVID Confessionals by Rachel Dickey. Picture is from a previous year of Rail Trial Lights. Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
Fairy Ring by Meredith Connelly. Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
Lovers Lighthouse by Sharon Dowell and Christopher Holsten. Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC
Seating ReArrangements by Ellie Richards. Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC