The Hidden Mural at Edna Metz Wells Park
A bit off the beaten path at Edna Metz Wells Park lies a hidden urban oasis of sorts. More of a swamp than a life-giving patch of water, one of its walls has a rather striking mural, emblazoned with the letters “DE”.
The pool in the first image is fed by this drain running under the spot where Clark Avenue becomes Peace Street. It’s known as the Pigeon House Branch Creek, and according to John Dancy-Jones of Raleigh Nature, it’s “the most prominent waterway in central Raleigh, but also its most abused.”
It gathers its headwaters in Edna Metz Park just off Cameron Village, and this upper part of the creek was shifted and ditched in order to build Cameron Village. From Edna Metz, concrete culverts carry it through Cameron Park and east down Johnson Street, where it crosses under Peace Street to be culverted again through the former Devereux Meadows, which is now a city facility for trash trucks and a salt barn.
Recently the area around the park has been cordoned off on the Peace Street side. From what I understand, it’s part of a waterway improvement project, to increase water flow and reduce the levels of coliform. The latter is caused by people not cleaning up after their pets.
Several nearby residents are concerned that this hidden area will lose the beloved mural as part of the improvement project. While I despise the senseless tags left on storefronts and private property, I share their concern. It’s a completely secluded area and not visible from any thoroughfare, pedestrian or otherwise. Someone took the liberty of beautifying something that very few people see, and I commend that person for it.
Edna Metz Wells Park is still open, and its lovely trails still available for the nature-appreciating public.
Further Reading:
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03/31/2010
GREAT!
A long-time mystery solved for me. I have tried in vain for several years to figure out where Pigeon House Creek goes when it enters the culvert under Peace Street. Now I know.
And thanks for the two links.
03/31/2010
I love that first picture. Great job, John.
03/31/2010
Edie Sedgwick: http://www.fashionstate.com/ediesedgwick/ediefront.jpg
03/31/2010
I walk by this mural every work day and make a point of admiring it and thanking the anonymous artist. I can’t decide if it would be a good or a bad thing to call the City’s attention to the mural in hopes of saving it. Surely they wouldn’t consider it graffiti and “clean” it up? I do worry about it now with all the work that is going on in the park.
03/31/2010
Anybody know who painted it?
04/01/2010
Within Chinese and specifically Daoist terminology, “de” means virtue or integrity.
04/02/2010
I had a little difficulty with the directions……where exactly in the park is the painting? I live on Smallwood, and want to walk over and take some pics before the City screws with it!
04/17/2010
I didn’t realize how close this was to my home (also on Smallwood). I make it a point to walk through Edna Metz on my way back from school every day now. It is a great work and I would be very sad to see it go.
@chippa: If you walk down towards Clark Ave. from anywhere on Smallwood, you’ll see a small wooden ramp leading into the trees on the opposite side of Clark. Just head into the park and it’ll be on your left (look down). Hope this helps!
04/23/2010
Stay Up! And for the record Pigeon House Creek has a lot more in store for this city’s inhabitants than just this. Keep on looking, get ur boots on!…
08/01/2010
I’ve been beguiled by this mural for months. It’s location is so well chosen. Thousands of people walk within 5 feet of this every week without knowing it’s there. Knowing it’s Edie Sedgewick, the original Warhol Factory Girl, makes me feel even more in the know.
The construction’s complete and the mural survives.
08/29/2010
The mural has been erased to a mere wisp. So sad.
01/07/2011
North Carolina is pretty awesome during the summertime. You can find a lot of cool places to get away and block out the chaos. I used to stop and relax at Edna Metz on my way to the library to apply for jobs. I would usually meet the homeless drinking some brew or rearranging their goods before moving on. I painted edie to keep me company on those warm afternoons sometimes covering my ears too…
01/07/2011
By chaos I mean the sun of course.
01/13/2011
OMG! LOL! TEE HEEEEEEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! SEE WHAT I MEAN BY “SLEEPING”?
01/17/2011
ancora una volta con sentimento
01/17/2011
That shitty looking faux rock face they installed there looks like something out of a cheap-o theme park. it will look excelent in 50+ years once the weather and the dirt and the ebb and flow of the Pigeon House have taken their toll. but for now more Edie’s please!!!…wink**wink****tee hee tee hee*****lol** fixed gears***first friday**etc**
01/24/2011
“i can say whatever i like…!” -TI