The community is invited to celebrate two milestones in the history of the Downtown Greenway. On Saturday, May 22, at 11 am, a new major work of public art will be dedicated and the ceremonial groundbreaking for the final mile of the greenway will take place at the WestWoods site,  501 Guilford Ave. 

For the occasion, artist Thomas Sayre will speak about his philosophy and work, and Activate Entertainment will perform “from stone,” 15-minute, pop-up performance that combines circus, dance, and live music into a uniquely profound experience for audiences of all ages. Guests will receive a memento from the site to commemorate the day.

This new public art work, "Cairn’s Course," a special installation that tells the story of its place. It is a earthcasting sculpture consisting of three vertical stacks of “stones” that were created from the earth nearby. The sculptures are woven together by a circular path that pays homage to the nearby College Branch Stream through a series of terrazzo insets depicting life found in the waters of the creek. Seating areas and a central platform invite use of the space in many ways.  

Thomas Sayre is an American sculptor and painter. He designs and builds public art projects and private commissions all over the world. Sayre’s current work includes large paintings made with tar, smoke, gunshots, welding material, earth, and fire. He is known for his earthcastings.

“I have been so looking forward to the time when the greater Greensboro community is introduced to this hidden oasis in the middle of our downtown," said Downtown Greenway’s public art consultant Barbara Peck. "Thomas Sayre has created a wonderful, visual surprise in "Cairn’s Course," and has transformed this site into a magical place. This significant public artwork will draw visitors to the site as it calls for us to recognize the importance and beauty of the life that lives in our precious waterways.”

This artwork is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Cemala Foundation, and the City of Greensboro’s Water Resources Department.

This WestWoods site is located along the former railroad corridor between Guilford and Friendly Avenues along the west side of downtown on property owned by Greensboro College. With the railroad line no longer in use and an agreement reached between Norfolk Southern and the City of Greensboro to allow trail use on the former railroad corridor, plans are in place for this construction. It is expected to begin before the end of 2021.

“This is such an exciting time for the Downtown Greenway and our community," Downtown Greenway Project Manager Dabney Sanders said. "With three miles of the four-mile loop complete, the addition of this major work of significant public art, and the plans ready for the final mile, the end of the project is in our sights.  The community engagement and enthusiasm for this work has been so rewarding and we can’t wait to see it through.”