Asheville Transit’s ‘art buses’ make their debut. This one is designed by Ray Noland

Ray Noland’s “Jeweled Forest.” Photo by Rebecca Berdel. The work is an abstract interpretation of the layers of colors seen in the woods during spring and fall, Noland says, adding, “Hopefully the bus can help spur along spring.” For 14 more photos of Ray’s whimsical-forest bus go here

This design, honoring local food and farmers, is by Naomi Johnson, who says, “Today was the big day that the art buses got rolled out. It was freeeeezing cold at City/County Plaza, but the buses were gorgeous and the words were kind. I’ve always dreamed of seeing my work at this kind of scale and in a public, non-‘art’ venue. Thanks, Asheville. You rock. Big time.” For nine more photos in this series, including shots of all three winning designs, go here.


Artist Nina Ruffini in front of her art “Messaage” — photo by Jenny Bowen, City of Asheville, To see Bowen’s set of 23 photos go here.

The background:
Three Asheville area artists have won the city’s first “Art on Transit” competition, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department announced recently. Each artist will be awarded a $750 honorarium, and their design will grace both sides of a single bus. The winners were: Ray Noland’s “Jeweled Forest,” a color-splashed, whimsical forest; Naomi Johnson’s photos of local food and farmers; and Nina Ruffini’s “Message,” featuring bunnies adrift in boats.

A five-member jury, which included a bus driver, met and considered more than 60 submissions. The jury picked six finalists and suggested the three winners, which were unanimously confirmed by Asheville’s Public Art Board.

The work will remain on display for at least four months, according to Diane Ruggerio, the city’s superintendent of cultural arts. Ruggerio said she hopes “Art on Transit” will become an annual project.

For more on Asheville Transit’s art-bus contest and the winners, see this news article.

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11 thoughts on “Asheville Transit’s ‘art buses’ make their debut. This one is designed by Ray Noland

  1. Mysterylogger

    Waste that cash, its not like their spending their money its the tax payers.

  2. Piffy!

    [b]Waste that cash, its not like their spending their money its the tax payers. [/b]

    How is this a waste?

    Ten bucks says you can’t even name what department the money even comes from, or give a reasonable, hyperbole-free explanation of how, specifically this is a waste, and how the monies should have been utilized.

    Maybe at a strip club in California?

  3. Mysterylogger

    Parks and rec is where the money came from, oh yes I know I have followed this story very closely as it is a waste of tax payer money.

    And there is no obvious and intentional exaggeration of tax payer money. A waste is a wastes, when this was brought up before some moron called it a “Boost to Bus rider morale” Sorry that doesnt cut it if the bus is doing its job then its doing its job, no shoddy artwork on a Asheville City Bus is going to improve that.

    How about that money being used for sidewalks, Education, or how about repairing the court house and city hall, or fund the other needed projects around town.

    This Ranks up there with all the lously rust art that litters this town that was paid for with tax payer Dime.

    Asheville where the Mantra is “Lets put a Mural on a mural and waste as much Tax payer money in the process”

  4. dpewen

    Art is not a waste of money … kudos to this project. And yes, I pay property taxes and live downtown.

  5. Mysterylogger

    Art is a waste of money if we had it to spare, but its ok the city is out of money, Courthouse is falling apart, city hall in dissrepair, glad to see Asheville has its priorities.

  6. hauntedheadnc

    Logga’ please… You’d complain just as loudly if they’d directed the money toward repairing City Hall or the courthouse, and you know it.

  7. Waste of tax money because art is neither environmental contraception, nor a human need and could reduce the affordability of housing in Asheville by increasing demand and with it, price.

  8. Asheville Dweller

    Its still Tax payer dime that is paying for it no matter where it came from.

    Nice try on churching it up though.

  9. LOU

    I RIDE ALOT OF BUSES AROUND THE USA=I REALLY DONT LIKE WRAPS=THEY ARE UGLY AND AT NIGHT YOU CAN NOT SEE JUST WHERE YOU ARE GOING. ITS ALSO A WASTE OF MONEY AND IT RUINS THE BUS AS IT WAS IN ITS MAIN COLORS. IF A BUS COULD TALK IT WOULD SAY OH PLEASE DONT MESS MY PAINT JOB. A BUS WAS MADE TO TAKE PEOPLE AROUND-NOT TO LOOK UGLY= COME ON GUYS

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