Downtown Greenway Public Art Dedication and Community Event Set for April 12

The community is invited to the Downtown Greenway's "Buzzing Into the Future," a free family-friendly event taking place from 2-6 pm on Sunday, April 12, at Greensboro College, 815 W. Market St.

This event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and allow time to walk between event locations.

The event begins at 2 pm with the dedication of the greenway's newest public art installation, "May-bee and The Bot (in the Uncanny Valley)," created by artist Pete Beeman. Made possible by The Cemala Foundation, the 28-foot-tall sculpture features a robot on bended knee, topped with an insect on its head - a stylistic hybrid of a mayfly and honey bee - representing the connection between technological innovation and environmental sustainability. The piece includes an interactive hand-crank element, which allows visitors to move the wings overhead, and reflects the Downtown Greenway's role in bringing together seemingly different ideas: urban and natural, built and organic.

"When I approached this project, I was thinking about this idea, of two disparate elements meeting and working together," said artist Pete Beeman. "It seemed to me that a goofy retro robot could be a great representative of technology, while a honey bee is a fantastic symbol of our wonderful natural world and the challenges it faces. I wanted to bring the two together, nature and technology, in the same way the Downtown Greenway brings the urban and residential parts of Greensboro together."

"It is always exciting to welcome a new piece of public art to the Downtown Greenway," said Downtown Greenway Program Manager, Dabney Sanders. "'May-Bee and the Bot' has already attracted so much attention and inquiry from the community - we look forward to officially celebrating this arrival."

Following the dedication, a technology and nature fair will take place from 2:30-4 pm at the Sternberger Center, located within Jones Library on Greensboro College's Campus. Local robotics teams, beekeepers, and other community organizations will host interactive exhibits and informational tables, offering opportunities to explore technology and learn about ecological stewardship.

At 4 pm, the event continues with a free screening of the animated feature film The Wild Robot, just a short distance across the campus quad, in Cowan Lecture Hall. The film explores the relationship between technology and the natural world, reinforcing the event's theme.

For more information, contact Greenway & Gardens Program Coordinator Chelsea Phipps at 336-373-5826. Learn more about the Downtown Greenway at https://www.downtowngreenway.org.