GREENSBORO, N.C., June 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a nation-wide search
that saw more than 50 submissions from artists coast-to-coast,
Wyndham Rewards®, in collaboration with the City of Greensboro and First Tee – Central
Carolina, today announced artist Vincent
Ballentine has been selected to design and install a
commemorative mural honoring civil rights pioneers, The Greensboro
Six, at historic Gillespie Golf Course in Greensboro, N.C.
Wyndham Rewards introduced Vincent to the community at a press
conference at Gillespie and shared
an early rendering of his concept for the mural, honoring The
Greensboro Six's impact while celebrating Gillespie's continued significance to the
community through the work of First Tee. Ballentine's vision and
work will formally be unveiled during a special celebration at
Gillespie on August 5, ahead of the PGA TOUR's 85th
Annual Wyndham Championship.
"This mural is a special reminder of our tremendous history in
Greensboro, and the impact The
Greensboro Six had on the sport of golf and beyond. Vincent's
design captures our vision of bringing the community together
through the power of golf and will serve as an everyday reminder of
our storied past—and because of that—our beautiful future."
- Ryan Wilson,
CEO, First Tee – Central Carolina
"The Gillespie mural honors
courageous men who overcame deep-rooted racial challenges to
inspire incredible change. My hope is that the mural sparks
meaningful conversations among younger generations about our
history and the importance of inclusivity while establishing a
permanent fixture paying homage to the Greensboro Six."
- Vincent
Ballentine
Illustrating History, Inspiring
Generations
Brooklyn-based Vincent Ballentine is
a multi-disciplined visual artist with a degree in film and
education from the University of the
Arts in Philadelphia and
continued study in film at Cleveland Institute
of Art. His work ranges from digital illustration and
animation, to large-scale murals and street art and has been
commissioned by the likes of NCAA, MTV and BET, among others.
With a heartfelt passion for storytelling through art and a
desire to inspire generational connectivity and inclusivity,
Ballentine was chosen from a pool of more than 50 accomplished
artists nationwide to tell the story of The Greensboro Six. His
interpretation of history details the Civil Rights heroes as they
walk through the doors of the Gate City, a nickname for the city of
Greensboro, and ushers in a new
day for golf and the world we live in today. The image is
complemented with nods to the continued significance Gillespie plays in the community today,
particularly through the work of the First Tee.
The Legacy of The Greensboro Six
In 1955, one week after Rosa Parks was arrested for
refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, six
Black men led by Dr. George Simkins started a local
movement of their own by defiantly playing a round at the
whites-only Gillespie Golf Course. They were later arrested,
convicted of trespassing and spent 15 days in jail. Seven years and
numerous court cases later, their actions led to Gillespie desegregating and later, seeing The
Greater Greensboro Open (now the Wyndham Championship) become the
first PGA TOUR event in the South to welcome a Black player
(Charlie Sifford).
Today, Gillespie is home to
First Tee - Central Carolina, a national youth development program
using the game of golf to create life-changing opportunities for
local youth on and off the course. It also has the distinction of
being the first course in North
Carolina to offer PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots
Everywhere), a national program leveraging golf to enhance the
wellbeing of active-duty military and veterans and is one of the
only courses in the Triad catering to players with spinal injuries
and disabilities through adaptive equipment and free programs.
To learn more about the Greensboro Six Mural Project at
Gillespie Golf Course, visit
FirstTeeCentralCarolina.org/Mural-Project.
Images associated with the above release can
be downloaded here.
About The City of
Greensboro
Built around the core values of respect, inclusiveness, safety,
innovation and sustainability, the mission of the City of Greensboro is to shape an inclusive
future for equitable economic opportunity and sustainable, safe
neighborhoods through resident focused services and programs. The
Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department exists to provide
professional and diverse leisure opportunities through inclusive
programs, facilities, parks, and open space, ensuring that
Greensboro is a desirable place to
work, live, and play. Learn more at Greensboro-NC.gov.
About First Tee Central Carolina
First Tee - Central Carolina is a youth development
organization that enables kids to build the strength of character
that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. Using golf
and life skills as our tools, we provide kids opportunities on and
off the course they may never have otherwise. We are active
throughout the Triad region, and specifically focused on serving
the East Greensboro and East
Winston-Salem communities. Learn more
at FirstTeeCentralCarolina.org.
About The Wyndham Championship
Contested annually on the Donald Ross-designed course at
Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., the Wyndham
Championship was founded in 1938 and is the seventh-oldest event on
the PGA TOUR, excluding the Majors. The tournament thanks title
sponsor Wyndham Rewards and presenting sponsor Truist for their
continued support. Additional tournament information is available
at WyndhamChampionship.com and the tournament's social
media channels (@WyndhamChamp)
on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.
About Wyndham Rewards
Proud title sponsor of the Wyndham Championship, Wyndham
Rewards® is the blue thread tying together some of
the world's largest and most well-known travel companies and
brands: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest
hotel franchising company and Club Wyndham®, the
flagship vacation ownership brand of Travel + Leisure Co.
Recognized as the #1 hotel rewards program by both U.S. News and
World Report and USA Today, members—approximately 108
million enrolled around the world—earn a guaranteed 1,000 points
with every qualified stay and can redeem for free nights starting
at just 7,500 points. With more than 60,000 hotels, vacation club
resorts and vacation rentals globally, no other hotel rewards
program is more generous or offers more places to stay. Join for
free at WyndhamRewards.com.
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