Black History month is for the celebration and recognition of past black inventors, artists, and civil rights activists. We recognize how their actions have contributed to the world that we live in today. During this month, I have centered my focus around a more recent artist, Dare Coulter. Dare is an award winning artist, muralist, and sculptor who artistic career has left a lasting impact in North Carolina. This article is dedicated to highlighting some of Dare’s early life with two of her most impactful works.
EARLY LIFE AND HER FIRST WORK
Coulter was born in Augusta, Georgia before she, sisters and her mother moved to Lorton, Virginia where she was raised. It was a big adjustment coming from the city to the cow fields. Discussed in an interview with Casey Pettiford from the People of Duke Arts, Coulter says it was her neighbor April May who encouraged her to pursue her artistic talents at North Carolina State.
As an adult she moved to Raleigh, North Carolina where she attended Meredith College for a time before she went on to graduate from North Carolina State University, earning her bachelor’s degree in Art and Design. During her academic career at Meredith College, she made her first sculpture “Resolve” under the direction of her teacher Holly Fischer. This piece not only started her artistic career but also inspired themes around positive imagery of black people and families.
IN DEDICATION TO NINA SIMONE
People of color became a reoccurring subject in her work along with themes of happiness and positivity. Coulter wants people to value those moments of struggle and fight to get to that joyous feeling because that in turn makes those happy moments become invaluable.
Back around 2018, Dare was commissioned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to create a painting of Nina Simone, a famous American pianist, songwriter, and singer.
The singer’s childhood home in Tyson, North Carolina began to fall into severe disrepair back in 2017 and was facing demolition. The image of the painting was used in a campaign to restore her childhood home. The painting was made into shirts and prints for the 2019 Essence Festival in New Orleans. The campaign was able to raise a little over $68,000 and they were able to use those funds to support the home’s restoration.
“I think to a certain extent people feel that it’s somehow tacky for everything to be about happiness” -Dare Coulter
YEEHAW! RIDE THEM COWBOY!
Black people are not unfamiliar with the country’s history in wiping black narratives away and the same goes to the cowboy stories. The open country was dangerous and filled with life and death scenarios that left little room for racism but it was ver prevalent in the rodeo sport. The inability to be viable participates in these white dominated areas as well as a lack of regard for cowboys of color led them to create their own rodeos.
These stories are what inspired Dare to create one her biggest mural painting.
Coulter collaborated with Kotis Street Art and made a 200ft mural the depicts different black cowboys such as The Buffalo Soldiers, Nat Love,Ellis “Mountain Man” and other black cowboys who’s stories went un-noted. It also includes the artist’s grandfather George “Big G” Coulter, a black cowboy that experienced that wild, difficult and free life along with the unforgiving world of racism and prejudice. It located at 1314 Lees Chapel Rd, Greensboro, NC 27455 at the Kotis Street Art Gallery.
LOCAL EVENT: Artist’s Afternoon!
The Greensboro Public library’s Nussbaum Room is hosting an artists meet up to study a new artistic concept each month! For the month of March, they will be exploring the human form through figure drawing! You can bring your own supplies or use the supplies the library will provide (First come first serve basis). This event is themed around teen and young adult artists but don’t your opportunity to hone your skills!
When/Where: March 8th, 2025, 12:00 P.M- 3:00 P.M. FREE EVENT. 219 North Church Street Greensboro, NC 27401
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artists-afternoons-central-library-live-drawing-at-the-library-tickets-1113101218709
SOURCES
Artist’s afternoons @ central library: Live drawing at the library. Eventbrite. (n.d.). https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artists-afternoons-central-library-live-drawing-at-the-library-tickets-1113101218709
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library . (n.d.). Dare Coulter. Home Page – Welcome to Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. https://www.cmlibrary.org/person/dare-coulter
Coulter , D. (n.d.). Black cowboys Greensboro. Dare Coulter Art. https://www.darecoulter.com/black-cowboys-greensboro
Coulter, D. (n.d.). About- Dare Coulter Art. Dare Coulter Art. https://www.darecoulter.com/about-1
National Trust for Historic Preservation . (2018). Nina Simone: A crowdfunding campaign. Saving Places Creative Portfolio. https://creative.savingplaces.org/nina-simone-crowdfunding-campaign-2019
Pettiford , C. (2023, October 25). People of duke arts: Dare Coulter. Duke Arts. https://arts.duke.edu/people-of-duke-arts-dare-coulter/
GREENSBORO COLLEGE ART COLUMN 