In Charlotte’s Historic West End neighborhood—underneath the overpass near I-77 and West Trade Street—lives one of the longest murals in the Queen City. Carefully curated images of people, places and things that significantly contribute to the area’s history and legacy—and a nod to its future—sit gracefully against the serene blue background as if there’s no other place they’d rather be.
One side of the West End Gateway Mural is a tribute to history. Dorothy Counts Scoggins was one of the first Black students to integrate Harding High School. Julius Chambers was a prominent civil rights lawyer, activist and educator. The Johnson C. Smith University sit-ins, led by JCSU students, occurred at several downtown lunch counters in Charlotte. Queen Charlotte, who is said to have had Black ancestry, is the city’s namesake. On the other side of the mural is a nod to the future with images of Charlotte’s skyline, West Charlotte High School’s marching band, CityLynx Gold Line, Five Points Plaza and more.
For however long, this is their home. It’s a work of art for all of Charlotte to see with a common theme of community weaved throughout it from start to finish.
Community.
It’s one of the first words that comes to mind when you view the mural and see others interact with the muralist who is the brains behind the project, Jamil “Dyair” Steele of Dyairart. On any given day over the past few months, you’d find the painter and illustrator weathering the storm—and every other weather condition—to make his vision a reality. You’d also see his students, other artists and the community showing their support along the journey to completion. Last month, he hosted a West End Gateway Community Day where people of all ages spray painted flowers on the mural’s background, offering their own touch. There was also an opportunity to engage with the artist.
“I think that representation matters in the Charlotte area and around the country really,” Dyair told THE BLOCK. “Minority voices have been underrepresented, especially in the arts. The arts can do so much to uplift the community. They can really make the community a beautiful place to live and to work and to thrive.”
Last year, the Charlotte native and West Charlotte High School alumni spent a month completing outreach so the community’s input would be included. He included the feedback and his research as he intentionally crafted one cohesive piece of artwork. Each individual image has its own relevance in history. The collective impact is a sight to be seen.
“The community, they’re the ones that have to live with this art,” Dyair said. “I love that they chose me for it, but I also wanted it to reflect their stories and what they want to see reflected because they’re gonna ride by and they’re gonna see it every day. “
The Historic West End is a historically African African neighborhood. Today, the area is experiencing gentrification, and many of the people who consider it home are new to Charlotte or new to the neighborhood, he explained.
I wanted to speak to the character of the neighborhood. I wanted to speak to the people that live there, but also I wanted to tell the story, the history.
Many of those people put their blood sweat and tears into making that community what it is. highlighting them and making sure people don’t forget their stories, that was what my motivation was with this mural.
dyair
Some of the same elements that can be seen in the West End Gateway Mural can be found in Dyair’s other creations. Through his art, he communicates realistic narratives with a touch of fantasy. Being a double minority—a Black male who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community—Dyair is no stranger to experiencing discrimination from being in both groups. For this reason, his art also amplifies that sentiment as he creates from a lens of the life experiences of minorities, youth and marginalized communities.
“I want to give a voice, a visual voice, to people that may not have the same kind of platform I have,” Dyair said. “I’ve been given a gift to be able to draw and communicate that way. So, it’s about being able to tell those stories and uplift those communities.”
This month, Dyair will complete his 16th year as an educator in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He also just completed the inaugural year of Project Protégé, where he mentored a young artist and developed the curriculum for the program. Consistently being in the presence of youth and young adults reminds him that the work he’s doing inside the classroom and within the community is impacting and empowering the next generation of leaders.
“I want to inspire others to tap into their gifts, so that’s why I teach,” he told us. “At some point, they’re going to be the people that are taking care of our society and taking care of our communities. We need to listen to them. We need to hear what their thoughts are and how they feel about things.”
I believe that I was blessed with the ability to draw and paint and create. … That’s what I was born to do. I want to get it out there in some kind of capacity, so people can see it and share my gift.
dyair
To connect with Dyair, follow him on Instagram and visit his website.
