Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Recognizes Talents from Public Service Sector

Once again, the walls of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center were beautifully transformed by more than 200 pieces of artwork during the month of February for their 18th Annual NAP Exhibit. The show, which displays artwork from City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library employees, retirees and their family members, provides an opportunity for participants to be recognized for their artistic talents, an occasion not often afforded to those in the field of public service.

The following excerpt from the article "The artistic side of public service" written by Jordan-Ashley Walker, Charlotte Communications & Marketing, beautifully captures this sentiment from the viewpoint of this year’s Best of Show winner.

"The Brothers"

George Rivera, a Charlotte Area Transit System bus driver, took home the Best of Show award for his graphite drawing called, “The Brothers.” Rivera found inspiration in two homeless men he saw on the bus nearly every day.

The men were from Russia, Rivera said. He noticed one was more serious and clean cut, and the other had a longer beard with disheveled hair.

“I noticed the contrast in them, but I could tell they were brothers,” Rivera said.

Rivera has been drawing since he was 8 years old. He progressed from dinosaurs and comic books to pieces like “The Brothers.”

“The beautiful thing about art is that everyone has their own opinions,” Rivera said. “There is no right or wrong.”

When Rivera noticed the men riding the bus, he also noticed their distinctive facial features. His artistic instincts kicked in, and he asked the men if he could take their photograph.

The men were thrilled, Rivera said. One of them was an artist in Russia.

From the photographs he took that day, Rivera created his drawing on paper.

“What you see in that paper is how they actually are,” Rivera said.

The drawing took about 40 hours. Now that it is completed and displayed in the government center lobby, Rivera is hoping someone will purchase it. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the brothers, he said.

Rivera is no stranger to the National Arts Program. He took home Best in Show in 2014, as well as honorable mention in 2015.

“I’ve had this outlet for a very long time,” Rivera said. “But to showcase it (publicly) is very special.”