PUBLIC ART
VISION CASHIERS TASK FORCE:
PUBLIC ART
The mission of the Public Art Task Force is to create opportunities for residents and visitors of Cashiers to experience elevated, thought-provoking art that complements Cashiers’ values and community character while enjoying the 5 miles of trails along the Cashiers Greenway Ramble.
TASK FORCE LEADER:
Barbara Jamison
DISCOVER PUBLIC ART IN CASHIERS
Explore our growing collection of six outdoor sculptures—most generously on loan from the artists. Scroll down to learn more about each piece and the talented creators behind them. Use the Map button for directions to each sculpture and dive deeper into the beauty of public art in Cashiers.
Want to help make these sculptures a permanent part of our landscape?
Click Donate to support the arts in our community.
Public art selected by the task force will celebrate Cashiers core values of local history, outdoor recreation, and conserving the natural environment we call home. As a beacon of these values, the public art space will target renowned artists from the Southeast, developing a regional narrative encompassing the work of modern creatives while creating a platform for emerging artists to amplify their voices and introduce their work to all who live and play in and around our village.
THE SCULPTURES
Click the photos below to find out more about each sculpture
Gothic Doorway is a spiritual homage to the quiet grandeur of sacred spaces, inspired by a medieval doorway from circa 1200. Once a furniture maker, the artist brings a love of geometry, structure, and craftsmanship to this piece, which evokes the threshold between the human-made and the divine. Constructed from 100-year-old rusted barn roofing layered over pressure-treated lumber and fastened with copper-coated nails, the materials themselves speak to age, resilience, and transformation. Gothic Doorway is a portal—a resonant gateway into a natural cathedral where the sacred is felt more than seen. This work received recognition at the Rosen Sculpture Exhibition, affirming the emotional connection it invites.
Beau Lyday (b. 1955, Athens, GA) is a sculptor based in Valdese, North Carolina, working primarily in metal and wood since 2009. Influenced by sacred geometry, Gothic and Middle Eastern architecture, and ancient symbols, his work blends historical and spiritual themes.
After decades in the furniture industry, Beau turned full-time to sculpture, developing a distinctive style that features shaped wood forms clad in weathered tin roofing. The aged materials, rich with texture and patina, give his work a timeless, reverent quality.
His recent large-scale pieces are designed for interaction—spaces viewers can enter or sit within—offering a quiet moment of reflection and connection. Beau’s sculptures have been featured in exhibitions nationwide, including a recent Best in Show honor at the North Charleston Sculpture Exhibition.
Gothic Doorway is now a permanent installation along the Greenway Ramble, made possible through the financial support of a private donor.
Mind the Gap began with the image of a figure frozen in a moment of strength and motion, reminiscent of a gymnastic pose. Suspended above the ground, the figure is elevated on two columns made from found objects—positioned at an intentionally uncomfortable height. Inside each column is inscribed a stream-of-consciousness reflection on the idea of “minding the gap.”
This gap may be read literally—the physical space the figure hovers above—or metaphorically: the space between conflicting emotions, opposing beliefs, or the distance between two people. The two columns begin to embody these opposing sides, with the figure negotiating the space between them. Importantly, the artist kept the figure from touching the gap itself—its toes suspended just above—emphasizing both tension and transition. This piece invites viewers to consider their own interpretations of the gap, and the delicate act of moving through or over it.
J. Aaron Alderman, a sculptor from Brevard, North Carolina, began his artistic journey at Brevard College and continued honing his craft through mentorship and hands-on study in metalwork. His work is defined by a raw, physical process and a focus on emotional expression through minimalist form.
Using repeated lines and round steel stock, Alderman creates sculptures that feel both intimate and universal—stripped of ego, yet deeply connected to the human experience. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and he has completed numerous public and private commissions.
Mind the Gap is currently on loan from the artist. With community support and a donation totaling $15,500, we hope to make it a permanent part of the collection. For more information or to help fund a sculpture contact Barbara Jamison, barbarajamison34@gmail.com.
Artist Statement: This sculpture marks my personal reawakening to the world of figurative art. After more than 13 years working in the film industry, I found myself searching for direction in my own creative voice. Reawakening became a metaphor for that journey — a turning point where I began to rediscover and redefine my path. It explores a contemporary interpretation of the human form, expressing both vulnerability and strength.
Wofford, an Academy award winning sculptor of national acclaim has operated his studio in Cashiers, North Carolina for over 20 years. He is known for his monumental works, expressive portraits, and dynamic animal sculptures.
Reawakening is on loan from the artist and is available for purchase for $65,000. For more information or to help fund a sculpture contact Barbara Jamison, barbarajamison34@gmail.com.
Seven Iceland poppies stem from the center of a splash of water. Each flower consists of three petals that represent being made new. Poppies are a recurring motif of the artist and inspiration comes from various areas of Christian literature.
MG is a wildflower in human form, a force of nature. Growing up in a small town in Texas, MG quickly learned how to work with her hands and ask questions. Now, each of her questions leads her to respond sculpturally using steel and a variety of materials and media. Each sculpture and work of art allows her to explore moments throughout life. MG draws inspiration from people, memories, moments in time, and her spiritual beliefs. MG teaches art at Clinton High School in Greenwood SC and is currently creating a body of work called ‘EDEN’.”
In July of 2024, Vision Cashiers installed Silviu at the Thomas Taulbee Memorial entrance to the Cashiers Greenway Ramble, part of the WALK CASHIERS initiative. WALK CASHIERS is a transformative initiative dedicated to creating an interconnected system of walkways and recreational areas in Cashiers. The centerpiece of this project, the Cashiers Greenway Ramble, will connect residents and visitors to the heart of our community, promoting a more walkable and vibrant environment.
Silviu is on loan from The Bascom and is available for purchase for $8,500. For more information or to help fund a sculpture contact Barbara Jamison, barbarajamison34@gmail.com.
Butterfly Effect is a striking sculpture crafted from steel and colored polymer, embodying both strength and delicacy. Its transparent polymer wings allow light to pass through, casting vibrant reflections onto the concrete base below. As the light shifts throughout the day, the sculpture interacts dynamically with its environment, creating ever-changing patterns of color and shadow. Though firmly anchored, the transparency of the wings lends it an ethereal, weightless quality, evoking the grace and movement of a real butterfly in flight.
McKinney Meadow is the perfect landing spot for Butterfly Effect. The small but mighty 2.11-acre native mountain meadow sits along the southern entrance into Cashiers and provides excellent habitat for many wildflowers, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators which enjoy or require open habitats. Places such as McKinney Meadow are increasingly important as native plants and pollinators continue to decline due to mowing, pesticide use, climate change and more.
Butterfly Effect is on loan from The Bascom and is available for $5,000.
Albert was purchased by the Boys and Girls Club in April of 2024. This piece provides teaching opportunities, as well as expanding experiences with art that are not accessible to club participants.
Doug McAbee, Artist Statement, 2023 :
I was taught the power of laughter and humor by my father and I seek to channel that power into my creative work. Knowing that art has the power to change how people think, I have chosen to communicate positive and hopeful messages to my audience through my work. Often using imaginative creatures, my work focuses on the challenges that face all humans regardless of race, gender, or class. These issues are communicated through narratives and while the problems and dualities are acknowledged, there is always a sense of hope that we will overcome these challenges with kindness and community. As viewers engage with the works of art they will connect with the absurdity, the liveliness, and the humor in the work. Whether for a few seconds or perhaps longer, my hope is that connection will create change.
Made possible through the financial support of Bev and John Monaco
Located on the hill across from the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center Parking lot on Frank Allen Rd.
Jim Collins is primarily a figurative public art sculptor, his work best exemplified by his long running series the WATCHER. His sculpture style has been characterized by the use of silhouettes of people and animals constructed of stainless steel, aluminum and other metals. Collins holds degrees from Marshall University, University of Michigan and MFA degree in sculpture from Ohio University.
JOIN THE PUBLIC ART TASK FORCE
We are a group of community members dedicated to creating a lasting and beautiful aesthetic in Cashiers. We’re looking for passionate individuals to join us in sourcing and choosing unique public art pieces that will enrich our community for years to come. If you’re interested in making a difference and would like more information or to get involved, please contact Barbara Jamison at barbarajamison34@gmail.com.
THE BENEFITS OF
PUBLIC ART
Public art brings people together physically and culturally, through its capacity to tell a community’s shared story and creating a sense of pride and community ownership.
Public art activates the imagination and encourages people to pay attention and perceive more deeply the environment they occupy. It also stimulates learning and thought about art and society, about our interconnected lives, and about the social sphere as a whole while being freely accessible.
BECOME A CHAMPION
OF THE ARTS
Help shape the future of Cashiers. Your support is crucial in realizing this vision!
Here are three ways you can make a lasting impact on the cultural fabric of Cashiers:
- Fund existing installations
- Memorialize or honor loved ones with a public sculpture
- Contribute to future installations
For more information or to help fund a sculpture contact Barbara Jamison, barbarajamison34@gmail.com.
CASHIERS PUBLIC ART AND THE BASCOM
Vision Cashiers has partnered with The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts in Highlands, NC to bring public art to Cashiers.
The Bascom is a non-profit seeking to build essential creative skills for area youth and adults, increase professional development opportunities for artists and educators and become a key player in the creative community of Western North Carolina.
The Bascom recommends several sculptures to Vision Cashiers and works with the Public Art Task Force to select the strongest fit for selected sites. The sculptures are selected and where they are placed is solely the decision of the Vision Cashiers Public Art Task Force.
Embark on a transformative journey as a Champion of the Arts with Cashiers Public Art Initiative.
Join us in these endeavors, including the exciting projects in the pipeline. Seize the opportunity to be a driving force behind the artistic renaissance of Cashiers.
Public art reflects and reveals our society, adds meaning to our cities and uniqueness to our communities. 
The Bascom’s Biennial Outdoor Sculpture Program consists of a widely publicized call to artists to submit outdoor sculptures for consideration. Five are selected for The Bascom campus and two for Cashiers. The Bascom recommends a number of sculptures to Vision Cashiers and works with the Public Art Task Force to select the strongest fit for selected sites. The determination of which sculptures are selected and where they are placed is solely the decision of the Vision Cashiers Public Art Task Force.
Vision Cashiers coordinates with property owners regarding the site and installation of the sculpture and assumes all costs associated with siting and pouring the concrete pad for the sculptures. The Bascom provides funding for the artists which includes a $1500 honorarium. Additionally, both Vision Cashiers and The Bascom enter into an agreement with the property owners which provides for mutual indemnification. The Bascom follows its standard protocol for the sale of any work on display during the exhibition of the sculptures. Should an artwork on exhibit sell during the period, the artist will receive 60% of the sale proceeds and The Bascom will receive 40% per The Bascom’s standard agreement with exhibiting artists. The price of the sculpture is determined by the artist.