I have been commissioned to create a sculpture for the parklet at Greenwood avenue and the Beltline in Virginia Highland. The piece, “ Canis Rufus”, will be a trio of red wolves moving along an abandoned section of rail road. The sculpture will depict three historical elements important to Atlanta’s past; the railroad, the brick industry and the red wolf. 

The piece is being funded by the friends and family of Andrew Feiler and Laura Adams to celebrate their 2018 marriage and when completed it will be gifted to the city

The Red Wolf

The red wolf  is the only large carnivore solely native to the U. S. The wolf that once roamed Georgia and the Southeast is now endangered.  I chose the Red Wolf for its unique reddish color, reminiscent of bricks and to be a reminder of our effects on wildlife and the natural world and draw attention to the importance of their protection and conservation. 

B Mifflin Hood Brick Co

The brick columns elevating the tracks reference the B Mifflin Hood Brick Co building that still sits adjacent to the parklet. Founded in 1909, the Hood Brick Company distinguished itself by producing "non-convict bricks", as Hood did not participate in the convict leasing system that was prevalent at the time. This was a system of forced penal labor practiced in the South and overwhelmingly involved African American men. These non convict bricks produced by the company were used in many of the houses in the Virginia Highland and surrounding neighborhoods.

The Rail Road

The abandoned railroad track references Atlanta’s railroad history.  Once called Terminus since it was located at the end of the Western & Atlantic railroad, the city’s name was later changed to Atlanta, the female version of Atlantic in honor of the same railroad. As the city grew other rail lines soon developed including the The Atlanta&Richmond line which ran right through the site, and has now become the footprint of the Atlanta Beltline.

I believe an important part of public art is community involvement. It promotes art awareness and creates ownership to the completed artwork. For this project I collected old used bricks from residents in the Virginia Higland Neighborhood.

I will be reassembled the donated bricks  along with ones salvaged from the Mifflin Building to create the 8 columns giving support to the wolves as they struggle on their journey for survival. Representing how if we all come together we can help make a difference and protect endangered animals.   

And for more information on the Red Wolf

and programs working to protect them go to

the Red Wolf Project