Wake Forest Students Cover Downtown Winston-Salem
Wind chimes add “serendipity” to the Arts District
by Anna Conte October 22, 2015
About two years ago, hidden by the darkness of night two Arts for Arts Sake members set out on an expedition to hang wind chimes from the street lamps on Trade Street.
Harry Knabb and Guy Blynn initially assembled this Arts for Arts Sake project in secret due to their uncertainty of the reaction from business owners on Trade Street in downtown Winston-Salem. Now the wind chimes remain hanging from the street lamps, associated with many more compliments than complaints.
Knabb described the sounds of the wind chimes as providing a “serendipity kind of feel” while also radiating smiles throughout the Arts District of downtown Winston-Salem.
The streets of downtown have been musically enriched, according to local business owners.
This Arts for Arts Sake project idea came from Blynn, who died last December. Blynn was inspired to bring this idea to life after he went on a trip to New York City. While on this trip, Blynn heard wind chimes hanging in trees surrounding a restaurant, according to Knabb.
The wind chimes were initially assembled on Trade Street and have spread to Liberty Street as well, due to popularity within the community, according to Knabb.
Each wind chime differs from the next. Each chime dangles at a different length, is assembled using different wooden shapes and each offers an individual chime when the wind flows through.
These chimes expand the Arts District’s spectrum beyond visual art.
A long-time business owner on Trade Street, Tamara Prost, said the wind chimes are “lovely, a good addition to the neighborhood.” An employee at her store, Claire Giffin, said the chimes are most noticeable in the mornings. She continued by saying the chimes give off a “melodious kind of sound.”
Blynn served as Chief Legal Counsel of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company after having acquired both a business and law degree from University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University respectively. He was active in the community, serving as a chairman in Bookmarks as well as a board member in Arts for Arts Sake, according to Knabb.
Knabb remains highly involved in the arts of downtown. Being a board of director of Arts for Arts Sake, he has been a huge part of the projects Arts for Arts Sake has presented. Past projects that he spoke of included the Arts District Arch Way on 6th Street, a fish sculpture on Trade Street, murals throughout the city, a public art park and many more.
Arts for Arts Sake is a nonprofit organization with the intention of enhancing and educating the community through art, according to their website. All of their events are open and free to the public. According to their website, this organization encourages and supports artists and the presence of art downtown.
Trade Street business owner, Purity Ruchugo, said she likes to look out the windows of her store and see people look up and appreciate the chimes, always with smiles on their faces.
