Past Projects
A number of amazing projects have graced the walls and galleries of the NEON District over the years. Have a look at some of those works in the listing below.
NEON Holiday Public Art 2024
Each year, the NEON District collaborates with local artists to create custom holiday décor for display at the Plot. In 2024 a student team from The Governor’s School for the Arts collaborated on design ideas and cooked up the idea of gingerbread people as an inclusive way to show the rich diversity of our community. … NEON Holiday Public Art 2024
View PostThe Community Crochet Mural Project 2024
Isabella Thompson, founder of The Fiber Art Society, started the Community Crochet Mural Project in July 2024, blending her life-long passion for fiber art and community engagement. The mural consists of 333 granny squares—totaling 83,916 double crochet—measuring over twenty feet wide and five feet tall, including nearly seven miles of yarn! Following the 2024 NEON … The Community Crochet Mural Project 2024
View PostInternational Yarn Bombing Day 2024
Multimedia artist Isabella Thompson returned to the NEON District in 2024, creating yarn bombs inspired by local businesses for International Yarn Bombing Day on June 11. Yarn bombs are street artworks created by fiber enthusiasts who crochet or knit pieces for display in public environments, often covering trees, fences or benches. Try to find all … International Yarn Bombing Day 2024
View PostNEON Holiday Stars 2023
The 2023 custom holiday star décor for the NEON District was hand-painted by The Governor’s School for the Arts students. Lead artist Zach Ellis created “Baker’s Disaster,” an array of cookie designs inspired by holiday baking. There are some baking mistakes that we may have all encountered–some cookies are burnt, and some have icing that … NEON Holiday Stars 2023
View PostNEON Holiday Stars 2022
The 2022 custom holiday star décor for the neighborhood was hand-painted by The Governor’s School for the Arts students. Fresh off their Gourmandizing mural in NEON, the ten art students had a few weeks left of the semester to tackle another paint project. The cheerful and colorful designs were on view at Retail Alliance’s parking … NEON Holiday Stars 2022
View PostNEON Wayfinding Posters 2022
In 2017, Work Program Architects, Downtown Norfolk Council and Sway Creative Labs joined forces to create an artistic sign package for NEON that included pedestrian signs, gateway fixtures and sidewalk “breadcrumbs” to lead visitors around the neighborhood. Two custom fabricated steel signs were placed on Olney Road and Grace Street with attraction listings and windows … NEON Wayfinding Posters 2022
View PostNEON Holiday Stars 2021
After a successful first year of custom holiday designs, two new artists were selected for the 2021 holiday season to create a new vision for the district’s star décor. Custom star paintings by Aimee Bruce inspired by neon lights and bokeh dots were displayed at Retail Alliance’s parking lot, in the Plot flower bed and … NEON Holiday Stars 2021
View PostAlley “Rug”
In the fall of 2021 The Governor’s School for the Arts visual arts student Ronan Breckenbridge designed a new “rug” for the rotating art site in Magazine Lane, between 801 Granby and Hurrah’s Copeland Center. Caelan Shaw and Morgan Jones assisted. The alley rug is a popular selfie spot in NEON. A new rug was … Alley “Rug”
View PostAffinity
Young Governor’s School for the Arts visual artist Layla Todd’s design was selected for a new mural on the rotating art site in Magazine Lane. The goal of this project was to create a design that was simple but stylistically unique enough to make a recognizable and memorable piece. The shapes, line and color together … Affinity
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