Franklin Galleries

‘First Day of Class’ by North Carolina artist Russell Smith is the first piece to capture the most revered of all Carolina traditions. Campus legend asserts that a drink from the Old Well on the first day of classes will ensure a student straight A’s for the semester.

A stunning depiction of this annual right of passage, Smith’s use of composition, color and light dazzle the canvas. The warm light of a late summer morning sun peers just over Old East, and pours through the pillars onto the ‘baptized’ student. Set beneath the Carolina Blue sky against the majestic backdrop of the South Building, this 1950’s depiction will be prized by any UNC Alumnus.

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On a perfect May morning, an electric feeling envelops Chapel Hill. The much anticipated day has finally arrived. Years of anticipation would be condensed into moments. Lifelong dreams would soon be fulfilled. As the moment nears, the excitement heightens. And then suddenly, without provocation, the blue mass erupts into a thunderous roar of celebration which reverberates through an entire town. A mass of mortarboards are launched into the awaiting sky.

“Celebration” by North Carolina artist Russell Smith captures the excitement and jubilation of this awesome moment in this second edition of Franklin Galleries Traditions Collection®. The hats fly against the backdrop of an ‘angelic’ sky while the graduates celebrate their remarkable accomplishment in the shadow of the Bell Tower. Smith’s brilliant use of light, color and contrast create a visually stunning piece that you will be proud to display in your home or office.

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Carolina legend has it that if you kiss your date beneath the legendary Davie Poplar, then you will marry the one you kiss. Franklin Galleries third of the Traditions Collection, ‘Legend of Davie Poplar’ by North Carolina artist Russell Smith is the first picture to capture the sacred tradition of the ‘kiss’ while capturing the splendor of North Campus.

Smith depicts a glorious fall day with the sun illuminating Old East – the first building built on campus – as students pass on the walkways behind the historic tree. Set in front of a backdrop of the South Building and the Old Well, this work is visually stunning and truly captures the essence of a fall Carolina day.

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‘Polk Place circa 1935′ by North Carolina artist William Waters IV is a brilliant rendition of TC Moore’s classic photograph of Polk Place taken on a cold, mid-thirties winter day. Moore was commissioned by the University to capture the quadrangle when it was perfectly empty. After hours of waiting in the bitter cold for the people to clear, Moore decided he could not wait anymore and snapped the photo which has since gained considerable recognition.

Waters rendition takes this photograph to a whole new level. His magnificent use of light and contrast create a remarkable composition that captivates the eye. Notice the symmetry of the spoked walkway and the majesty of the Carolina skyline featuring the Bell Tower’s legendary ascent over the dome of Wilson Library. A radiant mid-morning sun casts shadows off top-coat clad students, hurried to escape the frigid conditions. The silhouettes contrast against the illuminated campus creating the most striking component of the Vintage Collection®.

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‘Old Well circa 1892′ by William Waters turns back the clock over 100 years to Carolina’s yesteryear. His rendition of this classic Carolina photograph preserves Carolina’s proud past for generations to come. ‘Old Well’ offers a glimpse into the UNC of the nineteenth century.

This work preserves the dress of the students of the day. One student is proudly displaying the interlocking NC while a professor dons a suit, tie, and a derby. Central to the photo is a student drinking water from a bucket affixed to a pulley. This timeless work of art is a must and will make a proud addition to the homes and offices of UNC alumni.

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‘Beat Duke Parade’ is Franklin Galleries rendition of the classic 1949 photograph from the North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives. The photograph, taken on November 18, 1949 depicted the ceremonious parade on Franklin Street that preceded one of the greatest Duke-Carolina football games of all time (see history).

William Waters IV delivers a masterful rendition of the classic image most noted by his fervid attention to detail. His elegant composition draws your eyes to the canvas seeking to know more about the place, this scene, this day. Your eyes can’t help to follow the action down a 1940’s Franklin Street, absorbing every detail of the parade. It is not until every inch of canvas has been studied that you can pull away from this work – then you can’t help to look again.

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