Piedmont Laureate’s words to grace Triangle-area buses

Bus passengers might soon find themselves asking questions they wouldn’t normally ask.

Today, Capital Area Transit is debuting a series of placards sponsored by members of the Raleigh Arts Commission and the Orange County Arts Commission, as well as Scott Huler, the 2011 Piedmont Laureate.

The “Words on the Move” placards, which were placed in the interior of Chapel Hill Transit buses May 14, encourage transit users to contemplate a series of written questions, and promote awareness for the work of the Piedmont Laureate.

The placards’ themes range from drinking water to reading books to television optics.

“Scott has written some fabulous, thoughtful questions, and they’re fun questions,” said June Guralnick, executive director of the Raleigh Arts Commission. “It’s really food for thought.”

Guralnick dreamed up the placards and the Raleigh Arts Commission created the design, she said.

All 99 Chapel Hill buses display two placards each. One introduces the “Words on the Move” platform, while the other presents a set theme of questions.

Bus riders are encouraged to send in their own inquiries on the Piedmont Laureate website, and Huler will reply to chosen questions through an online answer forum, Guralnick said.

As the Piedmont Laureate, Huler has been appointed for one year in order to promote the literary arts throughout Alamance, Durham, Johnston, Orange and Wake counties.

“My entire goal as Piedmont Laureate is to wake people up,” Huler said. “The world is full of fascinating secrets, and it wants you to ask.”

Martha Shannon, director of the Orange County Arts Commission, said the placards are meant to not only increase awareness of the Piedmont Laureate program but also make individuals more aware of what is occurring around them and their own capacity for creativity.

The Orange County Arts Commission aims to continue “Words on the Move” until December 2011, although no new placards will be created, Shannon said.

“We are hoping to do another outreach program with Scott during the second half of this calendar year,” she added.

Huler said the organization is looking to extend the questions beyond Orange County and Raleigh. Community leaders in Alamance County are considering placing the placards in their public libraries, Huler said.

“I think it’s going to be a very well-received public art project because it’s focusing on something a little bit different,” said Shannon. “It’s focusing on language, on words and public arts.”

Contact the Arts Editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.