A significant part of Charlotte’s queer history has vanished. According to the new property owners, the mural at the rear side of a structure located at 1510 Central Avenue, which was an homage to the late drag legend Brandy Alexander was painted over accidentally.
In an interview with the Charlotte Observer, Jack Dunn, the managing partner at Chartwell Property Group, confirmed that the mural was painted over by accident.
As reported, Chartwell did hire a contractor to repaint the building on Pecan Avenue, but a miscommunication resulted in the mural being painted over.
Dunn also confirmed the miscommunication was not a political statement. “We are not infallible, Dunn said in the pages of the Observer. “In our efforts to improve and maintain the structures, [our contractors] misinterpreted our request and painted over the mural, but it was with the intent of giving a better home to our merchants. Our intent is to preserve the neighborhood, not sanitize it with new development.”
The project was originally conceived by musician and documentarian John Kennedy, artist Nick Napolitano and Boom Charlotte founder Manoj Kesavan. Other artists who participated in the actual creation of the work of art included Matt Moore and Matt Hooker.
In addition to paying tribute to Alexander, the mural carried a political message in protest of House Bill 2, which prevented trans individuals from using the appropriate restroom in government facilities. The bill was likely the matchstick that created the firestorm of anti-drag and anti-trans legislation that exists today.
In a slap at former North Carolina governor and Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory, who was responsible for HB2 and had become notorious for his anti-LGBTQ+ viewpoints, the artists created cameo pendant earrings with McCrory’s image as part of Alexander’s accessories depicted in the mural.
Chartwell is reportedly considering a new installation that will pay homage to Alexander.
As reported in Qnotes when the mural was first installed, the initial plan was to have several legendary drag queens in the mural, including Boom Boom Latour, Tony Lenoir and Kasey King, along with Alexander. At the time Lenoir was the only member of the additional three considered who had passed away. Latour died shortly after the mural’s completion and King passed away late last year.
Community conversation and internet chatter has suggested that a new mural should include all four performers, all of whom left an indelible mark on the city’s community and contributed much in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, the fight against HIV/AIDS and the Queen City’s queer culture.
