Pittsboro, NC – On on crisp November day in 2025, a commemorative plaque was unveiled for sculptor Edwin White’s captivating art piece, Wheels Up. Created in 2024, this site-specific sculpture transforms forgotten automotive artifacts into a vibrant tribute to the town’s industrial past, embodying White’s signature blend of problem-solving, historical reverence, and bold design. The event, held at the redeveloped site of the former Justice Motor Co., drew locals, art enthusiasts, and history buffs alike, underscoring Pittsboro’s growing reputation as a hub for public art that connects generations.
The sculpture’s unveiling comes at a time of increased attention — both locally and regionally — to community revitalization, arts infrastructure, and placemaking. Events like the sculpture shows at The Plant, gallery tours, and growing interest in arts-driven redevelopment all point to a county-wide shift toward embedding art in everyday life.
Within that broader trend, “Wheels Up” stands out: reclaimed materials from local history transformed into contemporary art; an accessible installation in a high-traffic location; an artist with decades of experience rooting a lasting presence in the community. By repurposing historic materials — the old wire-spoke wheels — White’s sculpture draws a line from Pittsboro’s past to its present. The wheels may once have served transportation or agricultural purposes; now they sit at the center of a traffic circle.
Edwin White, known affectionately as Eddie, has long been a pillar of Chatham County’s creative landscape. His artistic journey began in Staunton, Virginia’s Historic District, where he immersed himself in painting and silkscreen printing. There, he established Edwin White Studios—an art gallery and print shop within a restored old flour mill called “The Factory.” White traveled the Southeast, showcasing his watercolors, pen-and-ink drawings, glass etchings, and silkscreen prints at various art and craft shows.
In 1975, a move to Chapel Hill, NC, marked a pivotal shift. Leveraging his skills as a carpenter and draftsman, White designed and built homes and additions across the Research Triangle area while freelancing as a graphic designer for local businesses in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. A return to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, inspired by a walking tour through Scotland, reignited his passion for abstract art. He crafted painted landscapes and constructions from local hardwoods, glass, metals, and mirrors, eventually joining the Carolina Designer Craftsmen.
White’s versatility extended into product design, where he prototyped a surgical staple remover and spent years developing patents and prototypes for medical device companies in Research Triangle Park. His community spirit shone through volunteer efforts at Community Independent School near Pittsboro, including expansions to the elementary school, a preschool playground, and a barn for the farm program. Since 2000, White has focused on sculpture, initially participating in the Chatham County Open Studio Tour and serving as president of the Chatham Artists Guild in 2011. His first major international commission, Mengembang, was installed in 2003 at the Hilton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Today, White works from his home studio along the Rocky River in Silk Hope, NC, shared with his wife, Gwen. Their daughter, Jesse, an art teacher at Roosevelt High School in Washington, DC, grew up amidst the creative energy of the studio, even collaborating on school projects like a large-scale mobile. White’s early exposure to art—rooted in Winston-Salem, NC, with mentorship from neighbors and family—fueled a lifelong dedication to creative problem-solving. He advocates for mentorship in the arts, stating, “If they want to focus on something particular – whatever kind of art – find a mentor. Find someone who is already involved in that. If you show the interest and the passion, then anything can happen.”
White’s philosophy centers on revision, change, and exploration of shape and form. “My most interesting and engaging sculptures are developed through problem solving,” he explains. “For me, the art making process focuses on revision and change.” He thrives on site-specific commissions, juxtaposing organic and geometric elements, and experimenting with materials like metal, wire, string, and plastic tubing to create intricate patterns and dynamic forms. Known as an eager artist committed to public art, White does whatever it takes to realize his visions, from large installations in Chatham Park to interactive pieces that invite community engagement.
Wheels Up exemplifies this approach. Commissioned in 2024, the sculpture features vintage wire-spoke wheels unearthed in 2021 during the site’s redevelopment. These relics, buried where Justice Motor Co. operated from circa 1942 to 1981, were restored by Edwin White Designs with colors evocative of 1930s Chevrolet aesthetics. The piece not only preserves a fragment of Pittsboro’s automotive history but also elevates it into a symbol of upward momentum and renewal.The newly unveiled plaque, positioned beside the sculpture, reads:
WHEELS UPThese vintage wire-spoke wheels were excavated behind this building in 2021 during the redevelopment of the site, which was home to Justice Motor Co from c. 1942 until c. 1981. The wheels were buried in the area where the dealership repaired automobiles.Edwin White Designs restored the wheels, which were popular for their aesthetic appeal in the early 1930s, with colors like those used by Chevrolet at the time.
In a town where art and history intertwine, Wheels Up serves as a rolling testament to creativity’s power—lifting the past into the present and propelling the community toward an inspired future. White’s dedication reminds us that, with passion and perseverance, art can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.