Removal of sculpture from Orange County shop causes uproar during art festival
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Carr Mill Mall removed a sculpture during Uproar Festival after complaints.
- The piece depicted an eagle in a trap and sparked conversation on symbolism.
- Festival continues with 60 artworks across Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough.
Carr Mill Mall is facing backlash after it had an artist’s work removed during the first weekend of Orange County’s Uproar Festival of Public Art.
Property manager Nathan Milian requested the removal of the sculpture “Unbound” from the front of My Muses Card Shop. The piece, by Charlotte artist Joanne Vega, depicts a bald eagle hanging upside down from a trap.
The sculpture was inspired by the story of a woman who saved a bald eagle from a bear trap and tried to take it to a wildlife rescue group. The eagle died, and the woman was charged with tampering with an endangered species.
“The work invites viewers to reflect on the impact of our actions on the natural world and the ideals the eagle represents,” read a description of the piece on the Uproar Festival’s website.
Uproar Fest is a free event in Orange County that features 60 pieces of outdoor artwork in Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough over three weekends in August.
Why was the sculpture removed?
Milian said the mall had received complaints about the display.
“We’re a place for everybody to come and have a good time and spend their money,” Milian said. “Apparently this display was causing people some anxiety. So I just said, ‘Hey, let’s just get it out of here.’’”
The sculpture was moved to The ArtsCenter. Orange County Arts Commission director Katie Murray said she has not heard any complaints about the piece despite getting emails about other pieces visitors don’t like.
“If they read the description, then they knew what it was about,” Murray said. “It is not political in any nature. It’s a sad piece of art, and it’s a startling story, but it is not political and was not intended to be.”
Two artists’ cars towed
Meanwhile, two other visiting artists parked at Carr Mill Mall to eat lunch at The Spotted Dog across the street, Murray said. When they came back, their cars had been towed, and the artists had to pay $500 to get them back.
Milian said he had no knowledge of the artists whose cars were towed. He said there are signs posted at every entrance about parking rules, including some with QR codes that direct drivers to public parking.
“They’re just like everybody else,” Milian said. “If you park here and you go somewhere else, you’re subject to be towed.”
Triangle Blog Blog created a fundraiser to cover the artists’ fees that as of Wednesday had raised $1,562 from 93 donors. Any funds over the $500 goal will be donated to the arts commission.
“As costs rise, fewer artists can live in Carrboro and Chapel Hill, and we should embrace and celebrate artists who live here, as well as artists who visit,” the blog wrote in a post announcing the fundraiser.
As of Monday, 366 vehicles have been towed in Carrboro this year, according to Carrboro communications director Catherine Lazorko. Of those vehicles, 338, roughly 92% of all tows, were towed from Carr Mill Mall.
“All of us that live in the community know you do not park in that lot unless you are going into Weaver Street or into one of the restaurants there,” Murray said. “But somebody visiting from out of town, they’re not going to know that.”
Successful opening weekend for Uproar
Artists can win a $10,000 “People’s Choice Prize” for getting the most votes from the public. Murray said the first weekend of the festival garnered 1,700 votes from attendees — more votes than the festival collected in 2023, its inaugural year.
Uproar selected artists from as far as Georgia and Alabama and attracts attendance from as far west as the Triad and as far east as eastern Wake County, Murray said.
The owner of My Muses, Abhi Sivadas, said he is pleased the festival still took place despite lingering damage from Tropical Depression Chantal. Sivadas declined to comment about the removal of Vega’s sculpture from his storefront.
“I think it’s great for the business community, where a lot of people come to town,” Sivadas said. “And it benefits the businesses, whether it’s retail or restaurants.”
Murray said that’s why Uproar takes place in the “dead of summer.” When UNC-Chapel Hill students leave for the summer, downtown businesses struggle.
She said many people consider Weaver Street Market Carrboro’s front yard and said she sent an email to Milian that his actions ran “counter to everything that Carrboro stands for.”
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 12:53 PM.
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