Research Triangle Park, N.C. -  The Triangle Transit Authority's (TTA) Art in Transit Advisory Committee presented artist selections to the TTA Board of Trustees today, recommending two artists from North Carolina and one from Colorado. The art will be integrated into the design of the twelve regional rail stations planned for the Triangle that will be part of the 28-mile service between Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh.

The artist selections represent TTA's mission to create welcoming rail stations that embody the character of the surrounding neighborhoods. "Rail will reflect the vibrancy and excitement of this community and will contribute to the quality of life we all enjoy. Our selected artists will express this through aesthetic enhancements to the rail experience. We are excited by what they bring to this project," said Steve Gaddis, Art in Transit Selection Committee member and Art in Transit Selection Committee Chairperson.

David Wilson of Apex, North Carolina was selected to work on the "Community Canvases." He will focus on the design of windscreens. Mr. Wilson has been painting and exhibiting for over 10 years in the Triangle and has had over 25 solo and group exhibits and more than 15 private and public commissions. He has completed artwork for NC Museum of History in Raleigh, Hargraves Community Center in Chapel Hill, The Nash Senior Center in Nashville and the Durham County Detention Center.

Jim Gallucci of Greensboro, North Carolina was selected to work on the "Community Gateways." Gallucci will focus on railing and gateway design. With over twenty-five years of sculpting experience he has worked on several public and corporate art commissions. His most recent work is a 50-ton, 47-feet tall sculpture at Elon University memorializing the events of September 11, 2001. The sculpture is comprised of salvaged steel from the World Trade Center.

Carolyn Braaksma of Denver, Colorado was selected to work on the "Ribbon." Her focus will be on platform and plaza paving. Braaksma has over twenty years of paving experience in public art construction projects that include the Scottsdale, Arizona's Pima Outer Loop, Denver International Airport, Wachovia Bank in Charlotte and the University of St. Paul Minnesota.

TTA continues to seek North Carolina potters and artisans to design and fabricate tiles for the regional rail stations. For more information on these opportunities, please visit www.rideTTA.org.

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, RDU International Airport, RTP and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the popular on-line resource for public transportation information in the Triangle.

TTA plans to implement a 28-mile rail transit system with 12 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The rail transit system is expected to be operational in 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.