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Can you find them all? Artist hides tiny sculptures in Raleigh park

Graymon Ward, the artist behind the viral sensation Pizza Time! on a Raleigh sidewalk, has a new unusual project up his sleeve: He's hiding tiny sculptures in Fred Fletcher Park in Raleigh.

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SEEK Raleigh and Graymon Ward create scavenger hunt project for tiny sculptures at Fred Fletcher Park
By
Heather Leah
, WRAL multiplatform producer
RALEIGH, N.C. — Many locals still remember the 'Pizza Time!' sidewalk mural, a giant slice of pizza that once decorated the corner of Peace and Salisbury streets in Raleigh. This slice of quirky public art shifted downtown Raleigh culture in a more creative direction.

Now, the artist for 'Pizza Time!' has found a new way to keep Raleigh on its toes: He's hidden a dragon in Fred Fletcher Park.

Tiny sculture scavenger hunt at Fred Fletcher Park by SEEK Raleigh and Graymon Ward
In conjunction with SEEK Raleigh, a project by Raleigh Arts, Graymon Ward has crafted six whimsical miniature statues and hidden them around the Raleigh park, encouraging visitors to take part in a scavenger hunt. Each tiny statue has a clue attached, which will lead people to the next hidden treasure.

Crafting unique fun during a fearful time

SEEK Raleigh hopes including public art in parks will engage the community and encourage more locals to visit parks.

"Raleigh Arts is trying to push Raleigh in a more arts-friendly direction, and trying to define Raleigh’s personality in a more creative way," said Ward.

Ward, a teacher at Broughton High School, crafted his tiny sculpture scavenger hunt with families in mind. He said he hoped it would give families a reason to go to the park, to have an adventure together and to instill a sense of wonder in Raleigh.

Graymon Ward, miniature scavenger hunt at Fred Fletcher Park in Raleigh

Then the COVID-19 outbreak happened.

"When I first proposed it, the COVID-19 outbreak had not happened. So I was imagining this could be something families could do together during the end of the school year."

Now, the project has perhaps an even more important role: Providing fun memories and engaging interactions with nature and art during an anxious time.

"A lot of families are stuck inside, teaching their children from home, and this gives them something unique they can do to get out of the house," said Ward.

Going to parks for exercise is one of the few remaining outings allowed during the stay-at-home order. Perhaps going on a scavenger hunt to find magical creatures tucked away in little knolls and unexpected places allows families to make precious memories even during a pandemic.

Graymon Ward, miniature scavenger hunt at Fred Fletcher Park in Raleigh

Bananas, not pizza

Ward said, most of all, he hoped to bottle up the sheer joy he sees on his 9-month-old son's face whenever he accomplishes something on his own.

"He's just discovered how successfully he can eat a banana. He gets really pumped whenever he sees one now. He gets this electricity on his face, this bashful smile. Like, I’d love for people to have a similar feeling whenever they discover the next clue and uncover the sculpture," said Ward.

SEEK Raleigh and Graymon Ward create scavenger hunt project for tiny sculptures at Fred Fletcher Park

Keep Raleigh creative

Having grown up in Raleigh, he said he loved seeing the city grow into the kind of city he'd always wanted: Creative, quirky, with a lot of personality.

Ward said he makes unique public art projects like this so his son and his students will grow up in a city with a creative culture that values the arts.

"I want to live in a world that has cool, quirky art and kids that feel odd or out of place can feel at home in their own city," said Ward. "They'll see this weird art and know there's someone in this city they can relate to."

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