ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Early this morning, just two weeks after the public installation was erected, University of North Carolina Asheville officials took down “Batland,” an outdoor art gallery and scavenger hunt featuring hand-painted bats by over 25 local artists.
Batland was designed and implemented by Spencer Beals, a local artist passionate about “Save the Woods,” a community effort to preserve 45 acres of urban forest surrounding the Five Points neighborhood of North Asheville. Beals wanted the art project to spotlight what makes the acreage so valuable to the local community after UNC Asheville, which adjoins and owns the property, announced plans to develop new infrastructure on the land last year.
Bats begone
According to Beals, UNC Asheville began to uninstall Batland around 7:30 a.m. this morning, Tuesday, Jan. 6.
“They came in here early with a police car, multiple vehicles. They had multiple teams going out, sweeping through the woods, and taking down this entire art installation that was for the community,” Beals said…