A striking new art installation has taken over one of the display windows of the historic Old Belk Building in downtown Danville on Main Street, offering more than a visual treat—it delivers a bold cultural statement.
At the center of the display is “197,” a dramatic wearable sculpture made of 197 recycled cans. It’s part of HOOPLA, a multi-site installation by internationally recognized artist Perrin Marie. The full collection of 16 skirts spans 12 sites across Durham, NC, and Danville, VA, with local stops including Gunn Memorial Library, the Yanceyville Municipal Building, North Village Pharmacy, the Senior Center, Piedmont Triad Visitors Center and Piedmont Community College’s Yanceyville campus.
Constructed from discarded and repurposed materials, each hoop skirt in the HOOPLA series celebrates the power of “taking up space”—physically, politically, and artistically. Some of the skirts are named for influential cultural figures including Oprah Winfrey, Amelia Earhart, Madonna, Frida Kahlo, Yoko Ono, Alice Walker, and Coretta Scott King—a nod to the legacy of those who’ve boldly claimed space before…