From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Using an unconventional approach, a group of local artists recently launched an ongoing protest of UNC Asheville’s development plans with an unauthorized gallery in the university’s urban forest, Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Dec. 31.

The gallery — called Batland, a “living gallery” of handmade bats, maps, and riddles — has not been approved by UNCA.

News 13 noted, “The artists’ group said the idea of turning the urban forest into an interactive art exhibit was prompted amid a growing fight over the future of Asheville’s South Campus Woods,.

“Batland is curated by local artist Spencer Beals and a group of 25 contributing creatives. 

“Dozens of sculpted bats hang from trees along winding trails in the wooded area near UNCA. Each bat corresponds to a unique symbol on a hand-drawn map, inviting visitors to explore, reflect, and reconsider what the forest means to the community”

Further Beals told the TV station, “This is the most meaningful project I’ve ever gotten to do with my art.” 

News 13 added, “Each bat is a unique piece of artwork, painted and embedded with riddles or symbolic meaning. Visitors can pick up a physical map at Pink Dog Creative, where Beals told News 13 he is often around to meet supporters of the project.”

More specifically, Beals told News 13, “People are seeing owls, finding treasures, reading clues, and realizing how alive this place really is. It’s not just a blank canvas for development.”

The TV station pointed out that “plans to build a multi-phase stadium-anchored district on the university’s South Campus have sparked widespread pushback from neighbors, students, and faculty. While university leaders say the proposed project could bring millions in investment, critics argue it threatens a unique urban forest used for education, wildlife habitat, and public access.”

In quoting from the 2012 film ‘The Lorax,’ Beals told News 13, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better —  it’s not...

 “It’s the reason why so many artists are drawn here, and it’s the same reason we need to protect this urban forest, so people have that connection point to sort of stir up their inspiration.”

That connection is exactly what drew artist Dayna Walton to the project.

“I think a lot of people are afraid of bats because we see them in horror movies, or you think of them getting stuck in your hair,” Walton said. “But they’ve been here for so long. They’ve evolved with other parts of our ecosystems, and we need them,” he told News 13.