Update: The winner is Joe, who suggested “4th and Gold.” David made a slight change, to “1st and Gold” but declared Joe the winner! When we think of documenting the history of a place, we usually think about words and books. But artist David French is telling the story of Charlotte through paintings. For a number of years he’s been painting Charlotte landmarks. Not just the Uptown scenes you might see in a tour book, but the kind of neighborhood spots that locals frequent. In fact, if you look closely at some of them you might see someone you know. His paintings are accurate–he might take a hundred photographs of a place before finding the right one to use as a reference–but they also incorporate whimsical elements, resulting in an image that juxtaposes Van Gogh’s Starry Night with the Penguin Drive-In, or a picture that sets a young boy’s carnival fantasy above the city skyline.
David was commissioned to paint the scene of UNCC’s very first football game, against Campbell on August 31st, 2013. I got to see the work in progress, but it’s finished now. You can see an image of the finished painting at the top of this page. Click on it to see more detail.
There’s just one thing missing…the name of the painting. That’s where you come in. Leave a comment with what you think the the painting should be titled. David will pick his favorite title from the entries. The winner will receive an 11×17 print of this painting. You can either pick it up at Charlotte Vintage Summer Market at The Fillmore June 14th, or make arrangements with David to pick it up. View the rest of his paintings to get inspired.
And if this helps with inspiration, the 49ers routed Campbell 52-7 in that game. They destroyed them.
You have until Tuesday, June 3rd, to leave a comment with your suggestion. You can leave more than one suggestion.
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 
Artie Beaty says
Here’s a few suggestions:
Our Time
Realized Dream
Niner Time
Artie Beaty says
Inaugural Rush
Staking Their Claim
Artie Beaty says
Two more:
Gold Rush
Striking Gold
David French says
thanks everyone keep the suggestions coming. You can see all my work at davidfrenchoriginals.com
Derek Turner says
First Strike
Joe says
4th and gold
Kathy Parker says
The Golden Gridiron
Kathy Parker says
A Charlotte Victory
Golden Gridiron
Score for Mr. Robinson
A field of winners
Saturday Night Lights
Gameday August 31, 2013
52-7 Forty-Niners First Win
Allison Georger says
The Goldrush
Geoff Burdick says
“The Tradition begins by Unleashing the Niner Claim on Campbell” (get it…UNCC)
Sarah Wilbanks says
At Last
Chris Perez says
FORTY! NINERS!
Queen City Gold Rush
Crystal Brauer says
History in the Making
Renee S. says
Goldstruck
Lewis W. Davis II says
New Gold Dream
Stephanie Stewart! says
Gameday goal realized
Gridiron gameday glee
EPIC inaugural action (*EPIC is a campus building close to the stadium)
EPIC Niner times
What a neat contest! And what amazing work you do, Mr. French!
Hope Ringley says
“What it was, was football”
Andrea says
Rushing for Gold
Passing the Pick
Stephanie Stewart! says
EPIC game, EPIC stadium
Where no post had been before
Go long: dreams realized
Artie Beaty says
Countdown to Kickoff
Queen Charlotte’s Gold
Marci Mroz says
Forty-Niners Football Fever
Misty says
A few ideas….Football Crush, For the Love of the Game, Winning in NC, or Stadium Full of Tradition
Avery says
“Forty-Niners Football Frenzy”
“Touchdown, Forty-Niners!”
“A gold and green dream come true”
Marion says
The beginning of a legacy… are you ready for some football!