Downtown Chapel Hill became a little more colorful this weekend than it was before, as a pop-up art walk appeared along Franklin Street.

The Science and Hope Art Walk, which began its display on Thursday, features more than 80 pieces of original art celebrating achievements made by local, state and national leaders over the last year. Much of the artwork thanks scientists, healthcare workers, teachers, local business owners and others who play a role in helping the community and country through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Displayed from Henderson Street, down Franklin Street and down South Graham Street, the art pieces are propped up along areas of the Town of Chapel Hill’s extended sidewalk. Completed by artists of all ages, the project is a follow-up to October’s Meet the Moment pop-up art walk, which had an activism and social justice theme.

Mary Swann Parry helped coordinate both events and said the goal of the Science and Hope Art Walk is to serve as a “mile-long thank-you card.”

“Developing a vaccine in less than a year is an incredible feat,” Parry said in a release. “The feeling of excitement that so many people now have from being vaccinated and safely back outside, in the community, together is only possible because of science and the determination of leaders who pushed forward in the face of uncertainty.”

Artwork of Kizzmekia Corbett and Rosalind Franklin are part of the Science and Hope Art Walk in downtown Chapel Hill. The display is set up along the extended sidewalks, created to allow more space for businesses to be outside during the coronavirus pandemic.

Among those portrayed by artists: Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Dr. Mandy Cohen, the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Artwork also celebrates the achievements of Hillsborough native Kizzmekia Corbett, who was a key researcher in developing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and Orange County Health Director Quintana Stewart, who was surprised by her portrait on Friday afternoon.

Over the weekend, however, organizers of the Science and Hope Art Walk reported some of the artwork is missing from their display spots.

A tweet from the exhibit’s account said people found several pieces of art missing Sunday morning. With the pieces expected to be auctioned off to benefit a nonprofit following the art walk, organizers are asking for the pieces to be returned.

Organizers for the Science and Hope art walk in Chapel Hill say they expect the exhibit to stay in place downtown until May 31.

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