Aired on Sept. 14, 2025

• Local Art, Sculpture, The Plant

Though the Pittsboro Sculpture Celebration kicks off with a Friday night dinner featuring craft spirits for community arts enthusiasts, it isn’t just a weekend event. It’s the beginning of a long-term vision for Pittsboro as a thriving arts destination. Sculptures available for purchase are sited at The Plant and able to be viewed and bought online by local businesses and property owners. From the event literature, “Sculpture placements along Highway 64 will create a unique art corridor, welcoming travelers and signaling Pittsboro as a hub for culture, creativity, and commerce. Businesses can also install pieces at their own locations, turning everyday spaces into landmarks.” Sculptures will be at The Plant through the month of October. This event is slated to be an annual event.

Tami Schwerin is a re-developer of The Plant, taking a cold-war industrial plant and creating a community hub of food, beverage and experiences. Her past experience includes founding a local food, renewable energy and cultural non-profit: Abundance NC. Before that she helped build Chatham Marketplace, a local co-op grocery store. She has served on art and environmental boards of directors. She traveled the world selling software in her younger years and renovated several old broken-down houses. Tami loves a challenge and creating a world that she wants to live in. She grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina and loves the south and Pittsboro. 

Kyle Shipp serves as the part-time Mayor of Pittsboro, North Carolina, where he focuses on responsible growth, infrastructure, and transparent governance. He previously served as a Town Commissioner and Planning Board member. In his full-time role, Kyle works as an engineer in the data center industry, specializing in industrial control systems. He also serves as Board Chair of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina, supporting youth development across the region. With a background in engineering and a passion for community service, Kyle works to ensure Pittsboro grows in a way that reflects its values and long-term vision.

“On The Porch” is hosted by Randolph ”Randy” Voller. He is also the publisher of Chatham County Line. Randy welcomes guests to the show who are from the communities of art, academia, business, and politics for friendly and informative conversations. “On The Porch” airs every Sunday at 11 AM, and is repeated at 4 PM and 8 PM on WCHL-FM 97.9. The show also streams on ChapelBoro.com
Current and previous shows of “On The Porch” are posted as on-demand, ad-free podcasts at ChapelBoro.com, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
To be a guest on the show or send us a comment, email: ontheporch@wchl.com