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Watauga Arts Council Hosts Second Saturday Arts Celebration at the Blue Ridge ArtSpace Saturday, Oct. 11

Oct. 9, 2014. Check out this month’s lineup for the Watauga Arts Council’s Second Saturday Arts Celebration. The event will be held at the Blue Ridge ArtSpace at 377 Shadowline Dr. in Boone from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Featured Gallery Exhibits:

Main Gallery

This month the Arts Council has challenged artists to think within parameters – something which artists typically don’t like to do since they’re often known for “thinking outside the box”!   In the exhibit “Size DOES Matter”, there are all sorts of creative solutions to being held to a specific size. Some are watercolors, paintings, and drawings….but some are somewhat more unorthodox. Among the less typical are two woven seasonal tapestries and a hand-crocheted child’s sweater filled and overflowing with autumn leaves.   Even more atypical are the reverse works, where the artist has taken canvases, turned them around, and painted and then creatively collaged with textured materials and even stones.   All the work in this exhibit had to be no greater than 16” x 20” in size.

The show is being sponsored by The Art Mart & Academy and the juror is the owner of The Art Mart, John Bond. Prizes are being awarded for the Most Creative Use of Space, Most Unique Presentation, Most “Out of the Box”, Best Classical Presentation, and Best in Show. The prizes will be awarded at the 2nd Saturday Celebration of the Arts on Oct. 11 between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Exhibitors include: Kalyn Hardy, Mary Karam, Pat Moritz, Brent Newton, Gale Champion, Inge Mahler, Kay Morrow, Pegge DeLaney Laine, Lois Norris, Barbara Hinkle, Sondra Edwards, Tamara Seymour, Cherry Burns, Marion Cloaninger, and Sandy Adair.

Open Door Gallery

This month features the work of Judy Clarke. Judy began her adventure in the world of art upon retiring from Appalachian State University. She grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and then travelled to the University of Iowa, where she taught physical education and coached the women’s basketball team. After receiving her PhD, Judy came to Boone to teach at ASU and to coach volleyball and basketball. Art has become her favorite hobby and pastime as it has opened up a whole new world of friends, who have encouraged her progress in drawing and painting. She particularly thanks Marsha Holmes for her encouragement and teaching the basics of drawing to her classes at the Senior Center. Judy is an active member of the WCAC Board of Directors and a very active volunteer both for the Arts Council and the Humane Society.

Judy’s work has a trademark fluid style which closely resembles that of the famed Monet. While she does do the occasional floral piece, Judy has focused most of her painting and drawing efforts on people seemingly from a bygone era and on animals.   Judy’s love for animals, particularly dogs, has led her to creating commissioned pet portraits which she has begun doing quite frequently for friends and community members.

Serendipity Gallery

The Serendipity Gallery is featuring “Small Works” as a companion to the “Size DOES Matter” exhibition.   This assortment of mostly smaller works (some quite small) includes the work of Kay Morrow, Sondra Edwards, Vangie Platt, Judy Wright, Mahala Porth, Trudy Muegel, Lois Norris, Linda Lillo Norman, Wendy Hayek, Sue Lindgren, Barbara Hinkle, and Cherry Burns. The Serendipity Gallery is dedicated to exhibiting the works of artists taking classes at the Lois Harrell Senior Center and the Western Watauga Community Center under Marsha Holmes.

The Children’s Gallery is showcasing the artistic creations of the children of Parkway Elementary School under the direction of Rae Filsinger.

All of the galleries are sponsored regularly by Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff.

Classroom Demonstrations:

Our five colorful classrooms are once again going to be filled with creative energy! Each of the five classrooms will feature a new arts adventure. While the Arts Council loves to let you be surprised with the creative adventures in each of the rooms, some of the things you’ll want to look for include:   Jim Guzel – who is the mastermind behind the Arts Council’s recent Blues Porch. The Blues Porch is a warmer weather event which has been happening on the porch of the Blue Ridge ArtSpace each Saturday afternoon from 2:30 -4:30 p.m. Blues aficionados including musicians, vocalists, foot-stompers, and groupies have been gathering regularly to celebrate the blues style of music in an unplugged event. Jim will be treating us to some of their favorite tunes and you can then plan to rejoin the Blues Porch Jam when the weather warms back up again next spring.

Tracy Woodruff, who is teaching a Chalk Painting introduction on Oct. 23 to be followed by a full workshop on the three successive Thursdays (Oct.30 – Nov. 13) will be showing some of her chalk-painting techniques and sharing tips and hints. Those who wish to sign up for the intro or the workshop will be able to do so on the spot.

Benny Robinson used to be known in the area as the powerhouse behind Creekside Electronics. However since his retirement and turning the business over to his son, Lane, he has revived an old interest in woodcarving. Benny carved in his high school days and then put his tools aside for the duration of his professional career….but upon retirement he brought the tools back out and has become an amazing master carver. Benny is one of the driving forces behind the Cove Creek Woodcarvers, who meet weekly at the Western Watauga Community Center to carve together and to encourage new and emerging woodcarvers. Benny has work in the Blue Ridge ArtSpace Gift Shop and will be sharing some of his favorites and demonstrating his techniques.

There will also be plenty of shopping in the Gift Shop, and light refreshments.   All WCAC Members are reminded of this month’s Business of the Month, which is Almost Rodeo Drive in Blowing Rock where you can get a 10% discount on floral wreaths and arrangements just for showing your WCAC membership card. In addition to the month-long discount at Almost Rodeo Drive, during the 2nd Saturday weekend ( all day Friday and Saturday), members are also entitled to a 10% discount while shopping in the Gift Shop….again just for showing their membership card!

Photos Courtesy of the Watauga County Arts Council

Standing Sisters by Mary Karam
Standing Sisters by Mary Karam
Friday at the Local Hangout by Judy Clarke
Friday at the Local Hangout by Judy Clarke
Flight by Mary Karam
Flight by Mary Karam
Sweet June by Tamara Seymour
Sweet June by Tamara Seymour
Friendship by Judy Clarke
Friendship by Judy Clarke
Fall in the Mountains by Pat Moritz
Fall in the Mountains by Pat Moritz