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Watercolor Society of NC Exhibit Travels to the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum from Nov. 29 to Feb. 10

By Jesse Wood

David Stickel “Light Years” – First Place winner in the 67th Annual Watercolor Society of N.C. Juried Exhibition.

Nov. 12, 2012. Blowing Rock Art & History Museum will host a traveling exhibit of 30 paintings from the Watercolor Society of North Carolina’s 67th annual juried exhibition from Nov. 29, 2012, to Feb. 10, 2013.     

The full 2012 WSNC exhibit opened in Elizabeth City in October with 70 original paintings. The upcoming BRAHM exhibition provides a sneak-peak preview of the full exhibit that will come to BRAHM on Sept. 8, 2013, that will feature all 70 paintings.

WSNC is a nonprofit art organization that was founded in 1972 and has more than 500 members to date. Through sponsoring juried exhibitions, educating citizens and hosting workshops featuring nationally-known artists, the society strives to strengthen and promote watercolor throughout the state.


While the traveling WSNC exhibit is nearly three weeks away, BRAHM has two exhibits that opened in August and are currently in the halls of the museum – North Carolina Treasures: A Painter, A Potter and a Rocking Chairmaker and From Secession to Sesquicentennial: Commemorating the Civil War in Western North Carolina.

North Carolina Treasures features works from renowned painter Bob Timberlake, potter Glenn Bolick and seventh-generation chairmaker Max Woody. Visitors to the exhibit will see examples of the artists’ fine work that spans their long careers as well as memorabilia, tools, photographs and other belongings that tell the stories of their lives.

“We are delighted to have these three exceptional North Carolinians in this exhibit,” said BRAHM Executive Director Joann Mitchell. “Each of them has created a lasting legacy with their work, and we are glad that we are able to share that with our visitors.”

The Timberlake exhibit is winding down at the end of this month with the Museum honoring the occasion in “a big way.” Following the downtown Blowing Rock Christmas parade on Saturday, Nov. 24, from 3 to 5 p.m., BRAHM is hosting Timberlake for a special book signing of his latest book, Life’s Lessons, which he co-authored with former U.S. Ambassador and friend, Mark Erwin. Life’s Lessons is a compilation of Timberlake and Erwin’s favorite quotes from a diverse range of people who influenced their lives as well as some of their own words of wisdom. 

“Mr. Ambassador Erwin and Mr. Timberlake requested from the start a beautiful book that would pair their often humorous, always inspiring sayings and stories, which they have written and collected over the years, with Mr. Timberlake’s luminous paintings,” said Nathan Moehlmann, the book designer and publisher, of Goosepen Studio & Press, in Conover, North Carolina. “Life’s Lessons: Lines of Wisdom from a Faithful Stream is a book to keep near, to read again and cherish,” Moehlmann continued.

  • Bob Timberlake

Lexington native Timberlake, who turns 75 this year, is one of North Carolina’s most recognized and successful living artists. He devoted himself to painting in 1969 after receiving encouragement from the legendary American artist Andrew Wyeth. Since Timberlake’s first exhibition in Winston-Salem in 1970, he has been featured in galleries in North Carolina, New York, Washington, D.C., Germany and Japan. North Carolina Treasures will feature a selection of his original works that represent his career, along with memorabilia and personal items that illustrate his interests and inspiration.

  • Glenn Bolick

The multi-talented Bolick is a testament to traditional mountain arts. He is an accomplished old-time musician, storyteller and potter.  His wife Lula is the daughter of Seagrove potter M.L. Owen, who also taught Bolick how to work clay. Nearly 40 years ago, Glenn and Lula built a kiln and pottery shop on the Bolick family land in Blackberry (on the Caldwell County-Watauga County line). Today, they and their daughter Janet and son-in-law Michael Calhoun continue to operate their shops there.  North Carolina Treasures will display pieces of Bolick pottery as well as memorabilia from the Bolick and Owens families.

  • Max Woody

Known as “The Chair Man,” McDowell County’s Max Woody has been making chairs for more than 60 years. The Woody Family has been known for generations for their quality handmade products, and Max continues that tradition with his fine rocking chairs and stools, sold nationally and beyond. BRAHM has a set of Max Woody chairs on its own porch, and the exhibit will also include other examples of Woody’s work, along with traditional tools used in woodworking and other items from the artisan’s long career.

*Biographical information provided by BRAHM


From Secession to Sesquicentennial: Commemorating the Civil War in Western North Carolina features Civil War memorabilia and artifacts borrowed from local and regional collectors. The exhibit, which was curated by graduate students from ASU’s Public History program, was partially funded by the Dean’s Office in the College of Arts and Sciences.

“Using Civil War memorabilia and artifacts borrowed from local and regional collectors, From Secession to Sesquicentennial addresses the history of commemoration of the Civil War and questions why such a contentious period in the nation’s history continues to be actively remembered,” according to BRAHM’s website.

Visit BRAHM for Free

From 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays visit BRAHM for free.

Operating Hours
Closed Sunday and Monday (Sunday during winter months)
Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission
BRAHM Members: Free
Adults: $ 8
Children 5+, Students & Military (with ID): $5
Groups (10+): $6 (reserve in advance)

For more information, call BRAHM at 828-295-9099 or click to www.blowingrockmuseum.org