1000 x 90

William Mangum is September’s Third Thursday Speaker at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

By Rebecca Mullins

billmangumSept. 11, 2013. On Sunday, Sept. 8, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) opened their newest exhibit, the 68th annual Juried Exhibition. This exhibit, sponsored by the Watercolor Society of NC, features 70 exquisite watercolor paintings.

To accompany BRAHM’s newest exhibit, the museum asked watercolorist William Mangum to speak as this month’s Third Thursday speaker.

Mangum will be giving a presentation on, “Celebrating Life Through Art, ” at the museum on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 4:30 p.m. Members of BRAHM will get in for free, while non-members will have to pay $5. Refreshments will be available after the presentation. Mangums presentation is for all audiences, not just artists, said Allison Wonsick, Communications Director of the museum.

Blowing Rock’s Museum has Third Thursday Speakers every month from April through October. Mangum was chosen as this month’s speaker because of his talent and expertise as a watercolorist. His presentation will give a voice to the watercolorists who spent numerous hours working on the pieces now on display in the watercolor juried exhibit.

This is a chance to, “Learn something new in a casual fun atmosphere,” stated Wonsick.

William Mangum is an exceptional and well-known watercolorist in the NC area. He has produced over 3,000 original paintings in his 30 years of travels across NC and abroad. His work has been shown in numerous locations including the National Arts Club, the Society of Illustrators, Allied Artists of America, the Salmagundi Club and the Knickerbocker Artists League.

Collectors go out of their way to get his limited edition works. Golf Tournaments and Universities have even commissioned his paintings, one of which was Appalachian State University. 

Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University by William Magnum

The first time Appalachian requested his work was in 1994, when he painted a depiction of the Belk Library. In 1994, he was commisioned again, and this time finished a watercolor painting of Sanford Mall.

Then, in 2008, he visited the campus once more. The painting to the left of Durham Park on Appalachian’s campus is the result of his hard work.

To see more examples of his work, see his website here.

This occasion to hear a presentation by a talented, prosperous artist is a rare chance, so come out and hear from William Magnum on Sept. 19.