February the 12th 2ndFriday Artwalk in Carrboro

Hopefully we'll have better weather than we've been having on 2nd Friday and people will be able to get out.  Here are a couple of things that you should put on your agenda:

Carrboro Town Hall.  301 W. Main St Suite A, Carrboro, 919.942.8541. "In the Middle of the Storm" - Paintings by Ben Gunter. Ben's imaginative representational and abstract works are explosions of color in acrylic, ink, tempera, and mixed media.

Ben is an interesting young man and I know he'd love to see a big crowd. There'll be a nice reception. Also Laura Holley's photos will be at the Century Center for another month.

Fleet Feet Headquarters. 406 E Main St., Carrboro, 919.942.3102. Peter Filene taught American History at UNC until his retirement last year. He remains busy writing fiction, shooting photographs and with his grandchildren. His images portray couples in parks, cafés and subways in Paris and New York including “Excerpts” enlarging certain details-a cheek half-covered by a hat, a pair of hands.

I saw Peter's photography on 2009 Orange County Artist tour and really was impressed.

My show is coming down at Weaver Street Realty but I'm sure they've got a good new show starting this Friday. Thanks to WSR for letting me show my work over the last 2 months! Here's what's next:

Weaver Street Realty. 116 E. Main Street, Carrboro, 919.929.5658. Hannah Shumaker and Ginna Earl are inspired by local flora, farms, and fauna. We'll share an eclectic blend of gorgeous ceramics, jewelry, Gocco print cards, and hand-dyed silk - as well as luxurious goatsmilk soaps and body treats made with local ingredients. Online at www.vespertinecafe.com.

Carrboro Community Arts Project

Check out Ron Stutts interview with Jackie Helvey (unofficial Carrboro woman of the century) about the upcoming Carrboro Arts Project.  More details forthcoming over the next weeks but we'd love to have great participation.  Start thinking about creating some art that reflects Carrboro and our community.

Being the inclusive folks we are, we are open to submittals from Chapel Hill, Orange County, Chatham County, etc.  That includes those of you who might not even live here anymore!  It will be a fun time.....

Johnny's of Carrboro Craft and Music Fest

Johnny's at 901 West Main Street Carrboro will hold a fair this Saturday, December 19th from 9-5.

From the Facebook event page

This is a day of food, fun, crafts, and music. Come out to support your local craftspeople as well as culinary artisans in addition to sipping some yummy eggnog, wine tastings throughout the day and live music. Keep an eye on the FB page for a listing of who is playin' and displayin'. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the local non-profit, Carrboro Community Garden. (Rain date is the next day, Dec 20th.)

 It oughta be fun and you know you have some local shopping still to do!

Frank (Franklin Street Arts Collective) to open in January

The new Art Collective in downtown Chapel Hill is now scheduled to open in January 2010.  It's a pretty exciting development both for downtown CH and the Chapel Hill and Carrboro art scene. From the WCHL radio website:

The 3,400 square foot space at 109 East Franklin Street will employ one full-time director, Barbara Rich, who is herself a painter. Twenty-five core members will exhibit their art year-round and work in the gallery. Up to 50 other local and national artists will show their work on consignment. 

So far the only artist I know who's amongst the 25 is Alan Dehmer who works in gum bichromate photography.  His work is exceptional -- it's a good sign for the Frank.

Steven Silverleaf at the Fleet Feet Gallery -- Wow!

I took a walk over to the Fleet Feet Gallery at 406 E Main St, Carrboro before my show at Weaver Street Realty last night during the 2nd Friday ArtWalk. I wanted to stop by and check out Steve's new collages.

You may have seen Steve's wonderful figurative pieces (drawings, acrylics and oils) of bightly colored bold and other times quiet and cool depictions of people in chairs and other settings and reposes. These often deceptively simple works are moving and thrilling, for example Conversation 1 to the right.

As good as these paintings are I've always been even more excited by his collages.  Still I was unprepared for this latest batch.  Most fairly small (say 12" wide by 36" tall) but a handful of a larger scale, they are playful, dramatic and compositionally strong and complex.  Some have colors that draw you in like an embrace.  Others grab ahold of your eyes like a magnet.  Most play with the image of a bird.  Really thrilling work of the highest quality.  The small photo to the right does not do them justice (but you can find the bird!)

Steve is one of the treasures of the Triangle artist community, much underexposed and often under appreciated.  This is a must see exhibit.  To see some of Steve's older paintings and collages go to his site but definitely make a point to stop by Fleet Feet!