It’s funny how life is so full of experiences, and then one day, you suddenly see how all of those experiences prepared you for this one moment… the moment you come to in life when things start to pull together in a dream you never really knew you were dreaming!
ArtWorks Oriental is getting ready to launch! A year ago, locked down in a pandemic, I never even knew I wanted to open an art gallery! I never really even knew that I wanted to “give back” by helping other artists find a place to work…a place to make THEIR dreams come true, too! But here I am, launching a great new little gallery and artist studio space right here in Oriental, NC, the Sailing Capital of North Carolina! Hopefully this adventure will bring opportunities to artists as well as visitors to our sweet little town! Want a sneak peek??? Here you go!
The space (by the water, of course!) needed a bit of whitening and brightening to make your spirits dance just a bit as you come through the door. These pictures are of walls in the artists’ studio spaces where they will be creating artwork — THREE coats later, we’ve gone from dark tan (or in one area, gold) to white! Here people will be able to watch the artists at work, interact with them, buy from them, and commission work during a visit to ArtWorks Oriental. The artist studios are Layer One of this multi-layered venture — the core of ArtWorks. Soon to come will be artisan studios with woodworking facilities that can be accessed by membership as well as by the hour.
These first two pictures are taken in the main room where artists at work will be featured. That room behind the door and the beautiful glass transom? That’s where I will be with my big machine and all my thread! But for now, as that last picture would suggest, one could just say I am ready to roll!!!
Yes, kids, I am finally a true artist: I paint what I see! (Slap yo’ knee; you know that’s funny!)
The bay window looks out over the Oriental Marina, as does my personal studio space. Tough duty, I know….but some artist has to do it, right?
After the painting comes the J-hooks, the professional art hanging system that allows us to change artwork on the walls again and again without ever putting a hole in the wall! The cables slide from side to side as well, so we can accommodate almost any size of work. Well, any work that would fit in an art lover’s living room!
That’s Pat up there on the super tall ladder, hanging the J-hook system from those 11 ft ceilings! What would I do without this guy?!?!? What a partner to have found at this stage of my life! He really does support me through all my adventures, that’s for sure!!! He is working in one of the artist studio rooms, by the way, where they will not only work, but fill the wall with their creations. After the J-hooks comes the professional lighting for artwork on the wall. He’ll be doing that, too! What a guy!
The picture on the far right is the gallery wall for Emerging Artists. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? Why not start with ArtWorks Oriental?
The main gallery will exhibit works of artists from all across the country whose work I love, admire, and even own. Here is the shell of the feature wall where each month we will share the work and the story of a different talented person in the art world sharing their works with us.
Pat and I have toiled pretty hard these past few weeks to keep things moving toward our April 1 opening when resident artists will start moving in. You are welcome to drop by any time after April 1, but please know that our Grand Opening will be Saturday, April 24 from 10AM – 7 PM. If you are anywhere near our area, we do hope you will stop in!
Until then, we’ll keep working until the sun goes down and the lights go up at one of Oriental’s finest, the Silos!!! There is live music, open mic style every Wednesday night to go with pizza, pasta, and other specialty sandwiches and dishes to savor as you enjoy your favorite adult beverage! And, if you’re lucky, while you are there, you might just find yourself tapping your feet to the beat of a different drummer! Go, Pat!!!!
Until next time….CHEERS!!!
Carla
3 thoughts on “It’s Just a Dream…..happening in Oriental, North Carolina!”
So excited. Delighted to see your dream come true
and to see Arts continue to grow in our village!!
I knew you’d have to do something big! LOL. Is it just for local artists or are you accepting outside works as well?
Carla, so proud of you and all you and Pat have done. Sounds like you live in a little dream town now. Hugs to you both and give Luke a scratch behind his ears.
Geri