First Friday Art Crawl Nov. 2
The Jones House is showcasing and selling artwork by the late Andrea Douglass. Proceeds from sales will benefit preschool art programs in Ashe County.
The First Friday Art Crawl returns downtown Boone Nov. 2, and
participating galleries and businesses will open their doors in celebration of art, community and a
combination of the two.
Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
(423 W. King St.) hosts an exhibition celebration for Part IV of its International Focus Series:
“Sztuka: Contemporary Art of Poland,” titled, “Visible/Invisible. Print of the XXI Century. Jan
Fejkiel Gallery Collection.” A reception, featuring live music, refreshments and a cash bar, will
take place from 7 to 9 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Capone’s Pizza & Bar (454
W. King, Suite B) is offering free breadsticks with any large specialty pizza from its recently
expanded menu (eat-in only).
Gladiola Girls (549 W. King St.) is hosting artist Jennifer
Franz, who has been making earrings and beaded jewelry for more than 20 years. Franz began to work
with wire as a primary design element, but wanted a centerpiece. Frequenting flea markets and thrift
stores for items to include her creations, Franz noticed a set of dominoes that promptly caught
her eye. She found that they provide a perfect palate for her brand of design. Ever since, she’s
been experimenting with dominoes, which have become the focus of her jewelry creations.
Doe Ridge Pottery (585 W. King St.) will host Nancy Graham of BellaGate Pottery, who will
be making her one-of-a-kind pressed slab trays. According to Graham, her pottery is made “using
elements inspired from nature and exploring the inclusion of mixed media in … functional ceramic
art.” To accompany the artwork, Doe Ridge will serve food and wine. In addition to Graham, Doe
Ridge is home to 14 other local artists, and all works are created in the area.
The town of
Boone’s Jones House Community Center (604 W. King St.) is hosting four exhibits for First Friday.
Visitors to the Mazie Jones Gallery will find the High Country Watermedia Society’s winter show,
titled “The Color Red,” which will run form Nov. 1 to 26.
The upstairs galleries will host
three separate exhibits, the first being the photography of Watauga High School students, in
conjunction with Mountain Alliance.
The second showcase is Andy’s Art Fund, featuring the
work of the late Andrea Douglass, who was a self-taught artist and resident of Ashe County for
nearly two decades. As her health deteriorated, she lost the capability to paint. Even though she
was physically unable to express her art, she still kept creating ideas. Douglass died in December
2011, and money raised from the sales of her artwork at the Jones House will be used for buying
art supplies for Ashe County preschools.
The third upstairs show is the Revised Masters
exhibit, in which High Country senior citizens have recreated famous masters’ work to learn their
styles and techniques.
ArtWalk (611 W. King St.) presents the work of two new members –
Michelle Mahaffey and Bill Millburn. Mahaffey specializes in restoring and repurposing vintage
furniture and pieces into revived and colorful home décor. Her current display consists of painted
chalkboards, dry erase boards and brilliantly colored coatracks. Millburn has contributed a new
line of sterling silver and 14k gold jewelry. According to Millburn, carefully wrapped wire with
stunning precious gems is his specialty, as evidenced in his musical note pieces.
Anna
Banana’s (641 W. King St., Suite 1) features its usual – but celebrated – lineup, including food
from Char, wine from Glug, face-painting from Claire Bilbao and, according to owner Anna Lipford,
“super fun times.” Customers can also dance for a discount.
The Watauga County Arts Council
Gallery (783 W. King St.) is hosting two exhibitions, one from impressionist landscape painter
Craig Franz and the other from the artists of the Serendipity Gallery. Franz, a resident of
Linville, has been painting for about seven years, during which he accumulated a list of awards in
various competitions, including the arts council’s spring juried competition and Cheap Joe’s
Spring Art Contest.
In the Serendipity Gallery, senior citizens of the High Country
continue to keep art instructor Marsha Holmes busy at the Lois E. Harrill and Cove Creek senior
centers. Year-round classes offer students instruction and painting and drawing, as well as an
opportunity for camaraderie and volunteer work with the Watauga Arts Council. This month’s
participating artists are Cherry Burns, Helen Carroll, Judy Clarke, Janie Endress, Barbara Hinkle,
Pegge Laine, Linda Lielbriedis, Susan Lindgren, Linda Norman and Mahala Porth.
The Watauga
Arts Council’s gallery also features a gift shop filled with baskets, lampwork beads, pottery,
cards, purses, scarves, CDs, books and small works of art created by more than 65 local artists,
musicians and authors. The shop is open every Friday and Saturday, from noon to 6 p.m. and 3
to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The shop is also open weekdays, whenever staff is available.
Art of Oil
(819 W. King St.) will host a free wine-tasting from 5 to 9 p.m., featuring a new sculpture, “Ring
Bound,” by Davis Whitfield, along with paintings by David McCaig and jewelry by Laura Fly and
Bella Vita Jewelry.
Join Our Art Crawl Roundup
If your business participates in Downtown Boone First Fridays, send your goings-on to (frank@mountaintimes.com) for a spot in next month’s roundup.
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