THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610180284
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: CREATIVE LICENCE
SOURCE: Mary Ellen Riddle
LENGTH: 88 lines
The Outer Banks art scene is reaping big returns of late, including an international award and thousands of dollars from the Artrageous auction. There's also a new painter in town and a really hot upcoming competition. Read on for details.
Carol Williams of C-Stitch, a cross-stitch business that operates out of the Dare Haven Motel in Manteo, won the international Golden Needle Award, sponsored by J.& P. Coats/Anchor. In its fifth year, the contest draws thousands of entries, according to Williams who took the highest honor for the Licensed Design of the Year.
Williams now has a crystal trophy to gaze at as her needles fly while doing cross-stitch at the local motel. Her ``Lighthouses of America'' design will appear on the Dec. 18 cover of Better Homes & Garden's Stitchery Magazine, a publication that is sent to more than 2 million subscribers.
More than 200 art lovers packed the Village Beach Club recently to participate in the Artrageous Art Extravaganza auction sponsored by the nonprofit Dare County Arts Council.
Grossing nearly $10,000, the event, which benefits both the council and Youth Center Inc., mostly featured works donated by Outer Banks artists. An offshore fishing trip donated by Mickey Hayes fetched $800. Bids on Renee Landry's painting ``Nurse'' rose to $340, to make it the top seller for art that evening.
The day before the auction, folks gathered at the art council office parking lot at Central Square in Nags Head for a daylong festival. The Twila Zone put on an arresting fashion show, and the day's earnings reached $2,355. Organizers believe that the high wind and numerous local events, including at least four weddings, resulted in modest attendance. Yet, Artrageous co-chair Lynette Brown was ecstatic over the two-day total earnings of over $12,000.
``I just want to thank everyone for their support for the most successful Artrageous ever,'' said Brown.
Additional DCAC news includes the start up of their annual membership drive, this year titled ``The Year of Harmony.'' Fund-raiser co-chairs Clair Sutton and Margaret Suppler are asking board members to seek new memberships for the 1996-97 year. There are seven membership categories from individual membership to the benefactor level.
Money from the memberships support cultural programming to include: The N.C. Dance Theater, which will perform in Dare County on March 1; the return of the North Carolina Symphony in July; the upcoming Frank Stick Memorial Art Show and The Beaux Arts Ball in February; the annual spring art show; programming in all seven Dare County public schools; and ongoing writers workshops. The funds also allow the DCAC to offer Grassroots grants to The Theater of Dare, Cape Hatteras School, The Outer Banks Forum, International Icarus Show and the Emerging Artists Consortium.
Ownership of The Beach Book phone book has changed hands and with it comes a healthy plug for the local art scene. The new owners, Jeff Graham and Tom Chisholm, have announced a contest that will result in a new, and ``more personal'' cover for the next book, due out in May. ``It's another way we are looking at becoming involved in the community as quickly as possible,'' Graham said.
The contest calls for two-dimensional art entries (including photographs) not more than 30-by-40 inches. More than 40,000 phone books graced by the winning art entry will be distributed and will include the artist's bio on the inside first page.
Interested artists can drop off work at the Dare County Arts Council office Nov. 20-21 at Central Square in Nags Head. Work must reflect the theme, ``An Outer Banks Perspective.'' The contest is open to residents of Dare, Currituck and Hyde counties and all DCAC members. Entry fees for members is $10, non-members, $15. All money will be donated to the Dare County Arts Council.
``That's our way of supporting their effort,'' Graham said. Judging occurs on Nov. 22. A reception will be held at the DCAC office on Nov. 23. A show, comprised of all entries, will hang for one week.
Here's a final news brief that can't be overlooked. Stop in the The Frame Shop gallery at 100 Old Tom St. in Manteo to take in the paintings of Petie Brigham on display through October. Unfortunately my favorite piece has already sold and left the gallery, but it's a work I shall never forget. Transcending the usual still life with her use of brilliant color, light and reflections, Brigham's ``Blue Bowl'' wowed me. The iridescent cobalt blue beauty complete with scallions, tomato and asparagus moved me so deeply, I returned to the gallery the next day for a second look. I was heartbroken to see an empty space on the wall instead. Enough said.
Brigham is planning on moving to Roanoke Island from Virginia as soon as her house sells. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by Mary Ellen Riddle
Immi Miles of Manteo wears a paper hat creation while standing
between displays of her mother's handmade head gear at the
Artrageous Art Extravaganza. The annual celebration of the arts was
held in Nags Head the weekend of Oct. 12. by CNB