Friday, September 3rd, as part of the Boone Downtown Art Crawl, the Watauga Arts Council will be presenting three new exhibits at the Jones House located at 604 W. King Street. There will be a reception to welcome the new artists from 6:30pm until 8:00pm, the public is welcome and encouraged to come and see these wonderful new exhibits.
In the Mazie Jones Gallery we will feature Elliot Coatney whose medium is acrylic. Elliot has lived in the Boone area since his teen years, graduating from both Watauga High School and Appalachian State University. He started drawing and painting in watercolor at a young age experimenting with various media throughout his school years, but has not had any formal art training.

In 2007 Elliot really found the focus and direction to paint regularly as he began working with Canadian painter, Brian Simons. He says, “This is a thrilling time for me to be holding a brush as it all seems fresh to me as I develop and grow as a painter.” Elliot has exhibited in several juried shows around the Southeast, taking top prize at the latest “Best of the Blue Ridge” show and competition for his painting “Biltmore Laundry”. Presently, he has work in private collections in the U.S., Germany, and Great Britain.  You can also see his paintings at Broomfield’s Gallery in West Jefferson, at Stick Boy Bread Company in Boone, and at his website, elliotcoatney.com.              

                 
Elliot’s paintings reflect his use of saturated colors, abbreviated detail, and throbbing contrasts to create loose, simple compositions full of energy and joy. Although his work is representational, he says that he is not particularly interested in recreating or even “capturing” a scene. He is interested in the unique emotional and even spiritual impact that paint on canvas can have on a viewer. So, the recognizable forms aren’t engaged in narrative or symbolism; they are just convenient agents by which the paint works its own wonder.

You will find Elliot’s work to be fascinating as it draws you into the scenes created on the canvas inviting you to sit down and stay for a while.

The Open Door Gallery has an exhibit by the Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild titled “Trees of Appalachia”.  This group was organized in 1987 by a small group of women who enjoyed quilting and friendship among fellow quilters.  Members came from all areas of Northwest North Carolina.  Our purpose is to promote appreciation of and education about the fine art of quilt making. Strong friendships develop among quilters who have this interest in common. They invite anyone with an interest to come and join them the first Thursday of each month at 1:30 at the Watauga County Senior Center on Poplar Avenue.

The quilts in this exhibit represent the wide range of talent of their members.  They offer workshops and instruction for new and experienced quilters. Also, the Guild helps the community by making “Friendship Quilts” for elderly and wheelchair-bound people, and baby blankets for newborn babies whose families are in need.

Come and see the beautiful art of the Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild created with only fabric, thread, and a passion for quilting!

The Arts Council is also pleased to announce a new exhibit in our Senior Gallery. This gallery houses the artwork of many of our seniors from the Lois Harrill Center in Boone located on the Poplar Grove Connector. They are instructed by Marsha Holmes who has been teaching for about 10 years and has been painting for much longer.   She says of her students that they take their art very seriously and have improved greatly over the years in their styles and techniques.  Marsha is very proud of this great exhibit that showcases her students’ diversity of talents and mediums!