Gallery Exhibits

March 2006 at the Open Door Gallery: Southern Exposure: Images from the Southern Appalachians and New Zealand by Derek DiLuzio

A recent first place winner of the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition in Flora/Fauna, Derek has been photographing the outdoors for three years. His love for wild places has grown over the years, and he strives to show these places in his landscape work. "My photography gives me the opportunity to express my passion for the environment and nature."

March 2006 at the Mazie Jones Gallery: Instrument Builders of the Blue Ridge

Curated by Mark Freed, WAC folklorist, the exhibit will feature a number of traditional, and a few more contemporary instruments made in Watauga and surrounding counties, including fiddles, banjos, dulcimers and guitars. Photographs of the builders and some biographical information about them will also be on display. Be sure to come out to the gallery reception on March 3rd to meet some of the builders, and keep an eye out for other workshops and events in March.

The arts council maintains two galleries with exhibits changing monthly; the Mazie Jones Gallery and the Open Door Gallery. There is also the Senior Gallery dedicated to displaying the works of Senior Adults from the Lois E. Harrill Senior Center.

On the first Friday evening of each month artists are honored at a reception from 6:30 to 8:00pm. The Arts Council commission on works sold is 25% with the exception of the Senior Gallery whose artists are charged no commission.

Open Door Gallery

The Open Door Gallery was established in 1993 by the Watauga County Arts Council’s Board of Directors and endowed with the mission of serving new and emerging artists, including student artists.

Considered a “teaching gallery,” the exhibits are typically hung by the artists themselves with the advice and occasional assistance of the WCAC staff or Gallery Committee. Artists are also responsible for creating their own labels, artist statements, and other explanatory materials.

Exhibiting in the Open Door Gallery is an opportunity for the new or emerging artist to show and possibly sell their work. The size of the room makes the exhibit less daunting and more approachable for first-time exhibitors. Exhibits last for one month and a reception for all the exhibiting artists in the three Jones House galleries is held on the first Friday of the month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

Applications to exhibit work in the Open Door Gallery may be obtained from the WCAC staff or on the web at www.watauga-arts.org and are scheduled three to twelve months in advance. Group applications are also accepted. All artists in all of the Jones House galleries must live in Watauga County or an adjoining county for at least some portion of the year.

For further information, contact the Watauga County Arts Council.

Exhibit your Work

The Watauga County Arts Council is accepting applications for month-long exhibits in the Mazie Jones and Open Door Galleries of the Jones House Community Center. Applications are available at the Arts Council offices at the Jones House Community Center between the hours of noon-five Tuesday-Friday or by email.

Applications are considered by the Gallery Committee in May and November of each year. Applications must be received by the end of the preceding month. Artists interested in exhibiting their work are encouraged to email Jenny Schrum at jenny@watauga-arts.org for an application or download an application from the links below.

Exhibition Application in Word
Exhibition Application in Acrobat Reader format

2006 Gallery Schedule:

Mazie Jones Gallery:
January – Joseph Barnes – Watercolor landscapes
February – Zan Valliant Landowne- Paintings
March –Appalachian Musical Instrument Exhibit (group show)
April - Joseph Barthet - Paintings
May – “Traveling Postcard” (group show by N.C. Arts Councils)
June – Shelly Hehenberger - “Book Prints Designs”
July - Marlene Files – Paintings
August- High Country Water Media Society Annual Juried Exhibit (group show)
September –ArtMix (group show)
October – Orna Bentor - Paintings
November/December – Nth Gallery (group show)

Open Door Gallery:
March- Derek DiLuzio- Outdoor Photography
April – CCCTI Students (group show)
May –Open
June- Teresa Cerda – Abstract Paintings
July- Josephine Rankin – Watercolor-figure drawing and landscapes
August- Open
September – James Davidson - Photography
October- Blue Ridge Fiber Guild (group show)
November/December – Nth Gallery (group show)

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