This year we celebrate the 8th Annual Yadkin Arts Council Juried Exhibition. Please join us for the opening reception on July 12, 2019 at 5pm. It is one of our favorite exhibits because of the diverse art it brings to our facility every year.  This exhibition is a celebration of some of the finest creativity in North Carolina. Eligibility for entry is open to Fine Art artists in both 2D and 3D categories that are a minimum of 18 years of age and reside in North Carolina. $3,500 in combined prizes will be awarded to the best artists!

*Join us for an Opening Reception on Friday, September 6 @ 5pm in the Welborn Gallery*

A Collaborative Artistic Endeavor to Engage Viewers in Appreciating and Valuing the Many Unique Personalities and Heritage of the People of the South Through a Showcase of Fine Art Portraits, Landscapes, Personal stories, and Educational Dialogs.

My journey began when I became emotionally motivated by a recent disrespectful exchange regarding observations by others of what it means to be a Southerner. Born and raised in the South, the comments about us being ‘slow and stupid’ made me so angry! Determined to channel my energy in a productive fashion, I decided to try to make a difference by using my artistic talent to create a portrait and landscape art show with an educational component.  I personally want to understand why the negative perceptions exist and how, through my God-given talents, how I can help show the beauty, emotions, experiences and unique heritage of people living in the South; acknowledging of course it may not always be pretty picture but it will be an honest picture.

But before I painted my first portrait, I had to first examine my own feelings and biases about being a Southerner. So, as this project evolved over the past six months, I began recording my personal journey of exploration.  I hope this journey will be a documentary of the artistic process:  video-taped interviews with the subjects, photo sessions in my studio as I paint and interact with dozens of individuals from varied backgrounds, ages and perspectives.

These individuals have been acquaintances, neighbors, and others that have been recommended by friends as having an interesting story to tell about a perspective of the South.