Although we have been quite comfortable in our temporary quarters at 308 George Street, New Bern, the Craven Arts Council & Gallery staff are looking forward to moving back to our home at the Bank of the Arts. To celebrate our return, the Craven Arts Council & Gallery has invited some of our favorite past artists to participate in “Homecoming,” an all-new exhibit of art premiering Friday, September 27. The official opening of this exhibit follows a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. A number of the artists will be on hand to talk with visitors. The Homecoming exhibit continues through December.
More than three dozen artists from all mediums whose works have appeared in past shows have signed on to create new works for Homecoming. In addition to the Bank of the Arts Gallery, Homecoming artists will be featured at the Duffy Exhibit Gallery at the North Carolina History Center, 529 S. Front Street, New Bern. Several sculptures will also be placed at select sites in the North Carolina History Center. In fact, the History Center grounds will become the new home of CAC&G’s sculpture garden, which was previously at Broad and Middle Streets.
To date, the all-star cast who will be represented in this exhibit include Paris Alexander, Sally Anger, Sandy Bruno, Janet Dixon, Mike Dorsey, Jill Eberle, Kiki Farish, Janet Francoeur, John Hanley, Robert Hennon, Barbara Hesketh, Pat Holscher, Lee Hood, Jan Hoppe, Jane Ellen Horner, Carl Hultman, Jeff Jakub, Kay Jarrett, Molly Knazek, Bill Lease, Ed Macomber, Dee Mayer, Carole McCracken, Kevin Mertens, Chris Morgan, Lou Ellen Plummer, Terry Rosenfelder, Sally Rowe, Donna Slade, Carolyn Sleeper, Elizabeth Spencer, Joyce Stratton, Carolyn and Tom Trimmer, Vicki Vitale, Michaelé Rose Watson, Brent Wheelwright, Peggy Wyman, and Candace Young.
The Duffy Exhibit Gallery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Craven Arts Council & Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
As you know, the Bank of the Arts has been under extensive renovation since the end of March. An exciting new feature of the gallery will be a 16-foot-by-16-foot skylight that will illuminate the city’s most prominent gallery, made possible by CAC&G’s ongoing Light Up the Arts campaign. Light Up the Arts donors will be treated to
a sneak preview of this new feature at a special reception on Thursday, September 26. There is still time to contribute to the skylight and the Bank of the Arts’ ongoing maintenance. Simply call us or visit our Web site for more information.
The $186,000 in renovations were made possible by the Harold H. Bate Foundation, The Cannon Foundation, the City of New Bern, Craven County Community Foundation, the Georgene Hannon Trust, North Carolina Main Street Program, Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp., and our members.
For additional information please contact the Bank of the Arts/Craven Arts Council at 252-638-2577. We look forward to welcoming you back at 317 Middle Street soon!
Submitted by: Amy Hammond, New Bern Riverfront Convention and Visitor’s Center