What’s Happening

ArtWorks Update: 

Currently, ArtWorks Oriental may be without an address, but we are not without walls!

ArtWorks continues to embrace the community by partnering with local and regional artists to continue to display and sell work on a pop-up gallery basis, as well as conducting classes in various locations and forms.

Together, by partnering with other supportive businesses, ArtWorks will continue to be visible as we transition into an exciting design and build process! Keep up-to-date with progress by visiting the ArtWorks website  often as well as other ArtWorks media platforms on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/artworksoriental and Instagram as @artworks_onc

During the Summer of 2022:

We look forward to offering quality artist-led Lunch & Learn opportunities within Oriental, North Carolina. ArtWorks will also represent artists and offer a variety of original art for sale at the ArtWorks Festival Booth during CroakerFest in Oriental, NC during the first week of July!

If you are interested in teaching a class this summer, please let ArtWorks know. If you have an idea of how you would like to partner with ArtWorks, please contact us at 502 South Water Street, Oriental, NC, 28571.

Our phone number is (206) 406-1621.

Also: we still have art supplies! Let us know what you are looking for and we may be able to help you in your next creative project!

Watch us grow!

Lunch & Learn Series: Exploring Alcohol Ink (2.0)

This experience is designed for beginners exploring the medium of Alcohol Ink. No prior experience is required. Students will use ink on three substrates different than the first and prior classes offered. A choice of three substrate options are available to maximize interest and customize your level of learning.

Art tools and materials provided for use during class can be used for your practice to explore and satisfy your artistic curiosities.

Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Brantley’s Village Restaurant, 900 Broad St., Oriental, NC
10:00a – 1:00p
Cost: $60
Class Limit is Ten Adult Students
Lunch is Included in the fee.  
Register Here

Calling All Art Lovers: Visual Art Appreciation Salon

Calling all art lovers to meet and share in coversation. Gather for a casual and informative hour learning about basic art concepts that will help you appreciate visual arts in new and exciting ways. Expect to speak about art and share your thoughts and opinions with peers.

 

Artist and educator Veronica Campos-Hallstrom will facilitate the group gathering. Any and all necessary supplies will be provided. This is a free-of-charge experience. Please join us and expand your mind about viewing and creating art.

Conversations will take place:
The First Thursday of the Month
At the Perry Griffin Foundation Community Center, 300 High Street, Oriental
1:00p – 2:00p

Calling All Working Artists: Artist-to-Artist Salon

Calling all working artists to meet and share in conversation. Gather for a casual and informative short presentation from another working artist. Dive into art discussion and art critique from your art peers.

Invest in time learning about your art and the art of others in attendance. Expect to share your thoughts and opinions and take suggestions as helpful knowledge and advice.

A working artist from the community will facilitate the group gathering. This is a free-of-charge experience. Please join us and expand your mind about viewing, critiquing, creating, and production of art.

Conversations will take place:
The Third Thursday of the Month
At the Perry Griffin Foundation Community Center, 300 High Street, Oriental
1:00p – 2:00p

ARTWORKS Celebrates Creativity in Oriental! 

ArtWorks is one year old! Words of celebration from Carla Fisher.

It is hard to believe that a whole year has passed!  We’ve made so many new friends and reunited with past friends! Nothing warms my heart more these days than to hear that someone rekindled their creativity because of experiences at ArtWorks!

Thank you, friends, in Oriental and surrounding communities, for being a part of a successful first year! ArtWorks started with a mission statement with several goals and a distinct focus:

  1. to be a meaningful place for artists and artisans to work in a communal fashion where they could share with each other, learn from each other, interact with the public, and sell their art.
  2. to be a meaningful part of the fabric of our community through partnering with other like-minded organizations and institutions
  3. to be supportive and grow the cultural experiences available in Pamlico County by bringing in artwork from creatives outside the region
  4. establish ArtWorks as a hub in educational resources for residents and the surrounding area by providing demonstrations, talks by master crafters as well as provide local robust instructional classes for individuals to explore their own creativity

Over the course of the past year, ArtWorks strived to fulfill this mission statement.

This year has been fabulous! We are proud of the eight unique exhibitions with artists from the United States, London England, Ukraine, Turkey Canada, Brazil, and France. And we recall the thrill of preparing the first artisan German Christkindlmarkt in the ArtWorks Gallery

We have partnered with other great organizations such as the Pamlico County Arts Council, the Plein Aire Competition in 2021 & 2022, The Woman’s Club (red carpet event for the Violet and Frank Cathers Scholarship for Art), the Inez S. Hargrove Scholarship Winners from Pamlico High School, The Pamlico Music Society, Havelock Middle School, and with PCAS support, ArtWorks brought the Fantastic Plastic Program into our schools in Pamlico County which combines recycling, chemistry, environmental science, and math to encourage student scientists and artists to create together. We joined forces with The Village Gallery, Oriental’s retail establishments, and our restaurants and fellow artists to host the first ArtWalk event within the Village of Oriental in many years. Additional partnerships were enjoyed with the Tourism Board of the Town of Oriental for the Beautify a Bench Contest joined by Pamlico County Schools. ArtWorks proudly hosted four private events and a social Date Night Paint Night with 14 couples and one individual participant.

Each event holds great memories however the celebration of The Circle 10 Exhibit, holds a special place in my heart. The Circle Ten Exhibit highlighted wonderful artists and artisans who paved the way for ArtWorks Oriental through their tenacity as they developed the creative culture in our village for 26 years from five different locations in the past.

We’ve done a lot in this past year, & we have lots of plans for the future!

Thus far we have proudly hosted 47 (and counting) art classes at ArtWorks including but not limited to drawing, painting, printing, jewelry-making, encaustic wax, transfer art, dyeing, weaving, and soon on the agenda; glass. We will also host a newly formed Rugmaker’s Guild called The RugBees.

We welcome visitors to meet our fabulous artists at work in studio spaces and view and purchase art every day of the week except Tuesdays (reserved for art classes). Please consider joining us and your friends at one of our wine and cheese exhibit openings. Also, remember that ArtWorks has an expanded Art Supply Store when you need just the right tools or supplies for your next creative project.

Although ArtWorks will be moving from its present location, please know we want to remain part of Oriental to continue many services with pride. Thank you Oriental and surrounding communities for opening your arms and embracing the mission of ArtWorks! Your continued support-no matter where we land will allow us to continue our mission.  

Sincerely,

Carla Fisher: Founder, ArtWorks Oriental 

 

Are you interested in being an artist with ArtWorks? 

Resident Artist and Flex Artist spaces are now available! What does it mean to be an artist at ArtWorks? ArtWorks is a unique place in Oriental. At its heart, it is an affordable place for artists to work where there is not only the communion with other artists to stimulate ideas, challenge each other, collaborate, and grow, but it is also a place where you get to interact directly with the people who would like to buy your work.

We act like a creative co-op here at ArtWorks, but we are not a co-op. Each artist pays a modest amount of monthly rent for their place to work. Each artist shares in greeting visitors to our space and helping them become acquainted with the work by their fellow Resident and Flex Artists, as well as work by artists from literally around the world. We all pitch in to plan, set up, work, and dismantle our events and displays.

While not a requirement, our Resident and Flex Artists often teach classes in their specific medium and retain the lion’s share of the fees for their teaching events.

So what’s the difference between a Resident Artist and a Flex Artist? Time and space. Recognizing that the artist at work is The differentiating product for the public at ArtWorks, our Resident Artists have made a commitment to their personal artist practice and to the group that they will spend at least 20 hours a week working “on display” at ArtWorks. They have a dedicated space to work and sell their art.

Flex Artists also work “on display” at ArtWorks; however, they have committed to working one weekend a month for a collective amount of 10 hours. They are assigned a generously sized locking cabinet to store their supplies and given space to work at their craft when they come. They are also given the opportunity to display a modest amount of work they have for sale.

Still not sure? Here is what one of our Resident Artists has to say about her artistic practice since becoming an artist with ArtWorks:

“I’m honored to be a resident artist at ArtWorks! Having a dedicated studio & retail space has allowed me to grow so much as an artist over the last few months. I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and been exposed to art that inspires me to create,” says Shelly Gayring, Resin Artist.