It’s not so much that you wouldn’t recognize Serena. It’s just that when you ask people if they know Serena Ebhardt, you’re likely to get so many different descriptions, you’d think they can’t possibly all be talking about the same woman. “She’s the petite, blond powerhouse—you know, the triple threat actor, singer, dancer, right? I saw her… Read More →
Nancy Trovillion, Assistant Director for the NC Arts Council, calls Chatham County an “arts goldmine.” We have more artists per capita than just about any other county in the tarheel state. These spotlight articles help you learn more about our unique local talents and creative voices.
Meet This Artist: Diali Cissokho Blazes a New Chapter
Musician and songwriter Diali Cissokho was born into a long line of West African griots, who have been passing down history through song for seven centuries. From a small fishing town in Senegal, he followed his heart across the sea and landed in Pittsboro, N.C. where he lives on a small farm with his wife… Read More →
Meet This Artist: The Passions and Preoccupations of Painter Julia Kennedy
Julia Kennedy has known for some time that she has a passion for vintage muscle cars (she drives a 1967 Chevy Impala SS 3964), Korean pickled crab, dark mystery novels by the likes of Ross MacDonald and Raymond Chandler, and her ever-changing family of rescued animals (currently four dogs). But it wasn’t until a friend… Read More →
Meet This Artist: JR Butler Makes an Impression
As a kid in rural New York, JR Butler wasn’t interested in becoming a fireman or a cowboy when he grew up. His dream was to become an artist. And this dream never faded. A few years ago, when he was at a crossroad in his life, he decided to take a leap and pursue… Read More →
Meet This Artist: Lisbeth Hickey Dances with a New Generation
For Lisbeth Hickey as a child, summer time meant a four-hour sojourn to the small Colombian town of Natagaima, where her maternal grandparents lived and farmed. There she watched her cousins practice folkloric dances in preparation for the grand Feast of San Juan, a farming festival dating back to colonial times , with music, fireworks, folkloric dancing, horse… Read More →
Meet This Artist: Cuttin’ Up with Clyde Jones
More than anything, Bynum folk art legend Clyde Jones likes to make children smile. He has an unconventional way of going about it – by revving up his chainsaw. It works. And kids aren’t the only ones smiling. He starts with log remnants or an old stump. With a few swipes of his saw, some… Read More →
Meet This Artist: Jonathan Davis Plays with Fire
With a 5,000 degree sabre of flame made of liquid oxygen and propane, Jonathan Davis spins, shapes, and blows molten glass into elaborate works of art at his studio in rural Chatham County. “Much of my work is done in an anxious, scattered, unplanned, bordering haste style, if you can call it that,” said Jonathan…. Read More →
Meet This Artist: The Meticulous, Plant-Loving Jody Cedzidlo
Artist Jody Cedzidlo is the founder of Flytrap, a line of hand-printed botanically-themed dresses, scarves, tees, and accessories that she operates from her backyard studio in Pittsboro. Like many passions, this one started with a seed of an idea. It grew from late nights printing on a kitchen table to a full-service, family-run design and… Read More →
Meet This Artist: Behind the Scenes with Elisabeth Lewis Corley
Elisabeth Lewis Corley of Pittsboro has been a writer and actor since age four. She started Atlanta Shakespeare Company while in her early twenties (still operating on Peachtree Street) and performed in the inaugural season of the Signature Theatre Company in New York City while in her thirties (still operating on 42nd Street). “Now I live in the woods of Chatham… Read More →
Meet This Artist: Kickstarting it with Breadfoot
“Spawn of the East River delta, Breadfoot is as much a game of checkers as a cold beer on the stoop. Inclined to wear Red Wing boots, he likes his Whiskey neat and his eggs are always sunny side up with Tabasco.” Firecracker hats. Industrial hemp. A redneck clown noire. These things have all provided… Read More →