As Chatham Park continues to develop its community, they remain dedicated to supporting local art in Chatham County. As part of that commitment, Chatham Park is powering our Go See This series. They join us in inviting you to Go See This . . .
Come one, come all to a night to celebrate local artists representing a wide array of artistic mediums. Pittsboro Gallery of Arts, located in downtown Pittsboro, invites art lovers to its grand opening on June 17 from 5:30 – 8:00pm. Come enjoy food, beverages, and jazz music while you browse the local art. Music will be provided by the son of jewelry artist Darcy Szeremi.
You’ll have the opportunity to meet the artists and view new works on display, including both realistic and abstract paintings, photography, works on paper, fiber art, ceramics, woodwork, jewelry, and mosaics. Presentations will be made by Pittsboro Mayor Cindy Perry and Kirk Bradley from MOSAIC Chatham Park.
The Gallery had been working hard towards holding the opening in 2020 when the pandemic hit. “Due to the restrictions of the pandemic and construction in front of our storefront, our opening and all receptions had previously been planned but canceled,” says Beth Bale, President of Pittsboro Gallery of Arts’ Board of Directors. “Now we will actually get to do this big party and show off our beautiful gallery and artworks, while offering an enticing array of food and beverages. There are still so many Chatham residents who don’t know we’re an art gallery and have never visited us. We hope we can get the word out.”
The Gallery is owned and operated by local and regional artists, such as local potter and Gallery Secretary Debbie Englund. “I created pieces for this gallery show that I enjoy making and that I thought visitors and clients would enjoy seeing and experiencing,” notes Debbie. “We change the entire gallery to create a new show several times a year, and we planned our opening to coincide with one of these. You can see from the vibrant colors and wonderfully interesting work that all of our members had the opening in mind when they were choosing pieces. Once the gallery was set last week, you could feel the energy and excitement in the work.”
Curating work for an opening is no easy feat, particularly when the art spans so many different mediums. “I spend a lot of time just looking at the space and at the artwork that’s presented,” says Angela Hilliard, Co-Chair of the Curating Committee at the Gallery. “When curating the art for our upcoming opening, I wanted to make the artwork for every artist stand out, but also complement the work of the artist next to them. This art call brings a lot of bright, bold color that can be seen in the various paintings, stained glass, basketry, and mosaics on display. The bright colors are balanced by the formality of black and white photography and ink drawings. Our fiber artists, woodworkers, jewelers, and potters are also an exceptional and integral part of our gallery and diversify our space.”
It’s especially exciting when new artists are able to showcase their work in a gallery like Pittsboro Gallery of Arts. Several new artists will exhibit in the Gallery for the first time, including Jennifer Cantwell, photography; Sarah Fishbein, mosaics; Mickey Pace, pottery; and Craig DeBussey, furniture/wood design.
We encourage you to spend the evening with the artists whose work is displayed and take advantage of the opportunity to speak with them about their work. This event is a joyous way to bring the community together and appreciate the depth of the art community in our area. “Our grand opening event is a celebration of our art and our artists, but it is also a celebration of our community,” says Angela. “Our goal is to share our love of art with those who explore our gallery and meet our artists. Events like this are essential to local artists to grow and foster their art, not only by selling their art, but by making connections within our local and regional communities.”
- What: Pittsboro Gallery of Arts Grand Opening
- When: June 17, 2022, from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
- Where: 44-A Hillsboro St, Pittsboro
- Cost: Free!
For more information, visit the Gallery website.
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