Artists affiliated with the Hiddenite Arts and Heritage Center will be featured in a display at the Northwest North Carolina Visitor Center in Wilkesboro, NC, on Hwy 421. This work will be on exhibited during November and December, 2020. Since its inception, this Visitor Center serves as a “gateway” to western North Carolina and serves the public with travel and tourism information. Part of the features include calling attention to the talents of artists in the counties that touch this western North Carolina organization.
During the featured time the public will be able to view the work of painter Lucille Earp, mixed media artist Carolyn Valcourt, leatherworker Yolanda Prince, woodcarver James Drum, potter Stan Holt, nature photographer Teresa Arrington, and quilter Martha Hines. All of these artists have had their work featured in the Lucas Mansion Gallery and some operate out of the Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center’s Educational Center’s facilities.
The work annually curated by Allison Houchins, Director of Education at the Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center, is representative of the talents that are part of our area’s identity. One of the roles of the Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center is to identify and promote artists within our region. “We are delighted to highlight and help propel artists along their way”, related Houchins. In addition to the Visitor Center exhibit, the Hiddenite Center provides opportunities through the Emerging Artists feature, annual Regional Arts Competitions for Youth and Adults, Lucas Mansion Gallery exhibits, online exhibits and competitions, assistance through the Regional Artists & Presenters Grant, Summer on the Square concerts for regional bands, performance features at the Hiddenite Celebration of the Arts, and connecting artists and performers to our school programming. “The role of the artist in a community in invaluable- to enrich and bring a depth to appreciating one’s home territory, is priceless” continued Houchins. This is considered one of her most important roles with the Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center.
The Northwest North Carolina Visitor Center is open daily and is free and open to the public. Consult their website for specific hours. Additionally, the Alexander County “welcome mat” is thrown out further as Perry Lowe Apple Orchards provided individually bagged apples to all visitors this month! Thanks to these growers for promoting the “art of agriculture” as well!
For questions or further information, contact Allison S. Houchins, Director of Education, Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center, at 828-632-6966, or email at info@hiddenitearts.org.
To learn more about the Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center call (828) 632-6966, email info@hiddenitearts.org or visit www.hiddenitearts.org
This project was supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. www.NCArts.org.