Museum Congratulates Exhibit Winners
November 15, 2006

STATESVILLE - Iredell Museums is pleased to announce awards for the Artists Guild of Statesville Annual "Home for the Holidays" exhibit.

1st Place: Leslie Grubb of Mooresville, NC, "Do I Know You?" - Watercolor
2nd Place: Judy McNeill of Statesville, NC, "Along Came Love" - Watermedia
3rd Place: Edrie Knight of Statesville, NC, "Sunset Glow" - Watercolor

Honorable Mentions:
Sandra Campbell of Statesville, NC, "The Chamber" - Acrylic
Mary Luke of Mooresville, NC, "Tree Tops" - Watercolor
Mary Setzer of Mooresville, NC, "Outcrop" - Pastel
Margery Turnipseed of Statesville, NC, "Guardian Angels" - Acrylic

The exhibit, which continues through December 15 at the Court Street Gallery, features 46 works by 24 guild members in watercolor, acrylic, ink, gouache, collage and pastel. Entries were judged by artist and instructor Jodi John of Statesville.

Holiday Events Beckon Entire Family
November 8, 2006

STATESVILLE - A full schedule of events at the Iredell Museums is sure to please the entire family during the upcoming holiday season.
   An Origami Christmas Ornament Workshop will be held for ages 7 and up on Friday, November 24 from 9:00 am -12:00 pm, at the Children's Museum, Signal Hill Mall, 1613 East Broad Street, Statesville. Children will join origami enthusiast Isabelle Plyler as she uses math principles to teach how to fold beautiful Japanese paper into Christmas ornaments which are sure to be cherished for years to come. $20 ($17 members). Call 704.872.7508 to register.
   Breakfast with Santa Claus will be held on Saturday, December 2, from 9:00 am -10:00 am, also at the Children's Museum. An annual event, children will delight in being served breakfast by Santa's Elves. Following a scrumptious breakfast, the holiday cheer will brighten when Santa appears and everyone has the chance to share a personal moment with Old Saint Nick. Children will also have the opportunity to make a unique holiday craft to take home. $8 ($6 members). Call 704.872.7508 to register.
   Christmas at the Cabins will be held at Iredell Museums' Heritage Farmstead located at 1335 Museum Road, Statesville, on Sunday, December 3, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Visitors will experience the 18th century Christmas traditions of drinking hot apple cider and eating Shrewsbury cakes while listening to old-time music alongside Century clad interpreters. Children will enjoy carolers and backcountry arts and crafts. Admission is free of charge.
   On Saturday, December 9, from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, children and parents will have the fun-filled opportunity to decorate original gingerbread houses at the Museums' Heritage Learning Center, 1335 Museum Road, Statesville. Decorating gingerbread houses is a holiday activity that brings lasting memories and a one-of-a-kind gingerbread house to keep. Houses and extra trimmings will be provided. $18 ($15 members). Call 704.872.7508 to register.

Come "Home for the Holidays"
October 31, 2006

STATESVILLE - Iredell Museums will present the Artists Guild of Statesville Annual "Home for the Holidays" exhibit from November 10 through December 15.
    The exhibit will be held at the Court Street Gallery, 134 Court Street in downtown Statesville. An opening public reception for the artists will be held on Friday, November 10, from 6 to 8 pm, free of charge. The Gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 PM Admission is free of charge.
   The exhibit will feature works by current guild members in the following media: painting, pottery, sculpture, photography and pastel. Works will be judged by artist and instructor Jodi John of Statesville. Awards will be announced at the opening reception.
   Jodi John received her B.S. in Cultural Anthropology from Appalachian State University, with a minor in Folklore. She completed the first half of her Master's of Architecture at UNC-Charlotte and has been painting professionally since May 2001. John currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Mitchell Community College in Statesville.

Museum Calls for Young Talent at Pumpkin Fest
October 11, 2006

STATESVILLE -As part the 4th Annual Crossroads Pumpkin Fest in downtown Statesville, Iredell Museums will sponsor a talent show for ages 6 to 15 on Saturday, November 4, from 2:30 - 4:30 PM
   "We are excited to have the opportunity to showcase our young local talent as part of the Crossroads Pumpkin Festival," says Theresa Golas, Iredell Museums Executive Director.
   Individuals or groups must be able to sing, dance or play a musical instrument live on stage. No Karaoke, lip sync or recorded vocals in any background music will be permitted. Each child will be allowed a maximum of five minutes on stage. Three top prizes will be awarded.
   Call 704-872-7508 to register. No participation fee.

Butterflies from Around the World Migrate to Statesville
October 12, 2006

STATESVILLE - Iredell Museums will proudly present an exhibit of "Butterflies from Around the World," at the Children's Museum, Signal Hill Mall, 1613 E. Broad Street, Statesville, from October 23 through December 31.
   An opening reception will be held Monday, October 23, from 5 to 7 PM The reception is open to the public, free of charge. The exhibit will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 to 5 and Saturday from 10 to 3. Admission is $2 per adult (12 and up) and children under 12 are free of charge. Groups of five children or more are $2 per child and at least one adult must accompany every five children.
   On loan from collector Larry Voris, "Butterflies from Around the World" features over 200 butterflies from six continents. The collection is sure to fascinate and amaze everyone from the youngest child to adults alike.
   Voris, a native of Statesville, became interested in butterflies seven years ago when he was vacationing in Costa Rica and found himself in the jungle surrounded by butterflies. An avid hiker, he has traveled throughout the world and collected hundreds of butterfly specimens.
   Voris approached the museum about exhibiting the butterflies after friends and family commented that the public should enjoy the beauty of his private collection.
  "I became fascinated with the sheer beauty of butterflies and wanted to share the beauty of nature with others," Voris says.
   The exhibition, which consists of eight panels that house butterflies framed behind glass, allows the viewer to experience both the upperside and underside of each specimen. The exhibit was designed by Theresa Golas and constructed by Golas and Debbie Overcash. Exhibition research was conducted by Abbi Overcash and Debbie Overcash.
   This special exhibit was made possible through the generous support of the Animal Hospital of Statesville.

Sci-Art Day Camps Scheduled for I-SS Closing Days
October 12, 2006

STATESVILLE - Iredell Museums will offer SCI-Art Day Camps for children ages 8 to 12 at the Heritage Learning Center location, 1335 Museum Road on scheduled Iredell-Statesville school closing days.
   Camps will be offered Monday, October 30 (teacher workday) and Friday, November 10 (day off) from 8:00 am to 3:30 PM
   Each day is different with outdoor enthusiast and instructor Ray Raymer and creativity specialist Ilisa Howell. Children will learn much about outdoor life including animal habitats, bird watching, how to be safe and survive outdoors, where Statesville's water comes from, archeology, geology and more.
   Campers will explore the 35 acre grounds and walking trails of the Museum as well as Gregory Creek and the Statesville Greenway. Projects will include calligraphy, casting animal tracks, building a camp fire and creating an anthropology board.
   Campers should bring a back pack, sunscreen, bug spray, camera (preferably digital), extra change of clothes in the event campers get muddy or wet during nature exploration and towel. Non-vegetarian lunch provided. $45 Non-Members ($40 Members).
   Camp sizes are limited. Call 704-872-7508 to register.

"THOSE People" Coming to Statesville
August 4, 2006

STATESVILLE - "THOSE People," a one woman show featuring the multimedia work of Ladianne Mandel of Cornelius, NC, will be held at the Court Street Gallery, 134 Court Street, in downtown Statesville from September 15 - October 27. An opening reception will be held Friday, September 15, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM
   Mandel, a multifaceted artist/poet focuses on the concepts of connection, reaction, interaction, and interdependency. She uses a wide variety of mediums and selects materials based on their prospective strength as tools for communication.
   Works in the exhibit, which include a film, abstract and figurative works, and drawings, explore the ways in which people often react to others' lifestyles, physical attributes, and beliefs. Mandel hopes that individuals who view the exhibition "will spend a few moments exploring ways in which they have felt like THOSE People and ways in which they have also made others feel uncomfortable or out of place." The artist believes that the most important message in the exhibit "is that compassion and understanding on an individual level can serve as the basis for broader-reaching peaceful coexistence."
   A self-taught artist/poet, Mandel has been the recipient of numerous awards in recent years. In addition to various awards for visual art from juried exhibitions with the Lake Norman Art League, three of Mandel's poems were included in a 2005 anthology entitled "Garden Poems: New Lines by Fifteen Poets." In 2006, Mandel was awarded the North Carolina Wisteria Prize for Poetry and her collection of poetry, "Play Them Bones," was published by The Paper Journey Press of Chapel Hill, NC.

Shaded Grounds to Welcome 7th Annual Art on the Green
August 2, 2006

STATESVILLE - Iredell Museums will hold its 7th Annual Art on the Green juried art show and sale on the grounds of the Heritage Farmstead at 1335 Museum Road on Saturday, August 26 from 9:00 to 4:00.
   Developed to promote fine arts and crafts by North Carolina artists, Art on the Green provides a festive marketplace atmosphere with live music along the banks of Gregory Creek under a refreshing canopy of tall cooling trees
    This year's works will be represented in the categories of fiber arts, jewelry, origami, painting, photography, pottery, sculpture and woodworking by artists and craftpersons from the NC counties of Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Forsythe, Gaston, Henderson, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Moore, Rowan, Wake, Wilkes and Yadkin.
   Food and entertainment for children will be available throughout the day and a free shuttle service will be provided from parking lots at McClure Park and Western Avenue Baptist Church.
   Applications for artists/crafters are being accepted until August 18. First-time applicants must submit photos or slides representative of their work. Call 704-873-4734 for an application or visit www.iredellmuseums.org.
    Rain date is September 9. Admission is free of charge.

Museum Partners with Statesville Parks & Recreation for Summer Camps
June 29, 2006

STATESVILLE - Iredell Museums, in partnership with the City of Statesville Parks and Recreation Department, will offer a nature and creativity camp entitled Camp Greenway at the Heritage Farmstead location, 1335 Museum Road. Week long camps are available for ages 4 through 15, from July 25 through August 18, 2006.
   Every day is different with outdoor enthusiast and instructor Ray Raymer and creativity specialist Ilisa Howell. Children will learn much about outdoor life including identifying trees, animal habitats, identifying birds, water systems, geology and more.
   Young campers will explore the 35 acre grounds and walking trails of the Museum. Older campers will also explore Gregory Creek, as well as the Statesville Greenway. Projects will include creating a pocket guide, casting animal tracks, and creating a time capsule. Older campers will enjoy additional projects such as calligraphy, building a camp fire, and creating an anthropology board. All children will have the opportunity to explore items from the Museum's permanent collection and view the Museum's exhibit of butterflies from around the world.

One Woman Show - Paintings of Karen Hewitt Hagan
June 20, 2006

STATESVILLE - Iredell Museums will present a one woman show of the paintings of Florence, SC native Karen Hewitt Hagan. The exhibit will be held at the Court Street Gallery, 134 Court Street, in downtown Statesville from July 14 through August 25.
   An opening reception for the exhibit will be held Friday, July 14, from 6-8 pm. The reception and gallery are open to the public, free of charge. The Gallery is open Monday-Friday, 10-5 PM
   Karen Hewitt Hagan has studied with many contemporary masters as well as studied the works of inspirational historical painters including Emile Gruppe, Edgar Payne and John Singer Sargent enabling her to develop a style steeped in tradition, but unique and completely her own. Hagan has continued her studies drawing the figure in the traditional method from life size plaster casts and drawing the figure from live models as well as working out of doors, en plein air, almost daily. "Nature is truly the best teacher," says Hagan.
   Whether painting on location outside or inside with a model, Hagan's paintings depict a strong feeling of light and include rich dramatic brushstrokes. Her masterful approach captures the timeless beauty of quaint fishing villages, sun drenched sailboats, pristine coastal landscapes, still lifes and dancers.
   Hagan has been selected to participate in many invitational exhibitions and juried shows including the Carmel Plein Air Painting Competition in Carmel California and was presented with the 2004 Fraser Fox Award of Excellence at the COPA Plein Air Painting event in Charleston, SC. Her paintings are held in numerous private and corporate collections in the US and abroad including the exclusive "Sanctuary Resort" at Kiawah Island, SC.
   A long time resident of Charleston, SC and an avid traveler with a love for the water, Hagan and her husband are currently restoring and living aboard a 53-foot boat and split their time painting along the coastal villages of the East Coast and the Bahamas.

Heritage Program for Children & Families
June 15, 2006

STATESVILLE -Summer Sampler at the Cabins will be held at Iredell Museums' Heritage Farmstead on Sunday, June 25, 2006, from 2 to 4 PM Visitors will enjoy the beauty of summer at the log cabins by stepping back in time two hundred years for a summertime party in Iredell County. 18th Century clad interpreters will demonstrate spinning, weaving, blacksmithing, and food preservation. A circuit riding preacher will also be in attendance. Children will have the opportunity to make corn shuck dolls. Visitors will enjoy making and sampling rolled ice cream.

Custom Furniture & Quilt Exhibit
May 5, 2006

STATESVILLE - Custom furniture by Michael McDunn of Greenville, South Carolina and quilts by Linda Yaggie of Mooresville, North Carolina will be exhibited at the Court Street Gallery, 134 Court Street, in downtown Statesville from May 11 through June 23, 2006.
   An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2006, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM The Gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 PM Admission is free of charge.
   Michael McDunn has been a woodworker in Greenville, South Carolina for nearly thirty years and has become a premier source of high quality, handcrafted custom furniture with his works adorning homes in Greenville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, New York and France. His conference tables have been commissioned by companies such as Michelin, Liberty Corporation, WYFF Television and Carolina First and continue to exist as elegant and commanding centerpieces. McDunn is committed to cultural development and has completed work for the Greenville Art Museum and St. Mary's Catholic Church.
   Linda Yaggie began quilting 15 years ago as a hobby. Having created over 100 quilts in the past 15 years, Yaggie now describes quilting as her "life's work - an obsession instead of a hobby." The quilts showcased in the exhibit include wall hangings and bed quilts. This exhibition marks the first time that Yaggie's quilts have been exhibited as a body of work.
   The Custom Furniture and Quilt Exhibit is funded in part by the N.C. Arts Council's GRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM through the Iredell Arts Council.

Three Spring Programs Offered for Children and Families: Multicultural Children's Exhibit, Spring Planting at the Cabins & Children's Photography Workshop
April 21, 2006

STATESVILLE - Iredell Museums will offer three exciting programs for children and families on May 4, 6, & 7, 2006.
     An exhibition of the winners of the 7th Annual Multicultural Art Contest will be held at Iredell Museums' Children's Museum in the Signal Hill Mall. The exhibition, featuring the work of Iredell-Statesville Schools ESL Students Grades 2-12 will open on Thursday, May 4 and run through May 31, 2006. An opening reception for the artists will be held on Thursday, May 4, 2006 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM The reception is open to the public, free of charge. The Children's Museum is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 PM and Saturday from 10 am to 3 PM Admission for adults is $2 and children under 12 are free of charge. The Multicultural Art Contest was coordinated by East Iredell Elementary and the S.H.A.K.E. Program and sponsored by Asmo, Inc. and The Burns Group.
     Spring Planting at the Cabins will be held at Iredell Museums' Heritage Farmstead located at 1335 Museum Road, Statesville, on Saturday, May 6, 2006, from 10 am to 2 PM Visitors will enjoy the beauty of spring at the log cabins by stepping back in time two hundred years to learn about the way of life during the planting season in Iredell County. 18th Century clad interpreters will prepare the farmstead by planting corn, beans, potatoes, squash, pumpkins, gourds, flax, and cotton using techniques and equipment in the tradition of late 1700s Iredell County.
     A Children's Photography Workshop, led by the Iredell Photography Club, will be held May 7, 2006 from 2 PM to 4 PM Children ages 8 to 14 will learn the basics of taking great outdoor photos while touring the downtown Statesville area. Workshop includes camera, film, and developing. A $15.00 registration fee is required. Rain date is May 21, 2006 from 2 to 4 PM The Children's Photography Workshop is funded in part by the NC Arts Council's Grassroots Arts Program through the Iredell Arts Council.

Steven Baldwin to be featured at 11th Annual Art In Bloom Fundraiser
March 14, 2006

STATESVILLE - The 11th annual Art in Bloom spring fundraising event will be held Thursday, April 6, 2006 from 8:30 am to 1:00 PM at the Statesville Civic Center, 300 North Center Street, Statesville
     In 1994 the late Amy Steele, a tireless volunteer and passionate advocate of the arts conceived the idea which has grown into not only the premier annual fundraising event, but also a much-anticipated annual program. In its 11th year, the event is built around a knowledgeable and entertaining guest speaker with expertise in floral design and arrangement. It also includes a bake, plant, and gift sale as well as a silent auction with original works of art, vacation packages and other items and services.
     The featured speaker at the 2006 Art in Bloom will be Stephen Baldwin, a Charlotte native, who has been active in the arts for over 40 years. "Stephen Baldwin's program, Spend the Morning with the Lone Arranger promises to be fun as he demonstrates floral design," says Becky Hill, co-chair of the Art in Bloom committee.
     Baldwin's talents include painting, building custom-design birdhouses (Birdabodes) made from recycled and found materials, as well as designing jewelry and floral arrangements. A diverse and prolific artist, Mr. Baldwin's work also includes cookbook illustration and a collector's guide on seashells. His paintings and drawings are held in both private and corporate collections throughout North and South Carolina. Currently his art and jewelry are sold at A Garden Party in Mooresville, NC and his Birdabodes are sold at Morgan's Fine Gifts in Monroe, NC.
     Baldwin is affiliated with A&B Floral of Charlotte where he has applied his floral design abilities to pieces for the showroom as well as to arrangements for clients. He has also been the featured designer for A&B Floral's Spring and Holiday Workshops. The multi-talented Baldwin is an avid gardener whose personal garden is rich in form and variety. During recent years, Baldwin's garden has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Carolina Gardener and Charlotte magazines.
     "We are excited to have such an accomplished artist and gardener featured at our spring fundraising event. It is not often that one is able to have access to an artist with such a broad base of interest, talent and knowledge," says Theresa Golas, Executive Director of Iredell Museums.
     The ticket price of $35 includes admission to the event as well as morning coffee and a lunch catered by The Side Porch. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at Iredell Museums, 134 Court Street, 704-873-4734, the Statesville Civic Center and from committee members.
     Members of the committee, chaired by Becky Hill and Ruth Wells, are Lisa Bograd, Elizabeth Cannon, George Anna Chambers, Mary Gilbert, Edie Holland, Louise Hunter, Re Johnston, Teresa Kutteh, Lynn Lawton, Alyson McCall, Shelly McElwee, Tammy Neely, Kathi Rankin, Anne Rhyne, Michelle Rokes, Linda Stikeleather, Jackie Tomlin, Sue Walser, Michelle Warren, Jill West and Julia Wilson.

Museums present oil and watercolor paintings of Doris Hayes
March 1, 2006

STATESVILLE - As part of its mission to preserve, promote and provide learning experiences in culture, heritage, and the arts, Iredell Museums will present the oil and watercolor paintings of Doris Hayes.
     The exhibit will be held at the Court Street Gallery, 134 Court Street, in downtown Statesville, March 9 to April 6. The Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free of charge. An opening reception will be held Thursday, March 9 from 6 to 8 p.m.
     Hayes, born in 1910 in Traphill, North Carolina, is a self-taught artist who began painting in 1948 and continued to paint until 1998. Although Hayes started working in oil, she later changed to watercolor when she began having a reaction to chemicals in the oil paints.
     Throughout her life as an artist, Hayes found inspiration in the flora and fauna which surrounded her. Her first paintings were of irises which adorned her yard in Wilkes County. The works, on loan from private collections throughout the state and beyond, are a tribute to the natural landscape of North Carolina and celebrate the everyday beauty of trilliums, tiger lilies, lady slippers, blood roots, violets, thistles, red tanagers, mocking birds, blue birds and goldfinches.
     This exhibition will mark the first time that Hayes' body of work will be assembled and on view to the public.
     The Doris Hayes Exhibit is funded in part by the NC Arts Council's Grassroots Arts Program through the Iredell Arts Council. Additional sponsors of the exhibit include Davis Regional Medical Center, Piedmont Bank, Piedmont HealthCare and The Rotary Club of Statesville.

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