Watauga Arts Council
Weekly column submission for The Watauga Democrat
August 24, 2007 edition
From: Jenny Schrum, Office Manager & Visual Arts Coordinator
Ph: 828.264.1789 Fax: 828.262.4599
e-mail: jenny@watauga-arts.org
“Be careful what you ask for.” That adage has run through my head over the
past couple of weeks as I was lugging artwork hither and yon through the
unaccustomed Boone heat.
Two months ago I wrote a column asking for more business owners to consider
putting local artwork from the Watauga Arts Council’s award-winning Art
Placement Program on their walls. With the closing of the Appalachian Quality
Inn, the Arts Council had lost one of its largest facilities for art placement. The
attic bin here at the Jones House Communitiy Center where all that beautiful
art was stored, waiting for placement back in the public domain, was weighing
on my mind.
(Art placement is already in ReMax Realty Group at Shadowline, Lyons Realty &
Construction in Blowing Rock, Our Daily Bread Delicatessen in downtown
Boone, Super 8 Motel on Hwy. 105, and the Jones House in Boone.)
As a result of that plea, the Arts Council has hung art in two new venues:
Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living on Bamboo Road in Boone and Fireside Grill and
Lounge in Banner Elk. The preliminary work has been done to place a number
of pieces in a busy Boone doctor’s office.
I couldn’t be more pleased to add these new businesses to this program. I think
they will prove to be very good places to display local artists’ work and I know
the original art adds so much to their décor. And in spite of the heat it was
great fun choosing just the right art for their walls.
In the case of Deerfield Ridge, Sharon Wellborn, who called to ask about
placing art in this beautiful facility, gave me carte blanche in choosing the art.
Her only stipulation, “Bring cheerful pictures.” So last week I was up in the
Jones House attic pulling out pieces that made me feel cheerful. I also looked
for work that might evoke a happy memory of places the residents had seen or
wanted to see. I am sure anyone would be welcomed at Deerfield to see the
works in the two large public rooms. Look for the thoughtful scene paintings by
Sid Boss, Louise Harris, and Gwilda Coxon; the lovely flower pictures by Barbi
Quatrano, Norma Suddreth, and Paula Vaughan-Wancl; and the peaceful
“Chapel at Rest” by Frank Wilcox.
The owner of Fireside Grill and Lounge made my job easy because he picked
out his favorite works himself from the collection. I am looking forward to
seeing how the art he chose looks in this nice Banner Elk restaurant.
In addition to placing art in these new locations, Our Daily Bread switched out
the art that has been on its walls for over a year. While sorry to see Ellen
Gwin’s photographs of Ireland leave, we were excited to see all the new works
go up on the walls. It is always fun to see people’s reaction to art. While one
person may not give a second glance at a particular piece, that same work may
just be the most exciting to another person. Mary Kate, the manager, made
hanging the art so much fun because she is definitely one of those people who
gets excited about art. She just loves a small painting of a spring onion we
hung behind the cash register with several other “food” paintings by Loraze
Dozier. But the signature piece has got to be Hope Carroll Byrd’s “Grandpa in
the Chair” hanging at the end of the counter. Grandpas eyes seem to watch
over the restaurant from his vantage point on the wall. Check it out.
In fact, check out all the places that local artists have their art. And while
there, pull out your credit card or check book and take some original art home
with you.
Jenny Schrum is the Watauga Arts Council office manager and visual arts
coordinator. Contact her at (828) 264-1789 or jenny@watauga-arts.org. She
also serves as office assistant for the Jones House Community Center. Contact
her at (828) 262-4576 or joneshouse@charterinternet.com