Museums Present Holiday Programming
December 7, 2007

STATESVILLE - On Saturday, December 15, 2007, from 10:00 am-11:00 pm, children and parents will have the fun-filled opportunity to decorate original gingerbread houses at the Children's Museum located in the Signal Hill Mall, 1613 East Broad Street, Statesville. Decorating gingerbread houses is a wonderful holiday activity that brings lasting memories and a one-of-a-kind gingerbread house that is theirs to keep. Houses and extra trimmings will be provided. $18 ($15 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 16, 2007, 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.

Forming a Collage of Overlapping Narratives
October 29, 2007

STATESVILLE - Hanna Kutteh's work is torn from the pages of magazines, sheared out of family memories, ripped from personal experience and reconstructed to form a collage of overlapping narratives. Time and place intertwine into a new imagined reality, which is neither tied to a spatial consideration or conventional context. Image and pattern are interwoven to become the culmination of her many influences that have molded her identity and understanding of self.
   Born in Beirut, Lebanon, and adopted at birth by a couple from North Carolina, Kutteh spent her childhood in Statesville. Kutteh's father is a first generation American of Middle Eastern decent, while her mother was born and raised on a small family-owned tobacco farm in North Carolina. While living in the South and being close to her grandparents, Kutteh has been influenced by both her Lebanese heritage and Southern traditions. Old family photographs along with images torn from vintage magazines have been the inspiration behind her recent paintings.
    Receiving her BFA in Painting from Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA, Kutteh currently creates her own works and is also a fine faux decorative finish painter in Charlotte.
    Kutteh's paintings will be exhibited at the Court Street Gallery, 134 Court Street, in downtown Statesville from November 9 through December 14, 2007. An opening reception for the artist will be held on Friday, November 9 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The reception and exhibit are open to the public, free of charge. The Gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Celebrate Autumn with Harvest Day at the Cabins
October 10, 2007

STATESVILLE - Harvest Day at the Cabins will be held at Iredell Museums' Heritage Farmstead located at 1335 Museum Road, Statesville, on Saturday October 20 from 10 am to 2 pm. Visitors will enjoy the early crispness of fall at the log cabins by stepping back in time two hundred years to learn about the way of life during harvest season in Iredell County. Eighteenth Century clad interpreters will prepare cottage cheese as well as a meal of bean soup, corn muffins, gingerbread and persimmon pudding. Children will have the opportunity to make corn husk dolls, leather pouches and spice graters. Admission is free.

Pottery Inspired by Textiles, Nature & Architecture
September 6, 2007

STATESVILLE - In Its Right Place will feature the pottery of Amy Sanders of Charlotte, NC at the Court Street Gallery, 134 Court Street, in downtown Statesville from September 14 through October 26.
    An opening reception for the artist will coincide with the kick-off party for the Downtown Statesville Art Crawl on Friday, September 14 from 5-8:00 pm. The reception and exhibit are open to the public, free of charge. Regular gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 10 am to 5 pm.
    Patterns in textiles, architecture, nature and quilting inspire Amy Sanders to create works that invite touch and evoke a sense of comfort. Sanders often constructs pieces with the intention of exhibiting them in a grouping. Much like people, each work interacts with another, creating a rhythmic conversation by leaning or even touching.
    The isolation of working alone in her studio has heightened Sanders' awareness of the importance of people and true community in her life. In Its Right Place reflects Sanders' desire for a sense of place and history while living within a fast-paced, urban environment.
   Holding a bachelors degree. in art and certification in secondary education from Centre College, Danville, KY, Sanders is currently a ceramics instructor at Clayworks in Charlotte, NC. Honors include a recent grant from the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte and an 18-month Affiliate Artist Residency at the McColl Center for Visual Art in Charlotte. Sanders has also received awards for booth design at the Ohio Designer Craftsmen shows in Cincinnati, OH and has created corporate commissioned pieces and public art projects in Charlotte.
    More of Sanders' work may be viewed at www.theretherepottery.blogspot.com.

Iredell Museums Partner in Presenting First Downtown Statesville Art Crawl
September 6, 2007

STATESVILLE - The Downtown Statesville Development Corporation has partnered with the Iredell Arts Council, Iredell Museums, and the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce to hold the first-ever Downtown Statesville Art Crawl on Friday, September 14, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm in lovely Downtown Statesville.
    This event is free to the public and is sponsored by Sheri Bistreich and Associates, a financial advisory practice, Ameriprise Financial.
    Over 25 local artists will be displayed throughout the following downtown galleries, shops and buildings - Broad Street Gallery, City Center, Express Yourself Stationery & Gifts, R. Gregory Jewelers, Farmhouse Bakery, DJ's Bridal & Tuxedo, Frame Gallery & Gifts, Iredell Arts Council, Iredell Museums, La Dolce Vita, Montgomery Building, Opus Financial Advisors, Plyler Men's Store, Statesville Civic Center, Louise Gilbert Memorial Gallery at Mitchell Community College, as well as in the buildings located at 111 West Broad Street and 109 East Broad Street.

Juried Art & Live Music Along Banks of Gregory Creek
August 3, 2007

STATESVILLE - Iredell Museums will hold its 8th Annual Art on the Green juried art show and sale on the grounds of the Historic Pump Station location, 1335 Museum Road, on Saturday, August 25, from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Rain date is September 8. Admission is free of charge.
   Art on the Green promotes fine arts and crafts by North Carolina artists/fine crafters and provides participating artists exposure to individuals who are interested in and supportive of the arts. A festive marketplace atmosphere is created each year along the banks of Gregory Creek under a refreshing canopy of tall, cooling shade trees.
   Artists/Crafters represented this year hail from the following counties in North Carolina: Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Forsyth, Iredell, Lincoln, Wake, and Wilkes. Represented disciplines include: forged metal, fiber arts, furniture, jewelry, painting, photography, pottery, sculpture and woodworking. Applications for artists/crafters will be accepted until August 17. First-time applicants must submit photos or slides representative of their work. Call 704-873-4734 for an application.
   Food, music, and planned entertainment for children will be available throughout the day. Performing musicians include: Steve Bell (Guitar/Vocals); Veda Bafford (Fiddle/Irish); Tomm Dollee Band (Bluegrass/Country/Gospel); Camelot Knights (Folk/Rock); Roger Anderson (Folk/Blues) and The Verge (Blues/Rock).
   Parking will be available at McClure Park and at Western Avenue Baptist Church with free shuttle service running from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Exploring Tension and Pathways
June 12, 2007

STATESVILLE - An investigation of tension and pathways binds together the collective works of Kenn Kotara, Sharon Dowell and Laura McCarthy. Their works will be presented at the Court Street Gallery from July 13 through August 17. An opening reception for the artists will be held Friday, July 13 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
    Kenn Kotara, combines intuitive and deliberate lines to form multiple routes, aggregate forms and spatial depths in both drawings and hanging screen installations. Receiving his MFA from Louisiana Tech University, he is currently a Professor at A-B Tech Community College in Asheville. Kotara's works are included in international collections such as the Asheville Art Museum, the Louisiana State Museum, GE, Park Hyatt Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Wachovia, SAS Institute, Neiman Marcus, Sumisho, Japan and the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica.
    Simultaneously capturing the collective energy of cities and individual personalities and cultures found within, Sharon Dowell documents her journeys in her paintings. Dowell is Co-Director of Center of the Earth Gallery in Charlotte and independently curates. She holds a BFA from UNC Charlotte, and her work was recently acquired by the Federal Reserve.
    Laura McCarthy's mixed media installations and prints concern thresholds and the spaces between chaos and calm, those moments when all time is concurrent. She received a BFA from UNC Charlotte and a BA from Davidson College. Honors include residencies at the McColl Center for Visual Art, the Vermont Studio Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, and most recently a grant from the NC Arts and Science Council.
    SYSTEMS GO was curated by Sharon Dowell and is funded in part by the N.C. Arts Council's GRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM through the Iredell Arts Council. To view more of the artists' work, visit: www.kotarastudio.com, www.sharondowell.com and www.lauramccarthy.net.

Multicultural Children's Art Contest Exhibit
May 25, 2007

STATESVILLE -Iredell Museums will present winning entries from the Iredell-Statesville Schools 8th Annual Multicultural Art Contest at the Court Street Gallery from May 31 - June 29. An opening reception for the artists will be held Thursday, May 31, from 5 to 7 pm.
    The contest is co-sponsored by Iredell Museums and Iredell-Statesville Schools. The exhibit is made possible through generous support of Altrusa International, Inc., Engineered Sintered Components, Iredell Arts Council, Patina-V, Statesville Housing Authority, Vallereux's Photographic Art and the Wilson Foundation.
    In its 8th year, the contest allows over 1,000 English as a Second Language (ESL) students in the Iredell-Statesville Schools the opportunity to participate in creative expression as a way to develop greater language skills. 174 students in grades K-12, from 20 different schools and 17 different countries, submitted work for consideration. The theme of this year's contest was "School around the World." Contest entrants were encouraged to reflect upon and share what is special in their cultural background and were required to submit a few paragraphs describing their artwork in both their native language as well as in English.
   The exhibit's winning entries feature the work of 29 students from 12 schools and 8 countries as well as written descriptions allowing visitors the opportunity to experience not only the artwork but also the thoughts behind the artwork illustrated in the child's own voice. Also included in the exhibit is an interactive map of the world, multicultural mannequins, professionally rendered photographic portraits of 20 multicultural children from East Iredell Elementary and books which describe different customs and cultures.
   According to Theresa Golas, the museums' executive director, "The museum recognizes that not all children learn alike and many learn more readily by expressing themselves in a creative manner. The Multicultural Art Contest and Exhibit is designed to open the hearts and minds of young people to enable them to respect their own culture and learn how other cultures are unique and yet, very much alike. Through such education and exposure to diverse customs and traditions, children and families are taught tolerance of others and appreciation for a world of customs and traditions."

Mathematics Made Easy as Pie During Statewide Pi Day Celebration
March 12, 2007

STATESVILLE - On March 14, Iredell Museums will join museums and schools across North Carolina in celebrating Pi Day, an unofficial holiday held on the date of the first three digits of Pi (3.14). Twelve interactive tabletop math exhibits, designed for children in grades 3 to 8 along with their families and educators, will be on display at the Children's Museum, 1613 East Broad Street, Signal Hill Mall, Statesville. The exhibits will remain on display from March 14 through March 28. Admission is $2. The exhibit correlates with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Mathematics and was made possible through support from the National Science Foundation.
    Exhibits include:

• How Many Diameters Fit Around the Circle? - Can you remember the mathematical formula to calculate the circumference of a circle? This exhibit will allow you to remember the formula in a very simple manner. Children will have the opportunity to learn math terms while physically calculating the circumference of a circle.
• Which Sock Will You Pick? - Ever wonder why it's so hard to pick a matching set of socks out of a packed dryer? At this exhibit children will learn about probability while trying to make a match.
• Which Tool is Best? - What is the best way to measure a dinosaur? The size of its teeth. The span of its jaw. The overall length from head to toe. Children will compare different measuring tools to see what works best for the task at hand.
• How Many is a Million? - Ever state that you have a million things to do? Now you will have the opportunity to experience what a million really is. Children will learn that if they counted at the rate of one number per second, that it would take more than 11 days to get to a million!
• How Many Miles? - How far is it from Asheville to Charlotte? Children will have the opportunity to calculate the distance between cities in North Carolina.
• Which Gets More Money? - Should you ask your parents for $1 a week or 25 cents and double your money every week as an allowance? Children will have the opportunity to figure out which is better and also learn that knowledge is power!
• How Will You Pack? - Ever had a hard time deciding exactly what you should pack for vacation? Children and families will utilize principles of geometry to pack a trunk and figure out how shapes fit together.
• What Patterns do You See? - Have you ever held a seashell and looked at its patterns closely? Children will have the opportunity to experience the patterns in a shell and learn how to spot other patterns the world around them.
• Build a Bigger Cube - Have you ever played with a dollhouse or a train set? Children will learn the principals that architects use to make small-scale models.
• How will You Build the Tower? - Everyone has to get dressed in the morning and most people usually follow a certain order. Children will learn that the order of things is very important to construction works that carefully choose what they will do first when they construct a building.
• How Many Things are in the Box? - Ever try to guess the number of jellybeans in a jar? Children will use mathematical principals to calculate the number of things in a box, much like biologists estimating how many salamanders live in a pond.
• How will You Deliver all Three? - Ever try to multitask? Children will use animal figures to solve a logic problem.

    "The exhibits are designed to be fun as well as challenging. Most children won't even realize they are learning and reinforcing mathematical concepts as they participate in Math Made as Easy as Pi," says Iredell Museums Executive Director Theresa Golas.

Biltmore Estate Floral Designer to be Featured at Art in Bloom
March 6, 2007

STATESVILLE — The thirteenth annual Art in Bloom spring fundraising event will be held on Thursday, April 5 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Statesville Civic Center, 300 North Center Street, Statesville.
    Art in Bloom 2007 will feature floral design and decorating specialist Hope Wright from Biltmore Estate's "A Gardener's Place." Working from a garden shop in the historic 1895 conservatory, Wright creates elegant visual displays, hosts informal floral design and gardening workshops and enjoys "cutting privileges" within Biltmore's extensive gardens. Wright can also be seen in several segments of "Specialties of the House" on HGTV.
    Previously involved with Biltmore's floral design team, which plans and executes floral and plant designs throughout the estate, Wright played a key role in decorating for popular events such as Christmas at Biltmore Estate and Festival of Flowers.
    At Art in Bloom, Wright will share professional secrets used to design the magnificent floral creations seen throughout Biltmore. The program will start with a short presentation about Biltmore's horticultural legacy and continue with a hands-on demonstration of arranging styles and techniques. How-to tips on cutting from your own garden, conditioning flowers and preserving arrangements will also be shared. Using natural and artificial materials that are easily available, Wright will demonstrate surprising styles and techniques that are easily recreated at home any time of year.
    Theresa Golas, Iredell Museums' Executive Director, exclaims, "We are excited to have a passionate professional from the Biltmore Estate featured at our 2007 spring fundraising event and we are all eager to learn the secrets from America's largest home!"
    Art in Bloom was conceived in 1994 by the late Amy Steele, a tireless volunteer and passionate advocate of the arts. Today, the event has grown into not only the major fundraiser for the museum, but also a much anticipated annual program. The event also includes a bake and gift sale as well as a silent auction featuring original works of art, boutique items and special personal services. The ticket price of $35 includes admission to the event, morning coffee and a catered lunch.
    Committee members include: Susan Bellingham, Lisa Bograd, Sandra Campbell, Elizabeth Cannon, George Anna Chambers, Anna Gilbert, Mary Gilbert, Theresa Golas, Anna Gordon, Becky Hill, Janis Hilton, Louise Hunter, Re Johnston, Ann Kincaid, Teresa Kutteh, Lynn Lawton, Alyson McCall, Shelly McElwee, Tammy Pressly, Kathi Rankin, Michelle Rokes, Sue Walser, and Michelle Warren.

Mother/Daughter Painters Featured
March 5, 2007

STATESVILLE — Iredell Museums will present the work of mother/daughter painters Laura John of Sapphire, NC and Jodi John of Statesville, NC. The exhibit will be held at the Court Street Gallery, 134 Court Street, in downtown Statesville from March 16 through April 13, 2007. An opening reception for the artists will be held on Friday, March 16, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm The reception and exhibit are open to the public, free of charge. The exhibit is made possible through generous support of L. Gordon Iron and Metal Company.
   Laura John, born in Oak Park, Illinois, moved to Florida as a child and was educated at Broward Community College, Dade Community College and the University of Florida. She derives great joy from creating works of art that are whimsical and full of unexpected color. Laura does not wash her brush before choosing a different color. She will dab acra gold over a brush containing remnants of brilliant blue. The result is a breathtaking blend of color, and a metamorphosis of pigment. Although portraits are her specialty, Laura's range of style is astonishing; loose landscapes, children, flora, fauna, and whimsical bears cannot escape the artistic expression within her brush. Laura states, "Everywhere I look I see a painting. I can't wait to put it on canvas so it can be enjoyed by others." Laura's work has been displayed in several one-woman shows and she has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Highland Art League members' show People's Choice Award 1996, 1999, and 2006. She has taught art for many years and is currently teaching at Chestnut Hill in Highlands, NC.
   Jodi John was born and raised in Florida, but spent her summers in the North Carolina mountains. She received her B.S. in Cultural Anthropology from Appalachian State University, with a minor in Folklore. Jodi completed the first half of her Master's of Architecture at UNC-Charlotte before becoming a mother. She has been painting professionally since May 2001 in her home studio. A student and daughter of artist Laura John and architect Paul Robin John, Jodi has learned to combine impressionistic techniques with vivid color and the looseness of architectural field sketching. Her recent work depicts images of rural and family life. The title of Jodi's series displayed in the exhibit is "Life as a Mobius Strip: The Never-Ending Response to What We See." In her series, Jodi uses the mathematical idea of the mobius strip to relate how she sees things, and the way they are reproduced onto canvas and then they are seen again. Jodi currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Mitchell Community College in Statesville.

Folk Art of Theresa Gloster & Friends Opens MLK Celebration Week
January 5, 2007

STATESVILLE — Iredell Museums will exhibit the work of folk artist Theresa Gloster of Lenoir, NC at the Court Street Gallery from January 12 through February 23. An opening reception for the artist will be held Friday, January 12 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm The exhibit is funded in part by the N.C. Arts Council's Grassroots Arts Program.
   Gloster, one of twelve children born in Filbert, West Virginia and raised by her grandparents in Western North Carolina, paints scenes from her life and the stories she hears while working as a hairdresser. Painting on any surface, such as place mats, church fans, walls, vans, etc., her sometimes picturesque, sometimes playful, sometimes poignant paintings reflect the inherent joys and hardships of life in rural coal-mining West Virginia and the foothills of Western North Carolina.
   Author Billy Anthony Moore writes about Gloster in his book Sisyphus and the Struggle Within. "Theresa Gloster considers herself a 'Memory Artist' because her paintings spring from her own creative imagination inspired by God. Gloster's work depicts memories of her past, her family, the simplicity of daily life, the stillness, the noise, the chores, the joys, the pains, the acceptance of life, but most of all, the humanity of Appalachia's rural Black folk."
  Included in the exhibit will be works created in a Folk Art Workshop conducted by Gloster with children grades 2-5 from SHAKE (Success Helps All Kids Excel), a community program for children in the South Statesville area.
   The Theresa Gloster Folk Art Exhibit is part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration "Dream, Dare, Do: Empowering and Restoring our Community" organized by partners Covenant House, Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County, IMPACT, Iredell Museums, Mitchell Community College, Mt. Pleasant A.M.E. Zion Church, STAR, (Stand Together Against Racism), Statesville Branch NAACP, Statesville Chamber of Commerce, Statesville Housing Authority, Statesville Human Relations Council, Teen Health, W.H.E.E.L. and the YMCA of Iredell County.

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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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Iredell Museums selected as project site for annual MLK Make A Difference Day
December 30, 2005

STATESVILLE - Residents of Statesville will join together to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday by taking part in a community service project at Iredell Museums' Court Street Gallery Monday, January 16, beginning at 10 am.
     The Make a Difference Day community service project will involve cleaning storage areas of the museum, and making minor repairs to the Court Street Building. The project, which includes minor window repairs and the removal of an old air conditioner, will require lay people and skilled laborers alike.
     "Make a Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others. It is a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone can participate," says David Meachem, Chair of the Make a Difference Day Committee. In the words of Dr. King, "Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve, you don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve . . . You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace - a soul generated by love."
     Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that success is measured "by the quality of our service relationship to humanity," says William Jones, Chair of the MLK Celebration Committee. The Celebration Committee promotes the King Holiday as a community service initiative to remember, celebrate, and organize to meet the challenge of Dr. King's philosophy on public service. "There couldn't be a more appropriate opportunity to keep his "Dream" alive than on a national holiday dedicated to honor Dr. King for the issues and causes in which he gave his life," says Jones.
     To volunteer to take part in Make a Difference Day, members of the community are requested to call Iredell Museums at 704.873.4734.

MLK Week features theatrical performance sponsored by Iredell Museums
December 16, 2005

STATESVILLE - As a finale to the week-long celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Iredell Museums will sponsor Theatre IV's theatrical production Songs from the Soul on Wednesday, January 18, at 6:00 PM at Shearer Hall on the Mitchell Community College Campus.
     Written and originally directed by William Dye, acclaimed Director of the Richmond Boys Choir, Songs from the Soul is not only toe-tapping entertainment, it is also a vital history lesson that teaches pride, responsibility and respect.
     "The play is a wonderful ending to our week-long celebration of Realizing the Dream in a Multicultural Community," says William Jones, chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee. "Just as Dr. King's courage changed the world, we will celebrate his legacy with a moving theatrical production which explores the origin of African-American music and its evolution and assimilation into American culture. We invite everyone to attend this free event and to join us in a spirit of unity to conclude our celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King's life."
     Theatre IV's musical anthology demonstrates that today's musical forms, including rap and hip-hop, have deep-seated historical roots. From Blues, Ragtime, Jazz, Swing, R&B, Soul to today's music, Songs from the Soul is a magical historical trip of how the music reflected the times and how the times influenced the heritage of African-American music.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Week opens with children's programs and art exhibit
December 16, 2005

STATESVILLE -As part of its mission to preserve, promote and provide learning experiences in culture, heritage, and the arts, Iredell Museums will offer two exciting programs on January 12 to open the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Week.
     Children's Storyteller Obakunle Akinlana will perform African stories for grades 6 to 9 from 3:45-4:30 PM and for grades K-5 from 4:45-5:30 PM, on Thursday, January 12, 2005 at Court Street Gallery. Children will have the opportunity to hear African stories amid the unique setting of an art exhibition featuring local African American artists. Space is limited, please call 704.873.4734 for reservations.
     The Diversity of Expression art exhibition will feature the work of African American artists Ruby Marshall of Charlotte, Baxter McFarlin of Winston Salem and Shannon Alexander of Statesville from January 12 through February 24. An opening reception for the artists will be held Thursday, January 12 from 6 to 8 PM African Folk Music will be performed by Obakunle Akinlana. The reception is open to the public, free of charge.
     Both events are funded in part by the N.C. Arts Council's GRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM through the Iredell Arts Council.

New executive director joins Iredell Museums
September 1, 2005

STATESVILLE - Theresa Golas began her role as chief executive director of Iredell Museums September 1, 2005.
    Golas, from Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, holds a bachelor's degree in papermaking/weaving, a bachelor's degree in art history from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in arts administration from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
    As the gallery manager at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Kipp Gallery, Golas was responsible for the planning and installation of 21 exhibits. In 2004, Golas relocated to Chicago, where she served as Operations Coordinator for The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
   She was named the director of finance and administration of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in 1999. As a member of the senior management team, Golas developed and implemented strategies for short and long term organizational goals, including growing endowment funds, cash reserves and facilities funds to provide for sustainability, increased programming and institutional advancement.
   Throughout her career, Golas utilized her fine arts training by working as a visiting artist in various Chicago Public Schools and demonstrated her commitment to arts education by creating and implementing a job training program for at-risk teenagers in Chicago.

McKendree Long painting added to permanent collection
Spring 2005

STATESVILLE - A painting by Statesville native Rev. McKendree Robbins Long (1888-1976) was recently purchased at action for addition to the permanent collection of Iredell Museums. The 30" x 22" piece is titled "The Family Home, Iredell County, North Carolina in the Fall." Long's famous mystery "woman in the red dress," who appears in more than fifty of his works, also appears in the newly acquired piece.

Ethnic Fair for kids vital part of Iredell County education
April 2005

STATESVILLE - "Thanks to the partnership between Iredell-Statesville and Alexander County schools and the Children's Museum [of the newly formed Iredell Museums], the heritage of unique cultures comes alive with dance, sounds and stories," says Dr. Rose Dorton, executive director of middle school curriculum with Iredell-Statesville schools. "We continue to find this experience to be rewarding for the students and teachers. This has been the best year yet."

Court Street Gallery opens
April 2005

STATESVILLE - April 3rd saw the much anticipated opening of Iredell Museums' new art gallery on Court Street in downtown Statesville. An opening reception was held from 2-5. Guests were treated to refreshments and an exciting array of paintings, many of which are for sale.
    The exhibit "Springtime in Statesville" features art from the permanent collection as well as works from guest artists, including Don Moore, founders of the Artists Guild of Statesville and from the collection of Steve Herman.
    The work of Randy Ourtz, guest speaker at Art in Bloom, was featured on Sunday and will be available for purchase at the April 7th annual Art in Bloom event at the Civic Center. "Springtime in Statesville" will be exhibited at the Court Street gallery until May 30th.

Merged museums get surprise gift
Spring 2005

STATESVILLE - The newly merged Iredell Museum of Arts & Heritage and Children's Museum of Iredell County recently received a surprise gift of $30,000 at a reception for local legislators and elected officials

Museum votes in favor of merger
September 2004

STATESVILLE - By a margin of better than 2 to 1, members of the Iredell Museum of Arts & Heritage voted Tuesday to support a merger with the Children’s Museum of Iredell County.

Read the full story in the September 14, 2004 Statesville Record & Landmark.

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