February and March - Casey and Tom Kilgore - Paintings

Casey and Tom, residents of Morganton, have been creating and painting interior and exterior murals and canvasses for over 18 years for homes, churches, schools, hospitals and retail businesses throughout North Carolina and the mid-Atlantic region.  Both are self-taught and grateful for this God-given gift that has enabled them to work together.  Casey paints many subjects but enjoys animal portraits while Tom gravitates toward landscapes and subjects from many trips to Africa.  Both work primarily in acrylic latex with occasional forays into watercolor.

Video  | Photo Gallery

April and May - “Ruckus”- Various Artists - Mixed Media

Third Thursday Art Crawl – Reception May 16, 5pm-7:30pm

It starts with a little clamber, a little hubbub, a surprised exclamation, a growing crowd. As people gather, this is not a protest or a nuisance but an exciting gathering, a celebration of color, of movement, of shape and form. Kyle Buttram, Jenna Hernandez, Susan McRae, Kirksey Lowther, Kathryn Ervin, and Hannah Thrower are inspired by the ideas of how art in Morganton can change and shape the town. They are excited about the progression toward art that will stir the emotions and pique the senses. It is their hope that their artwork will raise a little ruckus. These artists are all local to Morganton and are eager to share their new work that will include painting, weaving, printmaking, and textiles.  These artists are generously supporting TOSS, a local children's art studio, with 30% of the sales of their work.

Video  | Photo Gallery

June and July - Unifour Artists - Paintings

Third Thursday Art Crawl – Reception July 18, 5pm-7:30pm

The Uni4Artists Association is a membership based group for supporters and artists in all mediums in the visual/graphic arts, with this purpose: To encourage and promote visual artists of the Unifour area and enhance the quality of life for everybody in the community through the arts. Uni4Artists meetings are evenings at the Hickory Museum of Art. Visit their website for more information: www.uni4artists.org

Video  | Photo Gallery  

August and September - Lee Keller - Paintings

Third Thursday Art Crawl – Reception September 19, 5pm-7:30pm

Lee Haigler Keller, native of Morganton, studied Fine Art at Western Piedmont Community College, then Fine Art and Graphic Design at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.  After 17 years working in the Occupational Therapy field, in 2015, she combined her love of art, animals and nature into her dream job.  Her commissioned dog portraits are very popular and are collected worldwide.  Canvas prints of her animal art can be found in major retailers including At Home Stores, Pier 1, Home Goods and TJ Maxx.  Lee states, “The goal of my art is to brighten a room, bring some smiles and honor the beauty, innocence, and best of all, humor in all of God’s creations”.

Video  | Photo Gallery 

October and November - Moni Hill - Paintings

Moni paints to pay attention, not just to a smart phone, not just to the busy schedule of her family, but to the wonderful world that still manages to adorn herself in magnificent colors, every day.  She paints to step away from the world, and to enter into the World.  Her paintings are inspired by a love of color, and her daily pursuit of joy.

Video  | Photo Gallery

December and January 2020 - Pat Flachbart - Paintings

Exploration and experimentation are the guiding forces in Pat’s life and work.  Her journey through life has taken her from St. Louis, Missouri to Paris, France, to Monterey County and the Sierra Foothills of California, and all the way to Hickory, NC.  Pat explores and experiments with oil painting, watercolor, acrylic, and her exquisite handmade paper.  Pat describes herself as a “hands-in and hands-on” artist.  Moving to North Carolina has provided a backdrop of the Western Carolina Mountains and the country roads of the Piedmont.  This environment lends itself to new attitudes and expressions in her work. Her work reflects her travels, home, love of nature and her interests in expression and experimentation.  She continuously attempts to step into the unknown and test new and innovating methods and materials – testing her patience and challenging what’s conventional.  Pat is proud to say “she paints outside the lines.”

Video  | Photo Gallery 

February and March - Burke Quilters Guild

The Burke Quilters Guild was organized in May 1988. The purpose of the guild is to preserve and promote the art of quilting and to provide opportunities for learning and sharing ideas through active programs of education and study. The guild supports the Burke County community thorough its Veteran’s quilt program and Wee Care Projects.

Video  | Photo Gallery

April and May - Derrick Chalfant

Derrick Chalfant resides in Hickory, NC. He is an untrained artist and identifies himself as a 'primitive modernist’. About five years ago the idea that art was 'supposed to be' or ‘needed to look a certain way’ was removed from his thinking and the mystery of creating art was made simple. When he paints, he is fascinated by how simple application of color to the canvas can transform the visual dynamic of a piece, bringing it to life. He is inspired by the colors and imagery that he sees in everyday life, others' paintings, music and performance. He looks forward to developing his craft as he learns something new from each piece and is excited to discover where this journey will take him, meeting people along the way who identify with his expression.

Video  | Photo Gallery

June and July - Nancy Hilliard Joyce  •   Nelson Brookshire

Nancy Hilliard Joyce was born in Greenville, South Carolina and was accepted into the Governor’s School for the Arts in Visual Art at the age of 16. For 5 years she served on the Board of Trustees at the Asheville Art Museum and was an active member of the River Arts District Association in Asheville, NC. Today, Nancy works primarily from her home studio in Concord, NC. She is passionate about giving back to children in need and regularly uses her art as a platform to raise money for charity and non-profit organizations.

Nelson Brookshire, a self-described folk artist, was born in Caldwell County, NC, in 1943. His only “formal” art training was in elementary school with Edith Carter, a well-respected teacher and leader in the arts in NC. In 1998 Nelson began to seriously consider ways to use paper as an art medium.  He ultimately decided to cut magazine paper and roll it into small tubes that he uses in a manner similar to mosaics to create his pictures. No paints of any kind are used. All colors appearing in his art are simply those found in magazines. Nelson and his wife live in The Village of Cedar Rock near Lenoir, NC.

Joyce: Video  | Brookshire: Video  | Photo Gallery  

August and September - Matt Strawn

Matthew Strawn became serious about creating art more than thirty years ago, after graduating from the Ringling School of Art in 1981. In the summer of 1991, he was approached by several artists with the idea of forming a cooperative gallery. With the help of the late artist Gail Moore, they organized the Foothills Visual Artist Guild, originally located in the former Lenoir Mall. This location was their ‘home’ for over 20 years. Matt works primarily in printmaking, specializing in etching. He also works in woodcut prints and paints in watercolor. His subject matter is primarily local scenery, architecture, landscapes and some portraits.

Video  | Photo Gallery 

October and November - Carol Turner – “To See Clearly”

Carol Turner paints to see clearly and interpret freely. Always interested in Art, visiting museums and galleries whenever possible as well as taking a class or two over the years, Carol finally began painting after retirement. She read how-to-paint books, participated in Open Studio and some workshops at the Hickory Museum of Art and joined the Watercolor Society of NC (now a signature member). Initially, documenting travel and selling that work through a local gallery were strong motivators. Now everything seems a possible subject. Her work includes figurative, still life, landscape and abstract, and she enjoys mixing various media. Her goal, far from achieved, is to simplify.

Video  | Photo Gallery

December and January 2019 - Uschi Jeffcoat 

Ursula Ann Jeffcoat, born in Germany, goes by her childhood nickname Uschi. She is German-American and finds her home in both cultures. Her watercolors typically are metaphors referencing the study of the natural world in relation to cultural patterns and perspectives. Uschi comes to us from Florence, SC.

Video  | Photo Gallery