Southport Magazine

What: Spring Art Show
When: March 3rd through 22nd
Reception: Fri., March 7th, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Franklin Square Gallery
130 E. West St., Southport
Cost: FREE
Info: www.franklinsquaregallery.com

On the first Friday of every month, a handful of Southport’s art galleries open their doors after hours for a public Gallery Walk. As a self-guided tour, participants can peruse the varied works of several local and regional artists, from painting and photography to ceramics and wood carvings, among many other mediums. During the First Friday Southport Gallery Walk, many venues offer hors d’oeuvres and beverages as part of the welcoming atmosphere.

From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 7th, folks can join in this month’s gallery walk, including Art at 211 The Ricky Evans Gallery (211 N. Howe Street), Lantana’s Gallery and Fine Gifts (113 S. Howe Street), Silver Coast Winery Tasting Room (105 S. Howe Street), and Howe Outrageous Art Gallery and Marketplace (307 N. Howe Street).

At Franklin Square Gallery (130 E. West Street), guests will be able to enjoy the opening reception of the annual Spring Art Show. Each entrant submitted one or two works, either two-dimensional or three-dimensional, on February 28th. Every work, from either members of the Associated Artists of Southport or regional artists, was accepted and will be for sale during the display, which ends March 22nd. Paintings and other two-dimensional pieces will be judged for prizes by Kate Worm, an artist who works in watercolor/gouache and oils on canvas.

“She will be giving an oil painting workshop [March 3rd through 5th],” Dot Moore, this year’s Spring Art Show chair, explains. “Many layers of oil paint will be applied, and sometimes some will be removed, to unveil dark/light patterns.  Her work is luscious because of the different techniques she uses.”

Worm’s art is on display in five North Carolina galleries as well as many major public collections, including Hickory Museum of Art, Bank of America in Charlotte, City of Winston-Salem, RJR/Nabisco, and Sara Lee. Worm has been the Art Consultant for the Enola Group Service for Developmentally Disabled Adult Artists for 15 years and has been the High School/Adult Educator at the Hickory Museum of Art in North Carolina since 2003.

Three-dimensional works, limited to sculptures and pottery, will be juried by Denise Bramley, who served as the pottery instructor for the Greenville Parks and Recreation Department from 2003 to 2007. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ceramics and art education from East Carolina University, Bramley worked at Ben Owen Pottery, a regionally renowned studio in Seagrove, NC.

“Denise Bramley gives many pottery workshops and lessons in Wilmington, and continues to make her signature totems and colorful, functional wares,” Moore adds.

In both categories, first-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded on the night of the opening reception. Merit and honorable mention awards will be given at the judges’ discretions, as well.

Of course, what would a reception be without refreshments? “We always have wine and a variety of delicious finger foods and sweets—something for everyone’s taste,” Moore assures.

Franklin Square Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Spring Art Show will be on display from Monday, March 3rd through Saturday, March 22nd. The opening reception is open to the public, and each work will be for sale. For more information, call the gallery at (910) 457-5450 or visit www.FranklinSquareGallery.com.