By By EDWIN MODLIN II
Staff Writer
More than two dozen artisans associated with the Inner Banks Artisans Center will display their works of art and much more in the lobby of the Turnage Theater from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday.
“The artists will show off their photography, oil paintings, watercolor paintings, jewelry, glass works, acrylic and more,” Jan Paysour, manager of the Inner Banks Artisans Center, said. “And, plus, it’s a great way to kick off Music in the Streets.”
Paysour said some of the artisans’ pieces will be displayed in the Riverwalk Gallery, too..
Scotty Henley, executive director of the Turnage Theaters Foundation, said the public, at its leisure, may view the artwork in the theater’s lobby during the rest of the month.
“We are having a continuing effort to have a rotating art gallery every month,” Henley said.
He said the North Carolina Watercolor Society will have a regional show at the theater in September, with the winner of the that show advancing to a national show.
The Turnage Theater allows local artists to use its lobby as an art gallery so the public may view artwork by area artists.
“We are looking to have different artwork in here every month,” Henley said. “We also want to get some participation from East Carolina (University’s) art school program. However, we have to wait and get word from the professors, first. It’s mainly for ECU art students to have another venue for their art presentations.”
According to Henley, artists showing their work at the theater set the prices for their artwork and donate 10 percent of their sales to the Turnage Theaters Foundation.
“That way, each and every artist will help benefit the Turnage Theater,” Henley said.
Other displays in the theater’s lobby are planned by Long Leaf Gallery in October and Greenville Brushstrokes in November.
Artisans showing their artwork Friday and for the rest of the month include Barbara Geesey, Steve Orr, Linda Griffin, Bob Pittman, Linda Evans, M.J. Peters, Sharon Ryan Backman, Pat Holscher, Dan Hart, Doris Schneider, Ray Sobel, Nancy Scoble, Susan Owens, Dan Nelson, Louise Sharpless, Jan Paysour, Kay Woolard, Jerry Bradley, Bailey Phelps, Pat Boyd, M.L. Barbani, Dottie Walker, B.J. Heller, Jan Lamoreaux, Mary Kay Whelan, Sue Beck, Betsey Leech, Diane Lee, Rich Daniels, Irene Bailey, Dewey Funkhouser, Jayne Nace, Betty Bonner Bradshaw, Betsy Reid and Larry Boyd.