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June Issue 2007
Birkdale Village in Huntersville, NC, Offers 3rd Carolina Folk Art Festival
The third annual Carolina Folk Art Festival, presented by Maddi's Gallery will be held June 9 & 10, 2007, on The Green at Birkdale Village in Huntersville, NC. Folk artists from eight different states will convene for the festival, which will run from 10am-6pm on Saturday, June 9 and from noon-6pm on Sunday, June 10. There is no charge to attend the festival.
More than 30 folk artists will display and offer for sale works in a wide variety of media, including: fiber, painting, wood carving and wood sculpture, jewelry, pottery, ceramic sculpture, metal work, glass mosaic, basketry, driftwood and gourd art.
"Many of these artists will travel a great distance to participate in this festival, and for some this will be their only appearance in the Carolinas this year," says Diane Sulg, festival organizer and co-owner of Maddi's Gallery. "We are so pleased that the festival is growing and attracting so many nationally recognized folk artists."
For anyone who is unsure what "folk art" is, Minnie Adkins, perhaps best known for her hand-carved twig roosters, provides a great introduction. As a child in Kentucky, Adkins taught herself to carve, but it wasn't until 1987 that she realized others might want to buy her work. Not only were others interested, but the demand was so high that her then-husband, Garland Linville Adkins, began carving as well. Together the two artists created some of the most sought-after folk art in the country. Adkins' work is included in almost every major folk art museum and collection in the United States. She now carves with her grandson, Greg Adkins, who will be coming to the Festival.
"People are developing a greater and greater appreciation for handmade items such as those featured at the Carolina Folk Art Festival," says Elsya Stockin, long-time member of the Mint Museum and incoming president of the Mint's Delhom Service League. (The Delhom Service League provides support for the ceramic collection brought to Charlotte by M. Mellany Delhom.) Stockin says that the festival is a great opportunity for even more people to gain exposure to the wide variety of personal expression found in Southern Folk Art. "They can view it, experience it, and even talk to the artists - all in a beautiful and relaxed outdoor setting."
The Carolina Folk Art Festival's 2007 artist roster includes: Minnie Adkins and Greg Adkins, KY, wood carving; Nancy Badgley, SC, fiber and painting; Lisa Black, NC, jewelry; Christy Buchanan, SC, painting; Kimberly Dawn Clayton, SC, painting; Kim Dean, GA, ceramic sculpture; Hal Dedmond, NC, pottery; Laura Duis, NC, painting; Darrell Ezekial, AL, painting and metal work; Karen Fincannon,GA, ceramic; Ann Finley, GA, jewelry; Paul Flack, GA, painting; Jennifer and Riley Foster, NC, metal; Theresa Gloster, NC, painting; Corine Guseman, NC, ceramic; Mike Hanning, FL, ceramic; Barbara Hudson, NC, gourd art; Tim and Lisa Klutzz, NC, painting; Jack Maness, NC, pottery; Noel Mays, SC, glass mosaic; Linda McGinnis, SC, pottery; Barbara Miller, NC, ceramic; Holly Minich, NC, jewelry; Anthony Pack, KS, wood sculpture; Deanna Penix, NC, basketry and gourd art; Terrell Powell, TX, painting and metal work; Kisha Rawlinson, NC, sweetgrass baskets; Amy Rice, SC, clay sculpture; John Sperry, GA, painting; Miz Thang, GA, painting; Kelly Thiel, SC, clay; Courtney Tomchik, NC, clay; Mark Williams, GA, pottery and Sandy Erickson Wright, GA, painting.
Maddi's Gallery was recently named "Best New Gallery" in the country by Niche Awards, the industry's equivalent of an Oscar. Locally, Maddi's won a "Big O" Award in 2007 for Shopping/Gifts (Critic's Pick - The Charlotte Observer). Created by Diane and Madis Sulg, Maddi's Gallery represents more than 750 American artists. The large inventory centers on fine American craft, artist-created jewelry and Southern folk art. Maddi's offers a wide selection of American-made glass, ceramics, fiber and metal items at virtually every price point. Maddi's Gallery first opened in 2002 at 1530 East Boulevard in Charlotte, NC. In 2004, the owners added a second store in Birkdale Village, Huntersville, that is managed by family members Michaella and Jon Dalton. In 2005 the Web site for Maddi's Gallery (www.maddisgallery.com) added an e-gallery to the site, offering direct sales on a global basis.
For further information check our NC Commercial Gallery listings, call 704/332-0007, 704/987-7777 or visit (www.maddisgallery.com).
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing
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Copyright© 2007 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston
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