Shop Local this holiday season! Gift original and unique works of fine art created by our resident artists! Whether you're looking for a special piece for a loved one or something for yourself to finish a room in your own home, our resident artists are a great place to start your shopping.
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Phew! It's hot out! Happy Summer Solstice and stay tuned as we amp up... There is LOTS getting ready to POP! Read on for exciting updates...
…So many great updates in this issue! Click the link below to view the whole issue, with photos, online.
https://mailchi.mp/a2ea52d20729/2020-in-review-8446169
an outline of topics is below. But that doesn’t show you the great photos - !
If you’d like to be on our mailing list, just click the blue ‘subscribe’ button on our homepage!
Mural Update - Meet Owl
Facility Upgrades
Activity Ramping Up
Tri State Sculptors Conference at ClearWater (Oct.)
Keynote Speaker Confirmed: Stephen Hayes
Rent Our Spaces! Bring to Life a Community Event!
Call for Teachers / Event Coordinators / Volunteers!
Virtual Art Show Opening March 31!
You read that right, we are hosting our first art show Opening since the pandemic hit. We are continuing our partnership with theNorth Carolina Athletic Trainers Association(NCATA) to bring you a great virtual Opening & Artist Talk experience for Brain Injury Awareness Month. [Note, we arealsoworking on protocol that will allow us to admit in-person viewings soon, in the lower-level Greenway Gallery using a reservation system; stay tuned!] We are so excited about this and invite you to join us next Wednesday evening for WHAT LIES BENEATH: TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
Ellis at the Opening of "NC Women Abstract Painters," Greenhill Center for North Carolina Art, in Greensboro, NC. February 7, 2020. Photo by Henry Rock.
NEW E-NEWSLETTER FEATURE on tenant artist, Barbara Ellis and what 2020 has brought her: click bit-ly link below for whole article!
"I'm definitely at an inflection point in my process," says ClearWater tenant artist Barbara Ellis (BEllisArts) as she looks back on the surprise successes and other rewards that 2020 has delivered.
Learn more about how Barbara went through an unexpected artistic transformation this year and how she plans to move forward into "something quieter" in the latest issue of The Splash: bit.ly/splash-bellis
A new edition of The Splash is out now! Check out our feature on Tom Taggart (Taggart Art Studio) at bit.ly/splash-tom. Here's a preview of what you can expect...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
"Halloween came and went as quickly as October did, but for our only current resident sculptor, it was the busiest month of the year. Not only did he fill a large number of online orders, but he also shared 31 photos of 31 unique monsters for each day of the year’s spookiest month on his Instagram. Talk about busy! It's only natural that we think of Tom this time of year, considering his penchant for creepy creations, so we decided to meet up with him during one of his late nights in the studio to chat about where his signature style came from and if he has any plans to rest any time soon."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The past three years have been exceptional for our resident artist, Gordon C. James Fine Art and Illustration. In that time, he has experienced a meteoric rise to fame and nationally acclaimed success thanks to his children's book collaborations with Derrick Barnes and Vaunda Micheaux Nelson - both of which have earned him awards. Last month, Gordon's hot streak continued.
Read more about Gordon's incredible September, which included well-deserved awards and celebrity endorsements, in the latest issue of The Splash: bit.ly/splash-gordon
Never miss exciting updates like this by subscribing to our e-newsletter, The Splash, at bit.ly/splash-subscribe
Gordon in his ClearWater studio
Gordon’s latest collaboration with author Derrick Barnes, ‘I Am Every Good Thing,’ remained on the NYT Best-Sellers List for 3 weeks!
Jennifer Garner reading Gordon’s latest illustrated book, ‘I Am Every Good Thing’ which she streamed to several of her social media platforms.
We're so excited to welcome Jackie Ramdin (Jackie Rae Studios) back to her hometown of Concord and into studio 150, where she's working on fine art figure painting and rekindling her passion for fashion design.
She's been settling into her #ClearWater studio since August 1st, after launching a new website for her successful designer pillow business, JackieRaeStudios.com.
Read more about the latest addition to our ClearWater family in a brand-new issue of The Splash: bit.ly/splash-jackie
If you're not currently subscribed to The Splash and would like to receive our biweekly updates direct to your inbox, sign up now at bit.ly/splash-subscribe!
Jackie at her easel in her new Studio at ClearWater
Jackie at work on a ‘Fashion Painting’
Jackie’s painting tools in her studio
Artists need space to be comfortable, creative, and to explore new ideas. That's exactly why CHD:WCK! came to ClearWater back in July, after renting a shared space in Charlotte for several years.
Now, this talented artist has all the space he needs for his painting , photography , and other unique projects.
Learn more about CHD:WCK! in our recent issue of The Splash: bit.ly/splash-chdwck!
CHD:WCK in his new studio at ClearWater
Our facility may be closed to the public during the pandemic, but that doesn't mean we haven't been busy over at ClearWater!
Read all about what we've been up to and more in the latest issue of The Splash: bit.ly/splash-covid
If you like what you see, be sure to subscribe! We'll send updates directly to your inbox. bit.ly/splash-subscribe
Issues are available weekly throughout August then bi-weekly starting September 9.
Artists Kevin Harris (Left), Ric Erkes, center, and Julia Lawing, right, in their ClearWater Studios. Erkes is shown in the studio leased by the Southern Piedmont Woodturners Club, of which he is the current Vice President.
Several news features covered ClearWater tenant, Kevin Harris and his commission by Cabarrus County, this July & August, to not only paint a painting of the new (to-be-built) Courthouse, but to also live-paint on that painting, on site at the officila Ground-Breaking celebratory ceremony on August 6th! See the various headlines and links below; and, if you haven’t see the shares on social media be sure to check our IG and FaceBook pages.
Cabarrus County TV Interview
[From the ClearWater FaceBook post of Aug. 6, 2020]
Cabarrus County Government stopped by to interview Artist Kevin Harris yesterday ahead of today's Cabarrus County Courthouse Virtual Groundbreaking Ceremony!
If you haven't heard yet, Kevin will be performing a live painting during this historic event, adding 'living action' to that painting of the new courthouse you see nearly finished behind him. Tune in today (August 6) at 4:30pm at the event link above, where you can watch a live stream of him putting the finishing touches on this one-of-a-kind work of art.
Plus, be sure to catch "Cabarrus This Week" (CTW) this Sunday on the County's Community Access channel on live TV cable, and/or thereafter at their YouTube channel, to watch Kevin's exclusive interview.
We are so proud of our tenant!!!
[From the FaceBook post of August 10] Extra, extra, read all about Kevin's live painting performance on the front page of Sunday's Independent Tribune!
We are so proud of our tenant Artist Kevin Harris for all the work he did to make this special event a reality and for creating such a phenomenal work of art. And thank you to Victoria Young for such a wonderful feature.
Read the Independent Tribune article here: bit.ly/it-kevin
The Splash is back!
While it's true that it has been a while since we sent out an issue of our e-newsletter, The Splash, that doesn't mean that ClearWater has been stagnant. On the contrary, we've been busier than ever!
See for yourself in this week's issue at bit.ly/splash-is-back.
Like what you see? Feel free to subscribe to our updates at bit.ly/splash-subscribe!
ClearWater artists and their work, framing the COVID-19 message on our animated sign that sits along the Kerr Street edge of campus.
Clockwise from upper right: dyed fabric pieces by textile artist and Surface Designer, Sunya Folayan; potter Nancy Bibby glazing works in her studio; Painter, illustrator and graphic artist Walter Stanford discussing pastels in his studio; painter Louise Farley showing a visitor recent paintings; a platter by Bob Moffet, member of the Southern Piedmont Woodturners; and Abstract Expressionist painter Barbara Ellis working big, on the Gallery floor outside her studio.
ClearWater Arts Center & Studios was the focus of an in-depth article by Tribune reporter, Adam Thompson.
We are reaching out to media as we celebrate 10 years since renovations converted these buildings into art spaces and studios; the 50th anniversary of our recently-moved-in tenant, the Cabarrus Art Guild; and 100 years since the construction of our oldest building and the start of this site as a site serving the City of Concord!
Click on the link below to see the article and Adam’s photos.
Click for the PDF version of this Release
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 1/24/2020
Headline: ClearWater Arts Center and Studios and Cabarrus Art Guild Mark Milestone Year With Annual Spring 2020 Judged Show
Concord, North Carolina: ClearWater Arts Center and Studios is pleased to announce its collaboration with its newest tenant—the Cabarrus Art Guild –to host the Guild’s Annual Spring 2020 Judged Show. This comes as the City facility celebrates one-hundred years of existence and ten years of being a renovated space, where art is spoken.
The Annual Spring 2020 Judged Show, to be held in ClearWater’s Main Gallery from February 9th to March 26th, 2020, is open to artists residing in Cabarrus and surrounding counties; see the Guild’s website, www.cabarrusartguild.org for the Call for Entries/ Prospectus. Intake dates are Feb. 7th and 8th, 2020, at ClearWater.
The Show will hold its opening reception and awards ceremony in the Main Gallery on Sunday, February 9th, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Works by Guild Members are on view until March 2020 in the other, lower-level Greenway Gallery. Until February 6th, the ClearWater Main Gallery is showing works by its talented individual Tenant Artists (learn about Tenant Artists on the ‘Artists’ page at www.clearwaterartists.com).
This show is free and open to the public during open hours or by appointment. Call the ClearWater Office at 704-784-9535, or find more info at www.clearwaterartists.com.
2020 brings not only the Judged Show available for viewing in Clearwater’s Main Gallery from February 9th to March 26th, 2020, but milestones for both organizations. The Guild is celebrating 50 years as one of Concord and Cabarrus County’s longest-standing art organizations, continuously operating as a 501-C3 non-profit.
The City of Concord recognizes that the ClearWater facility itself has been erected for one-hundred years as of 2020, as it began as the City Water Works building in 1920. It also marks ten years since the City’s first round of renovations transformed the building into an art studio, public gallery and event space. 2020 will bring new opportunities for artists, visitors, and community members — more information to follow at a later date.
*** Media Advisory for February 9th to follow at later date ***
For Immediate Release: Date: October 10, 2019
CONTACT: Sarah Gay, Manager of ClearWater Artist Studios; 704-784-9535 or clearwatermgr@gmail.com OR: TEXT Dr. Wanda Jenkins, Artist, 704-425-4850
PDF version of this Press Release
LOCAL RETIRED OB-GYN DOCTOR NOW DELIVERS PAINTINGS, NOT BABIES
Dr. Wanda Jenkins, an Obstetrician and Gynecologist in Concord for 20+ years, took care of many women in her practice, and delivered thousands of babies. She is a native of Concord. Having painted occasionally during her professional years as an OB/Gyn., in retirement she has actively explored color and texture in landscapes, florals, and abstracts, predominantly using oil paints. She has studied with various expert artists through the years, and is inspired partly by her Grandmother’s career in painting.
‘Adventures in Color’ will be on view in ClearWater’s Main Gallery, Nov. 2, 2019- Jan. 5, 2020. Address: 223 Crowell Drive NW, Concord, NC 28025.
Dr. Jenkins is partnering with ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, which seeks out local talent for its ‘Guest Artist’ shows. Her solo art exhibit in the Main Gallery will feature over 40 of her paintings. The show will also feature her Dichroic glass freehand jewelry sets. All works are for sale unless otherwise noted.
The public is invited to an Opening Reception, with Dr. Jenkins’ Artist Talk, on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 4:00-6:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public.
Come and hear this dynamic and energetic woman discuss her inspirations and approach.
Dr. Jenkins said, “I believe strongly in the emphasis on art that ClearWater represents; and I am excited that the 20% commission on any painting sold in the ClearWater Gallery during the Adventures in Color show, will go toward realizing the vision that ClearWater signifies for this community.”
Free parking is available in ClearWater’s three parking lots. See the campus site plan at www.clearwaterartists.com, on the ‘Our Space’ page (Click the large black button).
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ClearWater Arts Center & Studios is located in Gibson Village, less than a mile from Historic Downtown Concord, at 223 Crowell Drive NW. 14 artists and the Southern Piedmont Woodturners chapter lease working studios. Its Gallery is open to the public most weekdays, Noon-5pm; every 2nd Saturday with some exceptions, 10am-4pm; or by appointment. The Gallery, outdoor Green, and covered Market space are available to rent for private events. For details, see clearwaterartists.com; or call704-784-9535.
For Immediate Release
Click here for the PDF copy of this—-
May 14, 2019
CONCORD, NC -- ClearWater Artist Studios and the City of Concord, NC are excited to announce a new video, crafted as a dynamic introduction to the Studios & art center, which are open to the public.
Johny Walker, videographer & owner of Blue Label Visuals in Charlotte, worked closely with Sarah Gay, Manager of ClearWater for the City’s Planning & Neighborhood Development Department, to create the 4-minute video. It illustrates just some of the exceptional talent to be found in the tenant artists, as well as the variety of events and opportunities available for the community to share in.
We hope you enjoy, and -- please share as widely as possible!
This video can be accessed on the website, FaceBook, InstaGram (IGTV), and NextDoor platforms of ClearWater Artist Studios. Some may take a few days to work out upload glitches.
This link goes straight to the video on the YouTube channel of ClearWater Artist Studios.
NOTE - The YouTube version can look grainy, if you don't set your resolution settings to HD within your device/ YouTube window.The video is HD, so it can handle playing that high if you have the internet speed for it. Apparently this must be set at the viewer's end.
Please feel free to call or email Sarah with any questions;
704-784-9535 or gays@concordnc.gov (also clearwatermgr@gmail.com).
Thank you—
ClearWater is becoming; It is a place where...
Artists find community with other artists;
The Community finds artists and access to art;
Artists, and the Community find ways to interact, discuss, and be inspired to new (creative) ways of thinking.
CLEARWATER Arts Center & Studios lies in the Gibson Village Neighborhood, less than a mile from Historic Downtown Concord, NC.
Open for drop-in: Wednesday-Friday 12:00-5:00pm; Saturdays, 10a.m. - 2p.m.
ClearWater Arts Center & Studios
223 Crowell Drive NW
Concord, NC 28025
Sarah Gay, ClearWater Coordinator
PLEASE NOTE NEW PHONE NUMBER (Fall 2022):
704.920-6600 (ofc. land line)
City Email: gays_at_concordnc.gov
This project is supported by a grant from the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency, and the Cabarrus Arts Council.
