A PORTRAIT by Janet Dixon
Director's Gallery - December 2020

Janet Dixon is a local artist in New Bern who typically works in watercolor and oil. She has participated in numerous exhibits at the Bank of the Arts and Eastern North Carolina. This series entitled A Vessel’s Outpouring uses collage paper consisting of Christmas cards, stamps and photographs to create dynamic images of the face of Christ. Each piece is designated by year and only consists of materials from that given year. Dixon hopes that viewers will engage with each piece and find something moving and meaningful within.
2015 by Janet Dixon

Critters
Main Gallery - November and December of 2020

Craven Arts Council & Gallery is proud to present “Critters” in the Main Gallery at Bank of the Arts for the months of November and December. This exhibition features local artists and will display artwork where the subject is animals of all types. Craven Arts Council & Gallery will host an opening reception during the downtown New Bern ArtWalk on December 11th from 5:00 – 8:00 pm.
Now an annual tradition, Critters gives the community a chance to view and purchase art about the creatures we love and cherish. “Critters” celebrates all creatures that walk, wiggle, fly, swim or slither. The exhibition highlights local artists’ depictions of animals of all sorts, in mediums ranging from photography to painting, and sculpture to ceramics.  Artists include Michaele Rose Watson, Susan Lovett, Steve Zawistowski, and Laura Gammons. All work displayed in the exhibition will be for sale.
Waiting For You - Blenheim by Brenda Gear

Pandemic Series by Michael Dorsey
Director's Gallery - November 2020

Michael Dorsey is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Art and Design at East Carolina University. He was Dean of that School from 1991 to 2003. Dorsey is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and the first President and founding member of the Mississippi Watercolor Society. He has exhibited in more than 400 exhibitions and has works in public and private collections in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan and New Zealand.
The artwork in this show are monochrome drawings, achromatic studies and paintings of limited color. Michael Dorsey stated “I felt it important to limit my color in this series of wash studies to evoke a primal impression for the viewer. I believe in these pieces and respect their commitment to our current situation. They were created with a desire to be as direct as possible.”  ​
A Dogmatic, Virus Detector by Michael Dorsey

Mum's the Word
Main Gallery - October 2020

Draw, paint, photograph, or collage your best chrysanthemum for the Mum's the Word exhibition this October! As part of the 2020 New Bern Mumfest, Craven Arts Council will host the annual "Mum's the Word" exhibition and art contest. Entries will be reviewed by a members from the Mumfest planning committee and one winner's artwork will be selected for the 2021 Mumfest banner. 
2020 "Mum's the Word" Winner
and Logo for the 2021 Mumfest:
Joy of Fall Flowers by Heidi Dibella

Brandy Baxter
​Director's Gallery - October 2020

​Brandy Baxter was born and raised in Pamlico County, where she discovered her love for painting and drawing.  She pursued her Associates in Fine Arts at Craven Community College and has continued her practice since. She is an active artist within the New Bern Community.  Her work has been featured at Greater Good Gallery, The Gallery on Craven Co-op, StarDust Gallery and now the Craven Arts Council & Gallery.  Brandy now works as a tattoo artist at Lucky Street Tattoos where she showcases her talent in yet another form.  “My inspirations come from many different sources, mainly music, but also the world around me.” ​
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Lee Hood
Director's Gallery - September 2020

​Lee Hood is a local artist known for his community outreach and mentorship to other artists. He holds painting parties in his studio and helped to organize the Juneteenth 2019 exhibit here at the Bank of the Arts. This exhibition will consist of twenty-eight 20” x 20” paintings of storefronts in Downtown New Bern. These original paintings will come together to show an overall image of downtown, but also act as stand alone pieces. ​
Coffee Shop by Lee Hood

Point of View by Vicki Vitale
​Directors Gallery - August 2020

Craven Arts Council & Gallery is pleased to present the “Point-of-View” series by artist Vicki Vitale in the Director’s Gallery for the month of August.  The exhibit will feature one hundred 6” x 6” abstract paintings. Craven Arts will host an opening reception for the exhibition during the downtown New Bern ArtWalk on August 14th, from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Each painting in this series was created using numerous layers of oil/mixed media and cold wax on cradled wood panels. The numerous layers of different paints, cold wax, stenciling and a variety of markings offer a quasi-3D effect to each individual abstract painting. Vicki gained a passion for this form of abstract expressionism after attending Lisa Boardwine’s workshop where the renowned artist and teacher taught this particular form of creative artistry. Vicki appreciates the freedom of expressing her inspiration with this new form of creativity that elicits different interpretations from all of her viewers.

2020 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition
Main Gallery - August and September of 2020

The 2020 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition offers $5,000 in awards, including the $1,500 CAC&G Permanent Collection Purchase Award. The show’s juror will be Brandon Cordrey, Executive Director of Visual Art Exchange (VAE) Raleigh, a contemporary art space in North Carolina’s capital. Before becoming Executive Director, Brandon was VAE’s Director of Exhibitions, and has worked for Flanders Gallery, Arts Access, CAM Raleigh, and the Greenville Museum of Art.
This year’s exhibition will also continue the “Ekphrastic Poetry Competition” that has been so well received in previous years.  Poets will create original compositions inspired by the artwork in the exhibition, with awards and readings during the September 11th ArtWalk Reception.  This year’s poetry juror will be North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green.  ​
​Nigella by David McCrae