HerStory
Main Gallery - February
HerStory seeks to highlight the female experience and what it means to be a woman, in the modern era and throughout history. The exhibition’s title is a play on words, conveying its intent to explore both “Her Story,” the personal narratives of women; and “HerStory,” the history of women and their roles through time through another lens.
Artists are asked to create work that ponders the issues that women have faced over time into the 21st Century. Artists may examine themes regarding the strength of women by creating artwork surrounding stereotypes, gender based violence, generational changes in roles, nurturing, resilience, beauty, health, wellness, and the light and the dark that makes up the essence of being female.
Artists are asked to create work that ponders the issues that women have faced over time into the 21st Century. Artists may examine themes regarding the strength of women by creating artwork surrounding stereotypes, gender based violence, generational changes in roles, nurturing, resilience, beauty, health, wellness, and the light and the dark that makes up the essence of being female.
Valentines Card Sale
Director's Gallery - January & February
Craven Arts Council and the Twin Rivers Artists Association are proud to present the 2023 Craven County Valentine’s Day Card Sale in the Director’s Gallery for the month of February 2023. Created by students in all grades in Craven County Schools, all proceeds are donated to Craven County art teachers for purchasing classroom supplies. This year’s sale will take place in the Director’s Gallery at Bank of the Arts for the month of February. Priced at $3.50 each, these affordable Valentines gifts help fund arts education in Craven County, by donating all proceeds for the purchase of art supplies. The cards were created by the public school students during their arts class, and include a wide range of grades, skill levels, and techniques. This year’s sale was made possible by funding and support from Craven Arts Council and Twin Rivers Artists Association, a local artist guild. The mission of both organizations believes in the importance of arts education, for students of all levels.
30 Years Later
Main Gallery - November 2022 - January 2023
Carol Tokarski and Jan Francoeur served as arts administrators in New Bern for many years in addition to working towards their own artistic pursuits. Jan Francoeur owned and operated Carolina Creations from 1989 to 2017. Carol Tokarski worked in nonprofit arts administration for decades, including serving as Executive Director at Craven Arts Council and Gallery for 13 years. Tokarski and Francoeur went to the same small college in Michigan, but did not know each other well until both moved to New Bern in 1989 and connected. Shortly after moving to New Bern they had a joint exhibition at the Banks of the Arts and now 30 years later, they’re exhibiting at the Bank of the Arts once again. Francoeur’s work in 30 Years Later is all about observations and painting what she loves such as gardens, architecture, travel and New Bern. This past year she experimented with a new medium, oil painting. Tokarski’s work focuses on utilizing rich colors and smooth blending to create energy and motion. She finds inspiration in nature, specifically her backyard where she paints the natural patterns she observes.
