Little Talks is back!
Karen Schaaf on watercolor art
October 20, 2022 6:00 - 7:30 pm

$15 for nonmembers
$10 for CAC&G members and students
FREE for children 18 and under

Tickets available at the button below, in person at the Bank of the Arts and over the phone at 252.638.2577


This October Little Talks will feature local watercolor artist Karen Noll Schaaf. Join her as she leads you through a discussion on the current WSNC 2022 National Exhibition currently on display in the Main Gallery. Learn more about the medium of watercolor and what goes into creating a competitive work from both an artist’s and juror’s perspective. An internationally award-winning artist and instructor, Karen has been awarded signature status in the National Watercolor Society, the Southern Watercolor Society, the Georgia Watercolor Society, and the Watercolor Society of North Carolina. She is currently featured in Splash 23: The Best of Watercolor magazine. Her painting Joculare is one of the works accepted into the current exhibition.

Painting by Karen Schaaf

Jill Eberle: Beyond Features Making Portraits

​Jill Eberle is a local painter known for her captivating portraits. She has a Master’s in Fine Arts from East Carolina University where she later taught many courses including painting, artistic anatomy, and drawing. Eberle’s work examines the results of human interactions – the consequences we, as humans, encounter by trying to balance our autonomy with the roles society assigns us, or our independent lives with our intimate ones. Jill Eberle believes that portraits tug at the treads of personal narratives, allowing stories to be recalled, rewoven, and contextualized. Jill will have several portraits on display in the Main Gallery for the Craven Arts Council’s exhibition Face to Face: Seeing Community in March.

Stephen Zawistowski on his process

Craven Arts Council & Gallery is proud to present the fourth Little Talks lecture in the Main Gallery at the Bank of the Arts. The upcoming Little Talks lecture will be given by Stephen Zawistowski, a local sculptor who will be discussing his creative process and the influence animals have on his work. ​Stephen Zawistowski of Stephen Z Metal Designs is a local artist who uses steel to create one of a kind pieces. The first time Stephen saw an ironworker forge two pieces of steel together he was immediately captivated and inspired to create work utilizing those same techniques.  He is heavily influenced by nature often finding inspiration from animals and creating metal sculptures of critters of all kinds. Instead of directly replicating nature, he instead reflects the essence of nature through his pieces. His piece Blue Crab is currently on display in the Critters Exhibition in the Main Gallery at the Bank of the Arts.

Toni and Sami Taglieri on the life and work of Willie Taglieri

The upcoming Little Talks lecture will be given by Toni Taglieri speaking about her father, Willie Taglieri, a well-known muralist in the area and whose work will be featured in the Main Gallery of the Bank of the Arts. Referred to as “New Bern’s painter laureate,” Willie Taglieri started as a police officer in New York City. He was known as the “world’s worst cop” during his two years of service due to the fact that he only gave out one ticket and never arrested anyone. New Bern residents will be familiar with his local murals including inside the Chelsea, on the side of Captain Ratty’s, and in the back of Poor Charlie’s Antique Market. Toni and Sami Taglieri will be discussing her father’s work as well as his life.

Lee Hood on Art Reproduction

​Our second lecturer will be Lee Hood, local artist known around town for both his work and the process with which he creates his work, painting outside. Lee Hood’s work has been featured in many local exhibitions, including exhibitions at the Bank of the Arts. Lee is an avid painter who often creates prints of his work. He will be discussing the process of reproducing work and creating prints of paintings at the Little Talks lecture. Visit Bank of the Arts or cravenarts.org to purchase your tickets. 

Ed Macomber on Art Restoration

The first lecturer will be Ed Macomber, President of the Twin River’s Artist Association, discussing techniques in art restoration. Known to many in New Bern as the original owner of the local artist supply store “Arts and Materials,” Ed Macomber’s work has been featured in local, regional, and national exhibitions. Working primarily in watercolor, Macomber’s paintings reflect both brilliance of color and discipline of line and brush stroke, which gives Ed’s art a unique style and verve. Macomber has been restoring artwork for many years and was recently commissioned by Craven County to restore a painting of the Earl of Craven.