Gaining Popularity...painting en plein air

 

Lisa Bisbee painting Baxter's Building

 


Painter Chris Wagner

 

Painter Lee Hood



Downtown New Bern’s development as a cultural arts center with galleries, museums, a theater, artwalks and other cultural events is attracting entrepreneurs/artists in growing numbers.  Gaining in popularity are artists gathering downtown to paint en plein air,  a French expression for painting “in the open air”.

Lisa Bisbee, a local artist/entrepreneur has been an ambassador for our downtown and for painting en plein air since she moved here a year or so ago. Every Saturday morning she sets up her easel on the sidewalk in front of New Bern ArtWorks & Co. on Pollock Street. As she sketches and paints, she engages visitors and residents in conversations about her work, downtown happenings, where they are from, places to go and things to see and do.  She said it is amazing how many visitors she meets from all across the country and foreign countries. 



Painter Lisa Bisbee
Photo by Robert Hennon



Lisa Bisbee's Artwork

Her enthusiasm has set the tone. More and more artists are joining her and adding to the ambiance and sense of place by setting up their easels every Saturday morning.

An invitation is extended to all artists who want to participate in this Saturday morning 10 a.m. – noon, downtown happening, painting  street scenes and chatting with the public.   It’s easy, it’s fun, it’s a great way to meet fellow artists, showcase your talents and meet interesting people.…just bring sketchbooks, watercolors or pigments of choice and gather on the 300 block of  Pollock and corner of Pollock Street and Middle Street. It’s a great way to spend a Saturday morning and enhance the culture of downtown New Bern.

For more information, call Craven Arts Council at 252-638-2577. 

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

New Bern's Cultural Center...a sampling of downtown happenings!

Bank of the Arts Gallery

Bank of the Arts Gallery

 ART

Bank of the Arts Gallery

On May 8, the Bank of the Arts opened with a gallery filled with a wonderful array of art…paintings, pastels, drawings, pottery, photography, fiber, fine arts, weaving, basketry, graphics, wood, glass and mixed media. More than 120 artists throughout the region submitted media to the Bank of the Arts' 11^th Annual Juried Art Show competing for $5,000 in awards. The Show is sponsored by the Craven Arts Council & Gallery and the Twin Rivers Art Association. For more information read Luminary May 2012.

If you missed this one day only market, don’t despair. The exhibit opens during ARTWALK, with an Artist’s Reception on Friday May 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. and runs through June 28.

ARTWALK,  held the 2^nd Friday of every other month, offers 13 art venues…a mix of galleries, restaurants and shops.  

THEATRE

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a Tony nominated musical comedy centers on two con men in the French Riviera featuring the memorable songs Give Them What They Want and Love In My Legs. New Bern Civic Theatre in collaboration with the Rivertowne Ballroom, offers performances May 11, 12, 18, 19 at 8 p.m. and May 13 at 2 p.m. Tickets $17 in advance, $19 at the door. For more information go to newberncivictheatre.org.

The River Towne Players bring Noel Cowards, Blithe Spirit to the stage in the Masonic Theatre May 18, 19, 25, 26 at 8 pm., May 20 and 27 at 3 p.m. Written as an escape for the people in Great Britain during the war, this comedy conjures up laughs at the expense of novelist Charles Condomine. Tickets $12 in advance $15 at the door. For more information call 638-2577.

MUSIC

JOEL MABUS - a maverick in the folk art world, has been a mainstay on the folk circuit for the past 30 years with 20 albums to his credit. He will perform at the Trent River Coffee Company on May 18, 8 p.m., $15 general, $12 members, $8 students. For more information call 633-6444.

Twenty Songs For 25 Years – Voci Allegre, New Bern’s longest-running and continuously performing vocal ensemble, is celebrating its 25^th year with an anniversary concert at the Bank of the Arts, Friday, May 25 at 6 pm. The concert features favorites spanning a broad range of musical genres and periods from Renaissance madrigals to art songs, to folk and patriotic tunes to Broadway and movie themes. The concert is free…contributions are accepted and may be made to the CAC&G (Craven Arts Council & Gallery).

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director