A North Carolina Arts Road Less Traveled
by Anne Jenkins

An artist works in the studios at the back of  Buffalo Creek Gallery, Shelby

North Carolina justifiably boasts a healthy, active and invigorating arts scene. The whole state gets it - art is an established and respected industry there. The art trails along the Blue Ridge Highway are well known, as is the coast arts scene. This sometimes makes people forget the area around Charlotte. The city itself has a dazzling choice of the arts. But here's a hint - take the road less traveled and  enjoy a stimulating art experience.

Charlotte central plays host to numerous wonderful museums and art galleries. It would be hard to do justice to them in a short period of time - the Mint Museum of Craft and Design, the Mint Museum of Art (yes, it's in the old federal U.S. mint), the Afro-American Cultural Center and NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

One of N.Davidson's unusual benches

So, go out to the hip and happening neighborhood of NoDa…North Davidson street.  This funky little bit of art heaven has numerous attractions for a few hours of gallery hopping. There's art galleries, coffee shops, a cool book store, restaurants and the delightfully named "Salvador Deli & Market" with a bright Dali-take off painting melting down the outside. The whole place has a laid back feel and most of the buildings are painted in bright colors.

The neighborhood hosts a 1^st and 3^rd Friday gallery crawls and this is a lively time to visit when everything stays open until 10:00 p.m. The old neighborhood atmosphere is heightened with the presence of an old style fire station set squarely in the middle.

Center of the Earth Gallery

Across the road from Cabo Fish Taco restaurant you have a choice of three in a row. At The Art Preserve Gallery , a small intimate place alongside their framing shop, owner Jan Kinslowe is happy to spend time with you and you'll be warmly welcomed by Lolita, the gallery dog. Beet Contemporary Crafts and The Center of the Earth Gallery (CTE) are right next door. Beet sells mostly upmarket crafts. The CTE is a large 2 building modern gallery with innovative pieces. Even the benches provided outside these three galleries  are colorfully decorated in tile mosaic, a good place to recharge between the three galleries. 

Salvador Deli & Market in NoDa, Charlotte

The cheerful Salvador Deli is opposite the old fire house and at the next intersection there's the Green Rice Gallery and the new Boulevard at NoDa, both run by the same owners and filled with contemporary art. Just up from here is the theater opposite a cafe with an unusual name, The Smelly Cat. Around the corner Jaz Vincent is happy to chat while you visit his Real Eyes Bookstore and Cafe which is right next door is the unusual Canvas Monkey. The owners of Canvas Monkey, Rob Niccolai and Eddie Roderick, proudly claim it's a different store every time you visit - they have everything from fun art to tee-shirts.

Go explore this contemporary neighborhood filled with great art, fun art and good eats for a different city experience.

Ron Philbeck Pottery out in the country, Shelby

But you also need to get out of the city and experience the small town's imaginative offerings. Don't miss a trip to the country town of Shelby, just 45 minutes west of Charlotte. This historic old town has a marvelous central town square with the old courthouse majestically perched in the middle. Shelby bills itself as "The small, friendly, Southern town with lots of charm" and that pretty much sums it up.

Three Shelby artists at work.  Allen Griffin works in his studio.	Tawanna Padget prepares a pattern for a stain glass piece, Synergy Studios	Potter Ron Philbeck at work in his studio.

The town has a solid grouping of  local artists making the day trip a superb art experience. Nearly all the galleries and studios are within easy walking distance from the square with a couple of exceptions.

The Court house on the square in Shelby

There is an Annual Arts on the Square in April. This year it falls on April 26 and the artists booths in the square are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

There‘s also Alive After Five Free Concert Series from May-August every first and third Thursday evenings. You can get details of this and other art events throughout the year from the Cleveland County Arts Council. The council is located in the old post office on the square and they have converted the main hall in to a superb exhibit hall where they hold regular shows for all county artists.  The council hands out good maps showing the locations of the art galleries and studio.

Buffalo Creek Gallery

Buffalo Creek Gallery, Framers Master Gallery and Victorian Rose Studio & Gallery are clustered around the square. Back in 2006 a group of local artists got together and thus Buffalo Creek Gallery was born and now about 50 artists show their work here. They carry a wide range of art such as paintings , pottery, wood turned objects, textiles, jewelry and glass. Be sure to ask if any of the artists are working in the back studios. You can go through and watch them work.

Just around the corner from the square is Alley Quilts for all those interested in fiber art.

Artist Lynn Eskridge weaves at Synergy Studios

A block of so further down is home to a dynamic mix of artists at Synergy Studios.  Synergy Studios & Gallery is housed in an historic Coca Cola plant restored to resemble a lane of guild shops of old. The five artists , Lynn Roe, Susan Doggett, Tawanna Padgett, Lynn Eskridge and Rodney Roe, each work in a different medium - stained glass, basketry, fiber arts and ceramics.  A new painter will be joining them soon.

"We're all different personalities and have different art skills," Eskridge, the basket weaver said, "I guess that's why we all get along. It just works."

It obviously is working since they celebrate their fifth anniversary this spring. The group is welcoming and it is fascinating to watch them work and interact.  The old world feel with a modern touch is a brilliant concept to show case their art.

Farmers Market in Shelby

Next door to Synergy studios is the indoor farmers market. They have a range of seasonal vegetables and  fruits plus fruits, cakes and  huge  farm-fresh double-yolk eggs.  The very local cafe in the market,  aptly named The Market Cafe, serves up breakfast and lunch. They have filling daily specials and a great atmosphere. There are rumors about the building being sold and the farmers market relocating, which would be a shame. There's more good eating spots around Shelby, such the white table cloth restaurant, East 5 Restaurant or country cooking at Shelby Cafe, both located around the square.

A couple of blocks off the square is A. Griffin Pottery. He  restored an old auto repair shop into his gallery and studio. The light is marvelous with the  big industrial windows. He gives pottery lessons, produces his own special brand  of clay art and entertains his guests well.

Philbeck pottery, Shelby

It is worth the effort to take a short drive out of town to the Rob Philbeck Pottery or Philbeck Studios since his wife, Sarah, is an accomplished jewelry artist. Nestled in a gentle farm land their home and studios offer a wonderful glimpse in to the life of a professional artist. His studio and small show room are chock full of beautiful and functional pieces of pottery. He uses the  interesting technique of soda or salt firing. The soda or salt is introduced into the kiln towards the end of the firing. Philbeck said soda gives nice results. He said the colors seems brighter and creates an orange peel texture. The jewelry studio is not in full-time functioning mode at present while she pursues other interests.

One of the more unusual stops on your itinerary is just about three miles out of town - Owl's Eye Vineyard & Winery. Recently opened, and now open for tours to the public on Thursdays-Sundays. Enjoy a little tasting on this interesting final stop of your art tour. It's a good way to end a blissful day of art immersion.

Businesses information:

CHARLOTTE:

www.visitcharlotte.com

The Art Preserve, 3200A N. Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205 (704) 358-8882

Beet Contemporary Crafts,  3202A N. Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205 (704) 334-3558  www.beetonline.com

The Center of the Earth Gallery, 3204 N. Davidson St, Charlottte, NC 28205 (704) 375-5756 www.centeroftheearth.com

Cabo Fish Taco Baja Seagrill, 3201 N. Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205 (704) 332-8868

Salvador Deli & Market, 3215 N. Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205 (704) 334-2344

Green Rice Gallery, 451 E. 36^th St., Charlotte, NC 20285  (704) 344-0300 www.green-rice.com

The Boulevard at NoDa, 453 E. 36^th St, Charlotte, NC 28205. (704) 332-0142

Real Eyes Bookstore & Cafe, 3306 A N. Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205  (704) 377-8989

Canvas Monkey Art & Gifts, 3306-B N. Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205  (704) 335-1536  www.canvasmonkey.com

SHELBY:

Cleveland County Arts Council, 111 S. Washington St, Shelby, NC 28150 (704) 484-2787

www/ccartscouncil.org  Hours Mon-Fri 9-5

Buffalo Creek Gallery, 104 E. Warren St, Shelby, NC 28150 (704) 487-0256  www.buffalocreekgallery.com hours Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5

Framer Master Gallery, 105 W. Warren St, Shelby, NC 28150 (704) 481-8312 www.framermastersgallery.com hours Mon-Fri 9-5:30, Sat 10-4

Victorian Rose Studio & Gallery, 108 W. Warren St, Shelby, NC 28150 (704) 482-9360 www.Victorianroseweb.com hours Mon-Fri 9:30-5:30

Alley Quilts, 213 S. Trade St, Shelby, NC 28150 (704) 487-0010 Hours Mon-Fri 10-4 or by appointment

Synergy Studios & Gallery, 212-B W Warren St, Shelby, NC 28150 www.synergystudiosandgallery.com

Hours most week days 11-4 p.m.

Farmers Market, 200 W. Warren St, Shelby NC 28150

  - Harvest Fresh (704) 473-4626

  - Hamrick's Produce (704) 480-0905

5 East Restaurant, 5 E. Marion St, Shelby NC 28150 (704) 487-8266 www.5eastrestaurant.com

A. Griffin Pottery, 302 S. Lafayette St, Shelby, NC 28150 (704) 473-2070

Ron Philbeck Pottery, 757 Wallace Grove Rd, Shelby, NC 28150 (704)  480-6046 www.philbeckstudios.com   (located just off Hwy 18 N between Shelby & Fallston.)

Owl's Eye Vineyard & Winery, 1414 Metcalfe Rd, Shelby NC 28150 (704) 471-9196 Thu-Sat 12-6,

Sun 1-6   www.owlseyevineyard.com