home. And it’s not for nothing that he has thirty years of experience in publicity and marketing: “I understand color, balance and scale,” he says. The affiliation with Southern Pines/Pinehurst holds another attraction, similar to Pebble Beach, where Bill lectures, socializes and paints golfscapes — obvious high-end souvenirs. His furniture line, however, is priced mid-range. Jacquard fabrics on the upholstered pieces interpret his paintings. He suggested pine cone and dogwood motifs — “a rich cottage feel” in wide-plank head and footboards; the dining table has gun-and-Bible drawers, common in the days when the father might defend his family during a mealtime attack or read scripture at Sunday dinner. Drawers now store cutlery and table linens. Southern touches like piecrust table tops and zinc sideboard surfaces continue the authenticity. Bill named pieces from the Southern Pines line Weymouth, Pinebluff, Whispering Pines, Loblolly, Westend, Forest Creek and Pine Needles. If Carolina Preserves scored a home run, Southern Pines has been a grand slam at showrooms, Bill says. The collection hit the retail market this month. The Mangum touch has also been licensed to other companies producing occasional tables, nightstands and rugs. His revamped Greensboro The Art & Soul of Greensboro
gallery, in a suburban strip center, is staged to illustrate how his paintings blend with the furniture. “Bill has been very fortunate to make a living [with his art] and also make an impact on Greensboro [with his charitable works],” says long-time assistant Joy Ross. Tall, lanky, soft-spoken, intense, Bill doesn’t fit the artsy stereotype. He appreciates being known for business acumen, also as a promoter, on canvas and in wood, of his home state. “I would starve to death in New Mexico,” Bill says. “North Carolina is an artist’s paradise — the colors, the diversity of topography and four seasons. I adore my state and capture it in every way possible.” OH William Mangum’s Greensboro gallery is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his art career until June 20 with a show that features seventy original works of art, Mangum’s new line of furniture and a tour of his revamped gallery. William Mangum Fine Art, 2146 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro. Info: (336) 379-9200 or williammangum.com Anyone who’s tasted them is urging Deborah Salomon to introduce her own line of baked goods. We suggest she call them Ms. Debbie Cakes. June 2015
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