BEST OF CHATHAM
ARTISTS UNITE BY KELLI RAINER AND ANNA-RHESA VERSOLA
O
pening an art gallery amid a pandemic may be the highest form of hope. “We are hardy souls,” says Beth Bale, board of directors president for Pittsboro Gallery of Arts. “It was such a risk. … [We thought], let’s just do this thing. Now’s the time, [even in] these crazy, COVID times.” The member-owned gallery supplants The Joyful Jewel; its retiring owner, Mariah Wheeler, encouraged Beth and other artists to take over the 2,000-square-foot space. The renovated gallery opened its doors last October but could not host a formal opening reception due to COVID-19 restrictions. Sales at the gallery have been successful despite limitations, including ongoing
construction at the traffic circle in downtown Pittsboro. Visitors can purchase pieces from 31 artists from Chatham and adjacent counties. Works on display include watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings; printmaking; photography; pen and ink drawing; pottery and ceramics; metalworks and jewelry; stained glass tile mosaics; and more. Gallery artists pay a monthly membership in addition to working two 3.5-hour shifts per month. Throughout the past year, Beth says artists met virtually and held only one outdoor meeting to minimize contact. Some have not yet met and were looking forward to returning to in-person meetings this fall.
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CHATHAM MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021
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