ARTISTS GATHER FOR PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP
For gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts, the upcoming ‘spring’ season puts one in their step. For many area painters it’s ‘Plein Aire Spring Training’ time. That’s how renowned local artist Fen Rascoe describes the Plein Aire brush up workshop he recently conducted at the Chowan Arts Council.
Rascoe’s artistic prominence crosses state lines and the sessions drew artists from Virginia and other neighboring communities to have the opportunity to paint and polish techniques with Rascoe.
Possibly following in the brush strokes of Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, each a politician with an artistic flair, Chowan County Commissioner Larry McLaughlin and Edenton Mayor Hackney High attended the workshop, brushing up their Plein Air views.
“The week long class was designed to loosen up and to get in shape for the upcoming outdoor ‘plein aire’ season,” shared Rascoe. “Plein Air is French for painting outside from life where the subject matter is painted Alla Prima which is “wet on wet”.
Students are guided in the alla prima process completing an oil painting in a single session. The steps include applying fresh, wet paint over previous, still-wet layers. In Italian, "at first attempt" focuses on spontaneity, capturing immediate impressions, and bold, expressive brushwork.
Thanks to mother nature, the sessions were wet on wet as rain didn’t cooperate for a few of the days, so the course was simulated with outdoor scenes on a flat screen painting alla prima.
These workshops have brought out of town students to Edenton from Georgia, Maryland, Virginia to capture the area on canvas. McLaughlin regularly displays his work at the Chowan Gallery.
The next workshop will be in October titled “3rd Annual Fall Harvest Workshop” capturing the defoliated cotton, peanut bales and rusty cypress in Chowan and Bertie counties. For more information go to https://www.fenrascoe.com
PLAINLY MORE GOOD NEWS THAT FITS
TOO WET ON WET OUTSIDE, BRINGS PLEIN AIR peinture en atelier
HiBERNATION SEASON APPARENTLY OVER, EDENTON STREETS COME ALIVE WITH VISITORS AND LOCALS
FOSHE TAVERN DUEL HItS A BULLSEYE
TWO DAYS OF OLD THYME FUN, LICENSES AWARDED
Although the Tavern Dueling weekend just ended, the enjoyment and the memories of this first time Edenton event will linger, possibly long enough to schedule a second annual event next March.
Sponsored by the Friends of State Historic Sites Edenton, FOSHE President Allison Gottlieb and volunteer members, along with Edenton Historic State Site Manager Laura Rogers
organized the two day tavern duel. The group is receiving high-praise from everyone attending. Participating merchants reveled in the Dueling Tavern theme, donning costumes and preparing items complimenting the event. Think Guinness Beer Bread, Colonial Oatmeal Porter and Penelope Barker Punch.
The Bayside Bakery and Boards attracted a large crowd Friday night as the corner of E. King and S. Broad St. was packed with anxious bread samplers, enjoying the Guinness Beer Bread baker Heather Sexton created for the event. Patrick Sexton emulated times gone by when baker assistants would stand on street corners sampling snippets of bread enticing customers to venture inside and please their palates.Sexton provided samples for local tavern revelers, pulling out all of the stops and vintage attire for the evening. The bakery was shoulder to shoulder with dueling bakery enthusiasts vying for cream filled doughnuts and scones that complimented beer.
Not to be outdone by the neighboring bakers, Greybeard’s Cigar Bar proprietor Thomas Gardener, dressed in authentic tavern garb raised the tavern apron bar, ordering aprons authentically created out of the same styled cotton canvas material as original tavern aprons.
Brian Roberts entered Waterman’s in the duel, offering Colonial Oatmeal Porter along with a Penelope Barker Punch. Roberts would not divulge if anyone ordered both drinks and had a two fisted ‘dual’.
The highlight of the event and the weekend was the gathering at the James Iredell House. The sprawling lawn was the perfect pitch for Bocce and other lawn games. Inside the two taverns, period inspired drinks were enjoyed while there was much historical role play. While one tavern was filled with the smell of hops, the other wafted aromas of coffee brewing.
For participants collecting four merchant marks a reproduction of a wax sealed Tavern License was awarded.
While the event was enjoyed by many participants, raising glasses throughout the event, merchants also appeared to be having an enjoyable evening.. The merchants that participated attracted a crowd and contributed to the flavor and fun of the event.
Gilbert Stuart was putting brush to canvas at the Chowan Arts Council replicating a painting of President George Washington originally painted by Chowan County Commission Vice Chair Larry McLaughlin. The artist - McLaughlin - is a member of the CAC and his work hangs in the gallery. One of the highlights of the weekend was being able to enjoy the Iredell House and its bucolic setting. It was a perfect evening for a garden party in the midst of Dueling Taverns.
Preservation SEMINAR preview
Out with the new, in with the old
This past weekend, the Elizabeth Vann Moore Foundation and the Edenton Historical Commission with support from the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation hosted an extraordinary two day Preservation Conference where over 100 guests enjoyed learning of the preservation efforts taking place throughout town.
Entitled ‘Innovating Preservation in Small-Town America’ Executive Director Edenton Historical Commission Robet leath.
One hundred twenty five guests, both local and from around the country, will have the opportunity to hear preservationists speak on Edenton’s most respected historical projects. Executive Director, Edenton Historical Commission Robert Leath with coordination by Patti Mordecai, Director of Marketing, Development & Community Events, have a packed two day schedule of international and domestic speakers on key historical homes and structures in Edenton. Down East Preservation founder, Dawson Tyler; restoration contractor Andrew Ownbey; and Robert Leath will be speaking on historic properties that they have been deeply involved in restoring.
‘The seminar highlights how small towns can be real centers of innovation in historic preservation, and Edenton is leading the way,” said Robert. “Preservationists throughout the region want to see what we are accomplishing with Kadesh Church, Cupola House, and Hayes. And learn how it will benefit Edenton and its economy.”
Founded in 1712 as North Carolina’s first colonial capital, the first day of the conference will focus on two of NC earliest buildings, the 1758 Cupola House with original woodwork newly returned from the Brooklyn museum and the Kadesh AME Zion Church.
Day two will focus on Hayes Farm. Hayes has been the focus on investigations by a team of architectural and scientific experts with discoveries that will guide the property’s future restoration.
“It is an honor for Edenton to host international speakers focusing on Edenton at a national level,” said Robert. “Recent findings will be shared by 12 international speakers at this special two-day event.”
Tickets are sold-out however the April/May issue of the Edenton Social Light will feature the conference presentations. Edenton is honored to have such a distinguished group of scholars and historians meeting in Edenton to discuss its’ historical value to American history. This conference is Edenton’s introduction at a national level to the world of historic preservation.