The Carolina Artists guild’s monthly meeting will be on Thursday, Aug. 20, at St. John’s Lutheran Church Faith Center, 100 N. Jackson Street entrance. The doors open at 6:15 p.m., and the meeting starts at 6:45 p.m. Guests are welcome to attend.
The Carolina Artists are excited to welcome Ruben Watson, owner of Zawadi Investments, as the guest speaker. Watson is the latest addition to The Carolina Artists family and is actively assisting the group with officially launching Project Dream 2030. Watson will be sharing exciting details about fundraising through the generosity of community donors, grants and the official launch of Project Dream 2030 at the opening reception of The Carolina Artists Art Expo on Sept. 15, from 5-8 p.m. at the Salisbury Civic Center. Advance donations can be made on our website.
The Carolina Artists guild will soon reach its 40th birthday and the members have chosen 2026 as the year to seriously focus on the longtime dream of securing a building to call home. A location where the artists can have gallery space, a gift shop, studio and class space to create a community art center. Project Dream 2030 will be an active collaboration with community support to create a place to create, learn, exhibit, connect and inspire artists of all ages.
The Carolina Artists would like to invite the public to several upcoming events scheduled to offer interactive art and photography experiences in the community.
The Piedmont Perspective Visual Arts Expo will be Aug. 22-23 at the Rowan County Events Center, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Local and regional visual artists and photographers will exhibit and offer their work to art lovers in individual studio spaces. This is a collaboration between Rowan County Parks and Recreation and The Carolina Artists. Some artists will be creating live painting and art demos. Cherrathee Hager will be creating an original painting during the event and attendees will have the opportunity to win the painting. This event is free to the public. Individuals, groups and youth are welcome. Contact Jeremy Bates at 704-216-7785 or text Cherrathee Hager with questions.
The highlight of the year will be The Carolina Artists 38th Annual Art Expo Show and Sale. The event opens Sept. 15 with the highly anticipated opening reception and artist awards from 5-8 p.m. at the Salisbury Civic Center. The show will continue daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Sept. 19. The 2026 Expo has several exciting features you do not want to miss, including a huge Project Dream 2030 announcement that will benefit the community:
• Guest artist Kendrick Jobe will be painting opening night at the awards reception on Sept. 15, 5-8 p.m.
• Artist awards presentation
• Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite art and choose their People’s Choice award.
• The Artists Showcase Gift Shop will by back by popular demand and open throughout the show.
• A fun feature to save memories from the show and to share with friends will be the “I’m in an Artistic Frame Of Mind” selfie booth.
• Artists will be demonstrating live throughout the show in the main gallery.
• Coloring pages for young artists
The Expo is a members-only judged show and sale. The 2025 event featured more than 300 original pieces of art, photography and sculpture in the main gallery. This event is free to the public.
Artists will participate at the 51st Historic Salisbury Foundation October Tour, Oct. 10-11. Original art will be available and artists paint live at the event.
Guest artist American impressionist Craig Richards will be offering a two-day on-location painting en plein air workshop on Oct. 24-25. The workshop is open to all artists and welcomes artists from experienced beginner to advanced. Space is limited to only ten students. Contact Hager for additional information and registration.
The satellite gallery triple art exhibit featuring local acrylic artist Donna Van Valkenburg and photographers Brian Keith Holiday and Robert Coleman is currently open to the public daily at the Mean Mug Coffee Company, 110 N. Main St. in Salisbury. The exhibit will feature a variety of bright and beautiful paintings and a collection of stunning and unique local and North Carolina photography. Our local satellite galleries spotlight and support the guild’s artists and also promote local businesses.
The Carolina Artists guild members are excited about exhibiting their artwork in the community and are expanding the opportunity to show their artwork throughout the year through public art events and the Downtown Art Crawl Sidewalk Sales the last Friday of each month from 5-7 p.m.
Fall will be arriving soon, and is the perfect time to register for the new art classes offered Dr. Mary Louise Hooper:
• Techniques of The Impressionists — Beginner to advanced, Saturdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m., Sept. 26-Oct. 24. To register, email darlings@yahoo.com or call 757-308-2631.
• Drawing — Learn line drawings to action figures and faces. Classes at the Salisbury Civic Center, beginner to intermediate and supplies furnished. Contact the Civic Center for info and to register: 704-638-5375.
Thinking about joining The Carolina Artists? Now is the perfect time to join with many events planned through the year, the opportunity to learn, create, grow and share art with other artists and to be a part of the exciting Project Dream 2030. Artists, photographers and art lovers are encouraged to attend monthly meetings and visit with the wonderful family of artists.
For further information on The Carolina Artists, membership, meetings, classes and workshops, sponsorships, donations etc. text Cherrathee Hager at 704-490-2001, email Cherratheeart@gmail.com or go to www.thecarolinaartists.org.
