Outer Banks Art Village - Plans
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been following the activity of an Outer Banks Facebook page that is making a great effort to accomplish a bold, yet amazingly cool goal.
The goal is to create an “Outer Banks Art Village” – a location where OBX artists of all levels of experience and expertise can come together to share and sell their work, create masterpieces, or just enjoy the laid back vibe of an artist run establishment.
Outer Banks Art Village
Seems like a fabulous idea, right?! Take a peek at the pictures I included. Great plans. Such a perfect spot for some awesome OBX art!
As with most great ideas, it takes a lot of effort to make it a reality, and the Outer Banks Art Village is on an uphill battle right now. And they need all the help they can get to create this awesomeness.
I’ve been talking with the brains, muscle, and energy behind the project, Lorri Chambers, and she has been gracious enough to share her thoughts with us.
So, I’ll turn it over to Lorri, and please if you have any opportunity to help, Lorrie would love to hear from you. Take it away Lorri…
The Art Village located on the Old Weeping Radish site in Manteo, NC on Hwy 64.
The charm of this property and the adjoining Christmas Shop and Island Gallery has for years made this a wonderful place to shop and a draw for tourists and locals alike. We would like to bring that charm back and once again make Manteo a destination opportunity. Here’s our plan to make that happen…
We want to use the buildings that are there, and in the large building (8000 sq ft) we will build Working Artists studios. Galleries selling only local artists’ work, classroom space for anyone to take classes and a small restaurant.
The Annex building consisting of four colorful rooms would either house a local childrens museum or more Galleries and studios. The Gingerbread house would be home to Ocean Beads Gallery and the Art of the Child Gallery which will specialize in selling local children’s artwork ages 2 to 17 to perpetuate new artists.
The large common areas with 2 small ponds will be restored, landscaped and a Gypsy wagon stage added for children’s and puppet theater performances. We are also hoping to get the original remote control boats restored. Throughout the area will be creative opportunities for all who visit. Easels with markers and paper, local artists set up selling their wares, and maybe a chance to make a pinch pot or paint a fish.
Each week a different theme will take place one week, Queen E, another Fish…imagine lighted jellyfish hanging from trees, fairies and pirates oh my. Always changing and always fun.
Costumed vendors (depending on which theme week we are on) will be walking around and selling local artists goods and pastries.
We want The Art Village to be a place where families can come to take a break and make memories…just relax, have a picnic, watch the local artists create, go to the bead store and make a special gift or two ….and more. There will be a bandstand for spur of the moment concerts and some of our very talented local musicians to drop in and perform.
Families need a place to be a family and our Local Artists need a place to show and sell their work …all of this can be combined in this beautiful setting next to the Christmas Shop and Island Gallery an Outer Banks legacy for over 35 years.
What do we need to make all this happen?…local artists to make a commitment for 1 year to sell their work there, that is all. And for the very reasonable monthly fee you get working studio space, gallery space, classrooms an online presence through on online store as well as online marketing to galleries all over the US.
If you would like to be one of our Very Important Founding Artists call 252 256-3034 or email me at Fairygodmother58@gmail.com, but do it today; this opportunity of a lifetime is slipping away…
Thanks Lorri. The plans sound amazing. I can’t wait to bring the kiddos over there to enjoy the OBX art spectacle. If you can help, please reach out to Lorri. This would be an amazing addition to the Outer Banks art scene.
