The Art Village....

Ok here we are ... in the very steps of making a Local artist co-op without funky rules and  restrictions .

This is a place for ALL artists , newly started, somewhat emerging...advanced but still struggling....and well if you already got it ...great...

But I and Larisa think EVERY  artist should have the opportunity to develop their skills and have a place to make it happen.

College of the Albemarle is turning out artists left and right with no place for them to sell their work and learn what to do with the skills they have learned.

Would you continue the struggle with no end visible ???

Well to answer that question you do if the art you love permeates your very soul and you are happiest when allowed to create the very things that make you happy.  

The Art Village is a culmination of 13 years of struggle...and soul searching and love of this wonderful community we live in , The Outer Banks our own little paradise.  Why did I chose the Outer Banks to persue my dream ? Because for 20 years I vacationed here every year sometimes two or three times a summer....and I was amazed at the wonderful awe inspiring artists that existed among the beauty.   And why not this is Paradise...it opens every door to imagination .

When I was found without home in 1999 driving a school bus and 40 dollars in my pocket I knew this is where I was suppose to come.  and In 2000  I opened the first free teaching bead store in North Carolina and the first true bead store on the Outer Banks.    I ran that business very successfully going from a 450 sq ft store to a 2000 sq ft store in 2003 , closing in 2005 only because the shopping center was sold.   After that life took a sad twist my Beloved husband was diagnosed with cancer and we fought that battle till april 2009.  During that three years I managed a gift shop on the beach road for 10 months to help make ends meet.

The last 3 years have been insane...trying to get back to a comfortable life.

But the whole thing kept coming back to a All Artist oriented cooperative.

One that does not alienate anyone who creates art.  One that supports the community and helps visitors and locals alike to understand those artists.

Well we have the best place possible for such a vision, the old Weeping Radish Location in Manteo.    It will have Gallery space and if we can get it off the ground ASAP ...Individual Artists Studios...plus a Childrens art gallery ...bead store...and plenty of open grounds for vendors to set up every day....

The weeks will be themed to keep people coming back ....and it will become the amazing place it once was in the glory days when This site and The Christmas Shop/Island Gallery were connected at the hip.

Help the Outer Banks ....Help Manteo ....this will be one of the most important things anyone can do to help us recover from Irene.....