“Immigrant Gate II,”

Mayor Charles Meeker and Mr. Gallucci will deliver remarks. The ribbon-cutting event also will include a naturalization oath ceremony administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Sanderson High School Air Force ROTC Color Guard, the Millbrook High School Madrigals who will sing the national anthem, and additional music provided by International Focus. Light refreshments will be served following the ceremony.

Mr. Gallucci created “Immigrant Gate II” in 1997. Comprised of welded powder-coated steel, the sculpture is 10 feet long, 4 feet wide, and over 12 feet high. “This gate was designed in remembrance of my family coming to America as Italian immigrants in the 1930s,” said Mr. Gallucci, who is known for his series of gates. “This gate is symbolic of arriving and being welcomed into a rich new world full of opportunity.”

Other works by Gallucci in Raleigh include the “Light Towers” on City Plaza in Downtown Raleigh, the interactive “Whisper Bench” at the North Carolina Museum of Art Park, and “Time Passage,” which Mr. Gallucci recently installed at the entrance to the Hospice of Wake County.

First shown at the Pier Walk in Chicago in 1997, “Immigrant Gate II” came to Raleigh as part of the 2004 Downtown Raleigh Sculpture Expo. The City of Raleigh Arts Commission purchased the art piece for the City’s permanent art collection, and it was subsequently installed near the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The opening of the Raleigh Convention Center in 2008 necessitated the relocation of the sculpture. After researching various possible sites, the Arts Commission recommended Millbrook Exchange Park as the new home for the sculpture. The City’s Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board and the City Council subsequently approved the recommendation. Earlier this year, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department supervised site preparations and the construction of a walk and pedestal for the sculpture. Mr. Gallucci refurbished the sculpture and installed it at Millbrook Park.

“After migrating from the artist’s studio to Chicago, then to downtown Raleigh, Immigrant Gate II has found a wonderful setting in one of our City’s parks,” said June Guralnick, executive director of the Arts Commission. “Since the sculpture was inspired by the immigration to this country of the artist’s family, it is especially meaningful that his art will mark the site where we will welcome new Americans at the naturalization oath ceremony on Sept. 9.”

Established in 1977 as the official advisory body and advocate for the arts to the Raleigh City Council, the City of Raleigh Arts Commission holds the distinction of being the first municipal arts commission created in North Carolina. Serving as the leading force to champion the arts with Raleigh citizens and their representatives, the Arts Commission’s myriad activities foster, support, and promote the arts in the Capital City.

For more information about “Immigrant Gate II” and the dedication ceremony, contact Belva.parker[at]raleighnc.gov, call the Arts Commission office at 996-3610, or visit the Arts Commission’s website at www.raleighnc.gov/arts.

The Battleship is pleased to host the Battleship Arts Fest, Saturday, July 10, 2010 in Battleship Park from 10am to 2pm.   Arts Fest features creations for sale by local artists working in ceramics, metal, wood, and other media.  The DREAMS Center for Arts Education, whose focus is offering free-of-charge arts programming to youth, will have young artists selling their work, face painting by donation, entertaining the crowd with African drumming, and offering bottled water and baked goods for sale.

The “Second Saturdays” program was created by the Department of Cultural Resources to provide fun things to do for families on a budget.  This event also gives North Carolina artists the ability to showcase their talents.  This event is free at the park and open to the public with ample free parking available but does not include the tour of the ship.

On August 14th the Battleship will also host the Blue and Gray Navies which will conclude the “Second Saturdays” program.  At this event displays of ship construction and navigation will be available for viewing.  Visitors will be able to view reproductions of period small arms and working models of steam engines amongst many other things.  Guild members will discuss the history of naval and military technology and will be available for questions. The final event is free with admission.

Located at the junction of Highways 17/74/76/421 on the Cape Fear River.   Visit www.battleshipnc.com, call 910-251-5797 or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Hydrophyllum (2010) by Vega Metals

Vega Metals, comprised of the artist-team of Neal Carlton and Francis Vega, has been selected to develop public art tor Raleigh’s new Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center. Two hundred and sixteen (216) artists from around the country applied to participate!

Winners of numerous awards, Vega Metals, located in Durham, have created gates, fences, sculptures and architectural metalwork for sites including Duke University (Sports Hall of Fame and Duke University Gardens), the Liberty Arts Pavilion in Durham, and most recently the 24-foot high water fountain sculpture for the Gateway Gardens in Greensboro (see photo).

Working with architect Roger Spears (Szostak Design), the artists will develop artwork to fulfill the Public Art & Design Board site goals. These include the creation of art that encourages visitors to reflect on the natural beauty of the park and enhances visitor experiences of the facility.

This is the first project authorized by the Half Percent for Art ordinance established by the Raleigh City Council in 2009 and implemented by Raleigh’s Public Art and Design Board and the Raleigh Arts Commission. The new swimming center is scheduled to open in late summer of next year.

www.raleighnc.gov/arts

City of Raleigh Arts Commission | 222 W Hargett Street Room 504 | Raleigh | NC | 27601

Jim Gallucci’s

“Immigrant Gate II,” first shown at Pier Walk in Chicago in 1997 and subsequently exhibited at various parks in the Midwest, came to Raleigh as part of the 2003-2004 Downtown Raleigh Sculpture Expo. It was later purchased by the Arts Commission to become part of the City’s permanent art collection. More recently, the sculpture was on exhibit across the street from the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts downtown. As a result of the opening of the Raleigh Convention Center, the sculpture’s relocation became necessary.

After researching various possible sites, the Raleigh Arts Commission recommended Millbrook Exchange Park; the Raleigh Parks & Recreation Board and City Council subsequently approved the recommendation.

The “Immigrant Gate II” sculpture is 148 inches high, 48 inches wide, and 120 inches long, and is comprised of welded, powder coated steel.  The art is part of a series of gate works created by Mr. Gallucci. “This gate was designed in remembrance of my family coming to America, as Italian immigrants, in the 1930s,” he said. “America represented new challenges and a better future for their family.  The design embodies the American ideal with the stars and waving stripes, and the symbolism is instantly recognizable to anyone in the world.”

Other works by artist Jim Gallucci in Raleigh include the four “Light Towers” on City Plaza, which have become an iconic symbol for downtown Raleigh in publications throughout the region.

Jim Gallucci

Established in 1977 as the official advisory body and advocate for the arts to the Raleigh City Council, the Raleigh Arts Commission holds the distinction of being the first municipal arts commission created in North Carolina. Serving as the leading force to champion the arts with Raleigh citizens and their representatives, the Commission’s myriad activities foster, support, and promote the arts in the Capital City.  The Raleigh Arts Commission is a division of the Raleigh Parks & Recreation Department.

For more information, contact the Arts Commission office at (919) 996-3610 or email Gerald Bolas, Public Art Coordinator, at gerald.bolas[at]raleighnc.gov.

Jewelry, painting, pottery, and much more can be discovered at the Artsplosure Art Market

On May 15 & 16, Artsplosure will present the 31st edition of its namesake spring arts festival in and around Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. The premier arts festival in central North Carolina, the free event attracts up to 80,000 people over the course of the weekend.

The Art Market showcases the talent of over 170 juried visual artists and crafters from across the country. Artwork by fine artists and craftsmen exhibiting in 10 different categories will be available for purchase, including painting, photography, pottery, jewelry, and more. As always, the booths will line Blount, Martin, and Hargett Streets near Moore Square and City Market.

The festival will feature more than a dozen musical performances on two stages in Moore Square. This year’s lineup includes headliner Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Blues legend Charlie Musselwhite, rising vocalist Sharon Little, Latin/funk/jazz band The Iguanas, Blues guitarist Tinsley Ellis, Charleston-based The Explorers Club, jazz artist Sachal Vasandani, local favorite Mel Melton & The Wicked Mojos, and more!

Kidsplosure provides activities and entertainment for children. Kids will discover their inner artists by creating make-and-take offerings at the event. In addition to the many arts and crafts available, the Kidsplosure Stage will provide live family-friendly entertainment throughout the weekend

The Student Art Exhibition features a juried selection of artwork by students from Wake County High Schools and Middle Schools. This aspect of the weekend is an exciting glance into the artistic talent of local students. The exhibition is open to the public and will be held inside the Zanzibar Room at Marbles Kids Museum.

Everyone is sure to enjoy the annual favorites: Sandy Feat, a large sand sculpture created by Ed Moore, life-size chess, and other interactive activities.

New this year, Artsplosure expands to Raleigh’s new City Plaza with the world debut presentation of “Mirazozo” by England’s acclaimed Architects of Air. The 6,000 square foot luminarium will be open on Fayetteville Street’s City Plaza May 13 through 16. Luminarium admission is $5; all other festival activities are free of charge.

Artsplosure is held rain or shine. For more information on this year’s festival, visit www.artsplosure.org.

Experience the world premiere of Mirazozo — the latest creation by England’s acclaimed Architects of Air.

As part of its May arts festival, Artsplosure is proud to announce the debut of “Mirazozo,” the latest creation from England’s acclaimed Architects of Air. The approximately 6,000 square-foot luminarium will make its world premiere on City Plaza in downtown Raleigh on May 13-16, 2010.

Mirazozo is a large scale, inflatable sculpture constructed of translucent vinyl and made up of labyrinthine tunnels and inspiring spacious domes.  A sensual world of liquid light and color, it is a multi-sensory space that welcomes, inspires and affects everyone who enters.  Mirazozo will make the most extensive use of the “illuminated seam.” These neon-like seams induce the visitor’s gaze to shift between different organisations of the same view. This is the same effect that one encounters in the geometric surface design of Islamic art and architecture.  Mirazozo will also feature several dodecadomes (domes based on adaptations of the dodecahedron) and a large central dome — the largest open space structure that Architects of Air has ever built.

Under the direction of Alan Parkinson, Architects of Air is based in Nottingham, England.  Over the past two decades, Parkinson has designed and constructed 15 luminaria which have toured the globe, being experienced by audiences at over 500 exhibitions in 37 countries.  He first started experimenting with pneumatic sculptures in the 1980s and has since developed his own language of form in this plastic medium. In 1992 he established the company Architects of Air to build and tour his luminarium designs.

Parkinson describes his intention as an ‘Architect of Air’ in the following terms:

“What motivates me to design is the fact that I continue to be struck by the beauty of light and colour found in the luminaria. These structures nurture an awareness of a pure phenomenon that gently cuts through everyday conditioned perceptions and awakens a sense of wonder in people.”

The pneumatic form has a simple purity that echoes that of the light it contains. It has been Parkinson’s work to explore what is possible within the laws of pneumatics to develop an architectural aesthetic capable of doing justice to the beauty of the light in the luminarium.

• City Plaza, 400 Block of Fayetteville Street
• Thursday & Friday, May 13-14:  1:00pm – 7:00pm
• Saturday & Sunday, May 15-16:  11:00am – 7:00pm

Admission: $5 per person (Children 3 and under admitted free.) http://www.artsplosure.org/

Tickets will be available at the luminarium entrance on City Plaza during opening hours only.

Please note:

• The last admission time is 6:40 each day, 20 minutes prior to closing.
• Mirazozo is accessible to wheelchair users and people with mobility difficulties.
• Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Shoes must be left at the luminarium entrance, at the owner’s risk.

www.architects-of-air.com

On Friday, May 28th from 6-9pm

Kim Wheaton

Katherine Nelson

Regular hours are 11-6 Monday through Saturday and 1-4 Sunday. Phone 919-732-5001, www.hillsboroughgallery.com

Self and System, Jason Craighead

Jason Craighead, an artist and the newest member of the Raleigh Arts Commission, is one of only 16 local artists who were invited by Builders of Hope to recycle discarded materials into works of art for “Green Frame: An Exposition in Reclaimed Materials” fundraiser. His composition, entitled “Self and System,” will be up for auction on April 24 at the Raleigh City Museum in downtown Raleigh along with the other artists’ works.

Builders of Hope CDC is a non-profit, tax-exempted corporation that works to provide quality affordable housing in cities and towns across the United States to stimulate revitalization and develop health, safe communities. “Green Frame, An Exposition in Reclaimed Materials,” is a fundraiser that, according to the website, “celebrates the mission of Builders of Hope through the vision of local artists. Using materials reclaimed from Builders of Hope, 16 invited artists have created unique interpretations of what it means to recycle, rebuild, and renew hope.”

Craighead and the other artists were asked to use items and materials that would otherwise be thrown away to create something of beauty and function. “Self and System” is a mixed media on encyclopedias and column sculpture. The artist describes his inspiration:

“This piece is commenting on education and the renewal of belief in the human self, how we lose it in our educational system and our efforts to achieve ‘status,’ then find ourselves feeling empty, even worthless, by this society’s definition. Returning focus to the self and not the struggle can bring about a community that works collectively and honestly. Less division and competition….no more good, better, best….education vs. inspiration.”

An accomplished artist who has been exhibited widely in galleries and museums, Jason Craighead was appointed to the Raleigh Arts Council earlier this month. Before that, he served on the Council’s Public Art Program. He has also donated numerous paintings to charitable art auctions for many years, including the Works of Heart auction for the Carolina AIDS Alliance and Visual Art Exchange’s annual fundraiser.

Builders of Hope’s Green Frame Exposition began with an “Official Opening Bash,” free and open to the public, at the City Museum on Friday, April 9. The Auction Party will be held in the Museum at Saturday, April 24, from 7-10 p.m. Auction tickets are $100 each or $175 per couple. The City Museum is located at 220 Fayetteville Street. To reserve tickets, call 800-277-6138 or email: Emily[at]buildersofhope.org.

For more information on the event, including the list of all participating artists, visit www.buildersofhope.org/events/green-frame.

For more information on Jason Craighead, go to www.jasoncraighead.com.

About Jason Craighead:
Jason Craighead has been named Best Artist in Raleigh Metro Magazine’s annual MetroBravo reader’s poll for five consecutive years. His paintings have been featured in numerous gallery exhibits and belong to many public and private art collections. An active member of the North Carolina arts community, he has worked with the Raleigh Arts Commission on its plans for future public art and frequently donates his paintings to charitable causes, including Works of Heart, the Triangle area’s annual premiere art auction to benefit The Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolina. For more information visit www.jasoncraighead.com.

Chance Encounter (walnut and maple), 2001, 44" h x 22" x 24"

The Greenville Museum of Art announces the opening of an exhibit with a community reception on Friday, January, 2010 from 6:00pm-8:00pm.  With five generations of highly skilled furniture makers before him, working with wood was a natural outlet for Andrew Fullwood’s artistic energies. His sculptures are created from single pieces of wood found in the natural world and honed to completion through the use of chainsaws, chisels, files, rasps, and fine grade sand paper.

Admission to the GMA is Free and all visitors are welcome.

For more information, please contact Charlotte Fitz, Executive Director, Greenville Museum of Art at charlotte[at]gmoa.org or by phone at (252) 758-1946.

What: Rhythm, The Sculptures of Andrew Fullwood
Where: Greenville Museum of Art, 802 S Evans Street 270, Greenville NC 27834
When: Community Reception Friday, January 15, 2010 6pm-8pm
Regular hours of operation: 10am-4:30pm Tuesday – Saturday, 1pm-4pm Sunday

Admission: Free
Exhibitions specific dates: January 15th to February 20th 2010

Community Reception January 15th 6:00-8:00
Artist Remarks at 6:30

Contact: Charlotte Fitz, Executive Director
Charlotte[at]gmoa.org
www.gmoa.org
252 758-1946