Author Archive

We will celebrate our 10th Anniversary at our new location in Mayfaire Town Center with an exhibit featuring brand new art by Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!

Our Grand Re-Opening will exhibit our artists’ newest works within our new home, which is the previous location of the well-known, Gallery of Fine Art located at 970 Inspiration Drive. The new space is just around the corner from our previous location on Main St. The 10th Anniversary Party & Grand Re-Opening is scheduled for Sunday, March 9th from 2-5pm.

Preview the selection at: http://aibgallery.com/product-category/10th-anniversary/

Gallery events are always free and open to the public. On view along with these exhibits, Art in Bloom Gallery showcases a plethora of fine art by over 30 local artists.

“Good Luck (Panamanian Golden Frog)” Acrylic on canvas, 22” x 28” x .75” (Framed)

“Frogs & Friends” features multimedia artist Jessie Robertson‘s conservation art in her first solo exhibit – and has been extended through the 29th!

Beyond her role as an Art in Bloom gallery specialist and filmmaker, Jessie’s two lifelong passions are art and frogs. “Frogs & Friends” demonstrates how she fuses these interests – celebrating the diverse frog species she studies while spreading awareness for their conservation. To Jessie, “The tragedy of frogs’ dramatic declines is that every threat they face, from climate change to infectious disease, is human caused. But that’s exactly why I have so much hope that we can work together to save them. Frogs are our friends, and I hope we can learn to be better friends to them.”

Jessie enjoys the challenge of exploring art through different media. Building off her background with acrylic paints, which she enjoys for their vibrancy and control, “Frogs & Friends” also features her newer explorations into oil painting and ceramic slip-casting. Now that she’s graduated with degrees in Studio Art and Digital Arts from UNCW, Jessie hopes that the more she learns and creates, the more successful she will be in achieving her goal of saving the frogs.

10% of all of Jessie’s sales will be donated to the international amphibian conservation organization SAVE THE FROGS!.

Click here to preview the work in the show!

“Shadow Dancing”

“Painted Powerfully” is the newest exhibit of pastel paintings by artist, Jeri Greenberg.

Jeri’s past shows were mostly one subject and one focus. With her newest works, her intent is to paint powerfully, no matter the subject matter. This body of work features people, as well as still lifes, side-eyed glances and teetering apples.  The common denominators are powerful strokes, strong mark making and joyous color.

As an instructor, Jeri pushes her students to find their joy at their easel because the “easel has always been my “home”; the place I am the most serene, and the place where my scattered thoughts come together and settle around me like pixie dust.”

After many years as a fashion illustrator and sportswear designer, Jeri turned her love of graphic design towards advertising next. Having time to devote herself to painting again, and falling in love with the pastel medium, has led to a new and interesting “next act”, as a full time painter and teacher. Jeri loves painting still lifes, urban interiors, figures and fabrics, and the occasional landscape as well. Recently relocated, Jeri teaches weekly classes at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington NC, and holds demos and workshops around the country, as well as jurying national and international pastel exhibits.

Click here to preview the work in the show!

Judy Hintz Cox “Energetic 3″ Oil and mixed media on canvas, 36″ x 50”

MoMentum Companies & Art in Bloom Gallery are continuing their collaboration in 2025! Join us in downtown Wilmington on Fourth Friday Gallery Nights. We are featuring the original work of artist, John Sharkey, and gallery artist, Judy Hintz Cox.

The opening Fourth Friday Event is February 28, from 6-9pm, and the show runs through April 1, 2025. This exhibit will also be open for the following Fourth Friday events on March 28.

View art Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm at MoMentum Companies at 103 S. Front Street in downtown Wilmington, NC.

Preview the work here!

Rebecca Yeomans “Keep Looking Up” Fiber Art

This new exhibit “Leaf Love Stories” celebrates the newest work of fiber artist, Rebecca Yeomans. In this show, each creation has a story – from finding inspiration in the Barbie movie, to picking tobacco, to using ink derived from guns. The pieces in this show represent over a year of gathering leaves and materials and making art on almost a daily basis. Rebecca has used this show to explore new things while learning a great deal, and delighting in all the swirling ideas this process stirs up.

The piece titled ‘Keep Looking Up’ has a featured role in the short documentary that was recently filmed about Rebecca’s creative process of contact botanical printing.  She explains that “The phrase carries a double meaning: when foraging, I “keep looking up” and all around for leaves; when making, I keep an optimistic outlook by striving to add beauty, joy, and wonder to our world through art.”  The film “Full Circle: Fiber Art by Rebecca Yeomans” captures the artist in her home studio and foraging for leaves and other botanical materials to create her original art. It will be released to the public in June of 2025 but has already received several accolades from several film festivals.  As of August, it is an official selection in Lift-Off Global Network Los Angeles and Raleigh Film & Art Festival (Best Documentary Category). 

Click here to preview the work in the show!

About the Artist

Rebecca Yeomans has lived her entire life centered around making. She learned to knit at eight years old and was considered the “class artist” in school. She studied studio art at UNC-Chapel Hill, receiving a BFA in 1974. After earning an MFA from Auburn University in 1979 she taught there for several years. Rebecca and her husband Tom moved to Wilmington, NC in 1984 and she worked as a scenic artist in the film industry. She was a founding board member for DREAMS of Wilmington and later taught classes.  After she and Tom raised two artsy daughters, Rebecca quickly moved into full time artist mode. Her current work combines botanical printing, knitting, and stitching with a painterly feel.

Melissa Wilgis “Angelic” Silver gelatin photogram on paper

This new exhibit “The Light Within” celebrates the newest photogram work of photographer, Melissa Wilgis. This is a series of silver gelatin photograms with gold leaf highlights. With a few exceptions, the subjects she is using are handmade, antique textiles, including collars, gowns, doilies and remnants. When she is working in the darkroom, the ideas in Melissa’s head and heart are always so clear.  She embraces the challenge of translating those ideas into images with her photograms. The tricky part comes when she tries to articulate those thoughts as words. While working on this series, Melissa stumbled upon a quote by Maya Angelou that says precisely what’s been in her head while creating this body of work. She said, “Let nothing dim the light that shines from within”.

Along with Melissa’s work will be the artistic debut of Frances Jane Wilgis. Frances Jane has been working alongside her mother to produce her own special photograms. Her inspiration for her cat photograms is a stray cat at camp Kirkwood summer camp. The inspiration for her other pictures is dreams and the night sky.

Join us in the gallery on Sunday, September 15^th, from 2-5pm. Enjoy special refreshments, meet our artists, and enjoy live music by violinist, Shirley Lebo!  On view along with this exhibit will be a new exhibit “Leaf Love Stories:  New Work by  Rebecca Yeomans. In addition, we feature continuously rotating art featuring 30+ of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!

Click here to preview the work in the show!

“Blue-Green Moon Jar with Crater Glaze” by Brian Evans and “Semi Circular Vase by Dianne Evans

This new exhibit “Metamorphosis: Mud to Modern” celebrates the newest creations of the 3-dimensional, ceramic work of Brian Evans and Dianne Evans. Inspired by patterns and textures, these artists marry form and design as they shape exquisite forms from mounds of clay.

Brian’s current body of work consists of altered wheel-thrown forms that are inspired by curves, lines, and cavities found in nature. The finished pieces exude a quiet sensuality that invites the viewer to touch the subtle curves and flowy lines that draw one’s eyes around the form. These new vessels reflect the curvy lines found in some of my sculptural works. Brian’s sculptural work reflects modern abstract designs. These structures consist of curvilinear and geometric lines and shapes that move the viewer’s eyes around the piece. Brian is intrigued by how the light and shadow interplay while painting an interesting shadow on the pedestal or wall. The shadow is different depending on the angle at which the light approaches the piece.  The patinated surfaces on his work reveal an aged or weathered look on a modern design. He finds the juxtaposition of present and past intriguing.

Dianne’s current work consists of minimalistic forms that make a statement on their own and act as a canvas for designs and patterns. The form dictates the design. Her surface decorations are inspired by textile patterns, shapes, repetition, layering of color and pattern, and the relationship between form and design.  The shapes and patterns interact with each other, creating movement across the surface and drawing your eye around the piece. Dianne’s work is meant to bring people joy, peace and serenity through form, color, and design.

Join us in the gallery on Sunday, August 4^th, from 2-5pm. Enjoy special refreshments, meet our artists, and enjoy live music by Miles Moore!  On view along with this exhibit will be a new exhibit of the plein-air and studio paintings of Joanne Geisel.  In addition, we feature continuously rotating art featuring 30+ of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!

Click here to preview the work in the show!

About the Artists

Brian Evans was raised in Western Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1993 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Studio Art. His primary focus was in sculpture and painting.  He moved to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1995.  He began in ceramics through the Continuing Education program at Cape Fear Community College while searching for an outlet for artistic expression. Brian studied under a Japanese-American Potter named Hiroshi Sueyoshi. He immediately recognized the caliber of Hiroshi’s skills as an artist and took full advantage of his instruction.

From 2002 through 2008, Brian taught Pottery Classes through the Cape Fear Community College Continuing Education Program. He also became a full-time ceramic artist. Since 2002, He has received various awards at Fine Art Shows and Art Festivals. In 2003 and in 2005, Brian was awarded The Regional Artist Grant for New Hanover County, North Carolina. His work can be found in public and private collections across the nation and abroad. Brian is a founding member of the Coastal Carolina Clay Guild in Wilmington, NC which began in 2007. He is currently the Executive President of Orange Street Pottery Incorporated which is a 501c3 organization that includes Coastal Carolina Clay Guild. Brian began teaching at Orange Street Pottery again in 2017 and is still teaching currently.

Local artist and potter, Dianne Evans, has had a passion for art since childhood. She was born and raised in scenic Indiana, Pennsylvania. Dianne developed an interest in art while studying under an inspirational high school art teacher. This experience also inspired her to want to become a teacher. Dianne earned a BS in Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1994. In 1995 she moved to Wilmington, North Carolina where she began teaching in several private schools. Although she is no longer teaching, she works at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Continuing her love of art, she took art classes at UNC Wilmington in 2009-2010 where she focused on sculpture and ceramics. A field trip to Penland School of Crafts sparked an interest in pursuing ceramics as an art form.  Dianne is an active member of the Coastal Carolina Clay Guild and participates in local art shows. She predominately works in the medium of clay focusing on hand-built pottery.

“Beach Study” Oil on paper, 8″ x 6″

The newest exhibit “Endless Skies” will feature the newest plein-air and studio paintings of Joanne Geisel.  Joanne states “In our daily lives, we get caught up in routines and therefore limit our awareness of the possibilities.  On the other hand, looking at skies can be transforming, as they can be limitless in their expansiveness, colors and the endless formation of clouds, and through them we feel we can go beyond our limitations and even time and space. The oceans, lakes, and marshes express other dimensions of the landscapes and ourselves.”

Join us in the gallery on Sunday, August 4^th, from 2-5pm. Enjoy special refreshments, meet our artists, and enjoy live music by Miles Moore!  On view along with this exhibit will be a new exhibit “Metamorphosis: Mud to Modern” featuring the ceramic work of Brian Evans and Dianne Evans. In addition, we feature continuously rotating art featuring 30+ of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!

Click here to preview the work in the show!

About the Artist

My love of drawing and painting began as a child which led to choose a bachelor’s degree in art education where I could take a broad array of studio courses and then I continued with graduate courses to become permanently certified to teach in New York State.  I later received a master’s in public administration. My careers were in human services and higher education, where I used my creative and problem-solving skills in program development and management, marketing, community outreach, and career and educational counseling. Upon moving to North Carolina in 2005, I focused on becoming a full-time artist; painting, teaching, exhibiting, and selling my artwork. My goals in creating oil paintings include capturing the feelings, sights and sounds of my subject. I continue to experiment with texture, edges, brushstrokes, and palette knife and the layering of color to create depth, luminosity, and beauty.

“The Generational Willow” by Debra Bucci

Debra Bucci’s newest paintings, which will be featured in her upcoming exhibit, capture nature’s sparkles through tiny dots, thick lines and extraordinary brush strokes. These paintings will present a broad variety of work that Debra is known for including her willow trees, landscapes, seascapes, florals and her newest abstracts!

Join us in the gallery on Sunday, June 16^th, from 2-5pm. Enjoy special refreshments, meet our artists, and enjoy live music by Haley Heath and Justin Lacey!  On view along with this exhibit will be a new show “Dance Around the Light,” featuring the photographic work Brian H. Peterson.  In addition, we feature continuously rotating art featuring 30+ of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!

Click here to preview the works that will be on view and available for sale!

Debra Bucci is known for her vibrant and engaging floral and landscape paintings.

Dynamic color palettes, moving compositions and diversity in applications all work together to enhance the depth and bring Debra’s art to life. Her inspiration comes from the high’s and low’s of the  human experience and believes this tension makes the art connectable. Her style is rooted in realism and woven with abstract elements.

Debra is a published illustrator and has achieved success as a licensed fine artist. Her art has been featured in Plow & Hearth magazine and can be found on ArtNeedlepoint.com. She has also been the poster artist for The American Craft Walk in Wilmington for 8 years. She has public and private collectors throughout the US including Savorez Restaurant and Wilmington Magazine. She is an anchor artist at Art in Bloom Gallery.  She is honored to be the only artist to continually show at True Blue Butcher & Table for the past 3 years. In addition to the Art in Bloom Gallery, she can be found at The Orange Street Festival and the Arboretum Show in Wilmington.

Debra has a BFA in Design from Drexel University where she studied oil painting and enjoyed a corporate career in Package Design. She now lives in Wilmington, NC with her husband “Art” and dog “T-Bone”.

“Sea of Light #16” by Brian H. Peterson

The gallery is pleased to showcase the photographic work of Brian H. Peterson, with a curated selection of works. Brian has been an artist, curator, critic, musician, author, videographer, and arts administrator for more than forty years. Art in Bloom Gallery will also present Brian’s most recent publication, The Blossoming of the World (AR Press, 2023), a spiritual autobiography and story of healing and salvation. The gallery will offer paperback and hardcover copies for purchase.  Additionally, the gallery will be scheduling a reading for Brian’s new book in conjunction with his exhibit.

Click here to preview the works that will be on view and available for sale!

Join us in the gallery on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16^th, from 2-5pm. Enjoy special refreshments, meet our artists, and enjoy live music by Haley Heath and Justin Lacey!  On view along with this exhibit will be a new show “Capturing Nature,” with Debra Bucci’s newest paintings, which capture nature’s sparkles through tiny dots, thick lines and extraordinary brush strokes. These paintings will present a broad variety of work that Debra is known for including newly imagined willow trees, landscapes, seascapes, florals and abstracts! In addition, we feature continuously rotating art featuring 30+ of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!

About the Artist

Brian H. Peterson has more than forty years’ experience as a curator, critic, visual artist, musician, and arts administrator. His photographs are in the collections of The Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Amon Carter Museum, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Denver Art Museum, among others.

As the Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest Chief Curator at the James A. Michener Art Museum (1990-2013), he managed the exhibition program, curated historic and contemporary exhibitions, and was the editor and principal author of the landmark publication, Pennsylvania Impressionism (2002).

As well as author of The Smile at the Heart of Things (2009) and I Give My Eyes (2018), Peterson has also contributed critical writing to the Los Angeles Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, American Arts Quarterly, and the Photo Review. In retirement he has taken up videography while continuing his work as writer and photographer.

His 1981 song cycle “Moon Songs,” based on the poetry of E. E. Cummings, was featured on the CD Modern American Art Song (2015) with mezzo-soprano Sharon Mabry. Peterson’s most recent publication, in its second printing, is The Blossoming of the World (AR Press, 2023), a spiritual autobiography and story of healing and salvation.

“Peterson’s photographs transcend the realm of objects to speak about matters of the soul.”
—Ellen Rosenholtz, former director, Lancaster Museum of Art

“Blue Landscape”
Water media on linen canvas

Art in Bloom Gallery is pleased to present Cary artist and painter, Constance Pappalardo. Whether she is working in black and white or in color Constance’s contemporary abstract watercolors evoke feelings of hope and peace, in addition to beauty. Her black and white works are inspired by music where her paintings in color are about light and imagination. Constance’s color work is heavily influenced by nature and the magic of the ever-changing landscape.

Constance was born in Lima, Peru. She moved to New York City at the age of eight. The art and culture of the city inspired her to pursue her art studies. After high school, Ms. Pappalardo studied painting at The School of Visual Arts, in Manhattan. Pappalardo now lives in Cary, North Carolina. Her contemporary abstract watercolors have been featured in numerous galleries in Cary, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and other cities in North Carolina.

Join us in the gallery on Sunday, March 3^rd from 2-5pm. Enjoy special refreshments, meet our artists and enjoy live music by violinist, Shirley Lebo!

Click here to preview the work that will be available during her show.

Art in Bloom Gallery is pleased to partner with the Durham Art Guild to present artist and painter, Clarence Mayo.

Clarence is an artist based in Durham, NC, who specializes in cold wax, oil, and acrylic mediums. His artistic creations are a result of his deep inspiration from a diverse range of tribal icons and symbols originating from different cultures across the globe. Mayo’s artistic vision is notably shaped by the artistic and cultural intricacies of both Africa and Central America.

Click here to preview the works that will be on view and for sale!

Join us in the gallery on Sunday, April 28^th, from 2-5pm. Enjoy special refreshments, meet our artists, and enjoy live music by Heather Heath and Justin Lacey!  On view along with this exhibit will be a new show featuring the photographic work of Leland artist, (Joe) P. Wiegmann.  In addition, we feature continuously rotating art featuring 30+ of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!

About the Durham Art Guild

The Durham Art Guild is a nonprofit member-driven visual arts organization established in 1948. The Guild’s mission is to enrich and connect our communities by creating opportunities and providing leadership for current and future visual artists and art enthusiasts. The Guild programs over 40 exhibitions annually across multiple NC community partnership venues featuring over 400 regional artists. In addition to the Creative Mentorship Program and the Artist in Residence Program, the Guild also produces over 20 arts related events each year including receptions, lectures, community building events and professional development workshops. For more information about the Durham Art Guild please visit www.durhamartguild.org or follow us @durhamartguild

“Pea Island Trees” Photography by Joe Wiegmann

“OBSERVATIONS” will be our newest show featuring the photographic work of Leland artist, (Joe) P. Wiegmann.  Joe states that: “As far back as I can remember, I have been engaged in various creative endeavors such as drawing and painting. Two years of Civil Engineering at the University of Maryland did not provide me with the means to express my creativity and so, I changed my major to Fine Art. After more than 43 years in the graphic, printing, and creative design field, I retired from my Creative Director and Department Head position to move to the Wilmington, NC area. The beauty and natural energy of the environment and artist community here has rekindled my creative energy.”

“While photography is my current creative medium, I have noticed that my art and graphic background plays heavily with my images. I begin by observing my surroundings before even taking my first photo. I look for lines, shapes, layers, colors, and textures. I consider taking photos from various angles and heights to best capture the image. I mainly use a Fujifilm X-T3 camera and occasionally, my iPhone Pro 12 in RAW mode, to be able to employ various lighting effects. I bracket my shots and take full image as well as tightly cropped images, so I have plenty of information going into post-production. I select the image that best captures my observation and the emotion I felt when I saw the image. I want to communicate the same visual excitement to the viewer through a printed piece.”

Click Here to preview the work that will be on view and for sale!

Join us in the gallery on Sunday, April 28^th, from 2-5pm. Enjoy special refreshments, meet our artists, and enjoy live music by Heather Heath and Justin Lacey!  On view along with this exhibit will be a very special exhibit by guest artist, Clarence Mayo from the Durham Art Guild, whose artistic creations are a result of his deep inspiration from a diverse range of tribal icons and symbols originating from different cultures across the globe.  In addition, we feature continuously rotating art featuring 30+ of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!

Stoneware Pottery & Raku Ware by Traudi Thornton

Art in Bloom Gallery and the Estate of Traudi Thornton are pleased to continue to represent the work of late master ceramicist and artist Traudi Thornton (1940-2023).  The gallery will offer works of Traudi’s functional stoneware pottery as well as her unique raku ware.  Traudi continues her unique presence at Art in Bloom Gallery, where she has participated in exhibits and sales beginning in 2015.

Join us for an opening reception, which will be held on Sunday, April 28th from 2-5pm, with live music featuring Heather Heath and Justin Lacy!

Click here to view the Stoneware Pottery works

Click here to view the Raku Ware works. 

“Evening Glow” by Meg McGrew

The gallery is pleased to present new work by photographer, Meg McGrew, in the upcoming exhibit “Out of the Shadows”. 

From the time Meg McGrew first picked up a camera, she’s always been fascinated by shadows. Yet her show “Out of the Shadows” relates to more than Meg’s lifelong appreciation for them. It also reflects Meg coming through the darker, shadowy world of trauma to the more colorful creative life she has today. After a severe car accident in August 2016, it took Meg a long while to make any kind of artwork again. But one day, sitting in her wheelchair with her camera nearby, Meg picked it up and started to photograph her shadows on the wall across from her. The images in this show started with photos either totally made up of shadows or where a shadow is a primary focus in the piece. Meg then used an online photo editing program to digitally alter them in some way.

“Light and dark. Day and night… I now have a deeper appreciation of the way shadows can accentuate the light in the image and in my life.”

Artist, Meg McGrew, has been focused on how objects and shadows can be transformed into different and unique images. She’s taken the original photos and altered them digitally, playing with exposure, color, contrast and applications that add texture to the image. Time melts when she’s involved in this process.

Join us in celebrating our partnership between True Blue Butcher & Table Restaurant, Debra Bucci Fine Art and Art in Bloom Gallery!

True Blue, a local restaurant in Wilmington, NC, invited Debra to create and display a collection of her large abstract art in their dining room. The paintings are for sale and can viewed in the restaurant and online.

View the work here!

True Blue Butcher and Table Restaurant
1125 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC 28405

Photo by: Chris Brehmer Photography

Art in Bloom Gallery is pleased to announce a very special event in collaboration with the estate of master ceramicist, Traudi Thornton (1940-2023).

Traudi was a staple artist at the gallery and participated in exhibits and sales beginning in 2015.  Throughout the weekend of November 17-19th, the gallery will present a Studio Ceramics & Pottery Sale along with a small retrospective exhibit of work by the late ceramic artist.  Art in Bloom Gallery is honored to be able to release a special selection of her work to the public.

Click here to view and purchase her work online!

Traudi’s true calling was nature and gardening. Her study of the medium was a product of the strong connection she had to it. From the process of how she worked with clay, studying the chemical compounds she used for her glazing to her intricate and scientific firing techniques, her relationship to each of the pieces she created was primal.  Traudi’s special interests include hand-building, surface texture, ceramic sculpture, raku and terre sigillata. Her work ranged from sculptural wall pieces, raku vessels to functional pieces.

The 2023 Holiday Season and Art in Bloom Gallery will celebrate with a rotating exhibit featuring over 30 of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!  Feast your eyes on new work directly out of the artists’ studios. Shop for unique works of art that come with an abundance of creativity, which will bring smiles all year round!  All of our artists are offering fine art under $250.

Along with this exhibit we will feature  “UNUS MUNDUS: Photography by Jon Ann Tomaselli”. Artist, Jo Ann Tomaselli finds that defining herself as a particular type of photographer is impossible. She believes that every moment behind the lens offers an opportunity to see the world from a different point of view. Her photographic goal is simplicity, be that in her landscape, nature, or portrait work.

Featured artists include:  Robert Beauchene (photograher), Bradley Carter (painting), Debra Bucci (painting), Richard Bunting (blown glass), Judy Hintz Cox (abstract painter), Karen Paden Crouch (sculpture), Elizabeth Darrow (painting), Brian Evans (ceramics), Dianne Evans (ceramics), Susan Francy (photographer), Mark Gansor (painter), Joanne Geisel (painting), Jeri Greenberg (pastel painter), Curtis Krueger (photographer), Dave Klinger (photography),  Joan McLoughlin (painting), David Norris (printmaker),  Jameka Purdie (jewelry), Jessie Robertson (painter), Tim Schwarz (woodworker) Gale Smith (painter), Traudi Thornton (ceramics), Pam Toll (painter), Gayle Tustin (ceramics), Angela Rowe (painter), Kirah Van Sickle (painter), Roberto Vengoechea (jewelry), Melissa Wilgis (photographer) and Rebecca Yeomans (fiber artist), among others! 

The gallery is excited to show new work by photographer, Jo Ann Tomaselli, in the upcoming exhibit “UNUS MUNDUS”.  Unus Mundus, the Latin phrase for “One World”, encapsulates the idea of a domain located outside of time and space, from which everything emerges and to which everything returns. This intriguing body of work was initiated during the height of the pandemic. It was created in honor of the millions of souls who transcended their earthly bodies during this time.

Artist, Jo Ann Tomaselli finds that defining herself as a particular type of photographer is impossible. She believes that every moment behind the lens offers an opportunity to see the world from a different point of view. Her photographic goal is simplicity, be that in her landscape, nature, or portrait work. Her inspiration? Color, shape, design, and the most delightful factor of all ~ fun!

Click here to preview the work that was  available during this show. 

On view along with this exhibit will be our annual “Holiday Art Exhibit & Sale” featuring over 30 of Art in Bloom Gallery’s Artists!  These new shows by our featured artists will be on view starting on Black Friday, November 24, 2023 – January 7, 2024 with an opening reception on Sunday, December 10th, from 2-5pm featuring live music by guitarist, Miles Moore!

About the Artist

After obtaining her Liberal Arts degree in Photography & Creative Writing at Stockton University, Pomona, NJ, Jo Ann Tomaselli moved to coastal NC in 1995. Since 2004, she has migrated from 35mm format darkroom photography to digital photography processed in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Today Jo Ann shoots her fine art photography with a Galaxy S23 Ultra and Sony A7Riii with a variety of pro lenses, while running a small B&B and blending wonderful potions.

Gayle Tustin’s upcoming exhibit “Ceramic Vessel Sculpture & Mixed Media Art” features her most recent red earthenware vessel sculptures using terra sigillata with oxide patinas, along with mixed media on painter’s canvases. “Tustin finds inspiration from her environment, long walks, dreams, and sketches from traveling. Books, conversations, trash treasures picked up from the street, gesture sketches, antique stores, and swimming are other sources. Sometimes her ideas are planned out in the sketchbook, but more often her process represents a spontaneous flow.”

Gayle works out of her home studio and has been a fixture in the Wilmington arts scene for 30 years. She is one of the original founders of No Boundaries International Art Colony that happens annually on Bald Head Island.

Click here to preview the work that was available during her show.

About the Artist

Gayle Tustin was born in New Castle and grew up in Sharpsville, PA. She has been fascinated with art since early childhood, cutting up old wallpaper books and magazines for pasting into collage assemblages, to making mud pies in the backyard.

Penn State University laid the foundation for her ceramic work as well as Alfred University in NY, after initially completing an Associate Degree in business from Robert Morris University, PA. Tustin is the first person to graduate with honors in Studio Art from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 1996.

She has participated in numerous artist colonies including Northern Macedonia, Spain, Germany, Brazil, and South Africa. She is responsible for helping to create the No Boundaries International Art Colony, a gathering of local and international artists that meet annually on Bald Head Island to make art.

Tustin has been commissioned for donor tile memorial projects in Wilmington by the Lower Cape Fear Hospice including “Celebration of Life I, II & III” and “Safe Passages”, as well as “Bountiful Life I – VI” in Whiteville. Her ceramic relief commissioned works can be seen in Raleigh at the NC State Bar Foundation, “ We are the People of North Carolina” and Novant Health in Winston-Salem, “With Compassionate Care” and “Landscapes from Memory”.

For more information about Gayle’s extraordinary art, read “Freedom, Fluidity, and Flow: The Life and Work of Gayle Tustin” by Fritts Causby in Wrightsville Beach Magazine, September 2023.

On view along with this exhibit will be “Poet’s Garden: New Paintings by Helen Mirkil” and “Intentional Camera Movement (ICM): Photography by Robert Beauchene”. These new shows by our featured artists will be on view from October 5 – November 19, 2023, with an opening reception on Sunday, October 8th, from 2-5pm featuring live music by solo jazz guitar, Roger Davis!

Helen Mirkil’s upcoming exhibit “Poet’s Garden”features her newest paintings inspired by the artwork of her sons and grandchildren. Helen’s ‘conversations with art’ honor the works they adapt while visualizing her relationships with her family. Helen sees her creativity as a gift and an outlet, and uses art and poetry to express what inspires or weighs on her soul. Helen Mirkil moved from the Philadelphia suburbs to Wilmington in 2019. Along with their spacious studios at the ArtWorks, she and her husband have established roots in NC and enjoy being near her children and their families.

About the Artist

Helen Mirkil moved from the Philadelphia suburbs to Wilmington in 2019. Along with their spacious studios at theArtWorks she and her husband are sinking down roots in North Carolina and enjoying being near her children and their families. Helen is a Certificate/BFA recipient from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (Pafa) and the University of Pennsylvania. At Pafa she also completed an MFA.

Helen was awarded a British American Travel Grant from the Wales/Philadelphia Exchange for a two-month residency. Her Penllyn Series landscapes were exhibited at Walter Wickiser Gallery in NYC. Landscape painting also earned her the Valerie Lamb Smith Painting Residency as well as being twice awarded first prize in the Scenes of the Schuylkill Exhibition.

Works by Helen can be seen at the American Academy of Arts and Letters in NYC, Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art, Bryn Mawr College Library Collection, James A. Michener Art Museum, Villanova University Art Collection, University of Mary Washington Galleries, Monmouth Comprehensive School in Wales, U.K., Teaching Collection of PAFA, and Woodmere Art Museum.

“The Idea” Photography by Robert Beauchene

The gallery is excited to show new work by photographer, Robert Beauchene, in the upcoming exhibit “Intentional Camera Movement (ICM)”

Unlike many ICM photographers who choose to retain the recognizable forms and subjects of their photos – simply “blurring” fairly traditional subjects (like landscapes, wildlife, portraits and street scenes), Robert Beauchene centers his attention on light – it’s shape, tone, texture and intensity. The results of this approach are images that are often absent of any recognizable form but are full of interesting lines, colors and patterns. Think abstract expressionist painting – but with a camera.  As with any photographic technique, Beauchene utilizes light, location, camera settings, etc. to intentionally arrive at a pre-conceived “vision”. In other words, these photos are not “accidents” – they are the result of careful planning and the precise use of the tools at hand. All of his images are created in camera with very little, if any, post processing or digital manipulation of any kind.

On view along with this exhibit will be “Poet’s Garden: New Paintings by Helen Mirkil” and “Ceramic Vessel Sculpture & Mixed Media Art by Gayle Tustin”.   These new shows by our featured artists will be on view from October 5 – November 19, 2023, with an opening reception on Sunday, October 8th, from 2-5pm featuring live music by solo jazz guitar, Roger Davis!

Click here to preview the work that was available during his show. 

About the Artist

Robert Beauchene is a lifelong photographer and musician originally from Poughkeepsie, NY. His black & white work can be seen throughout the area under the brand CAPE FEAR NOIR and his abstract work has received international recognition. He also builds custom furniture! He lives in Wilmington with his wife, Polly. 

“On the Road to Find Out” Oil and oil pastel on canvas, 36″ x 48″

Join us for a look at the new work of Wilmington’s own, Elizabeth Darrow. “On the Road to Find Out” will feature a selection of work fresh out of the artist’s studio.  The art includes Elizabeth’s figurative work and abstract expressionist works.

Elizabeth Darrow has made Wilmington her home since 1977. She works in a variety of styles depending on her medium, but usually does not work “from life” in the traditional sense. Most of the imagery that comes to her seems to hatch of its own accord, emerging from the process. Darrow enjoys working with color, repeating patterns and embedding humor (and angst) into her work. Each piece takes her on a journey of discovery where she hopes to lose herself to the process.

Click here to view the brand new work in this exhibit! 

“Themes: Tube, 1/1″ by Allison Bowman 16″ x 24”

“Cape Fear’s Ocean Dwellers” is a showcase of impactful photography by, Allison Bowman, whose work tells the stories of some of the ocean dwelling creatures in the waters around Cape Fear.  From sleeping loggerhead turtles wintering in ship wrecks to the local art of sunrise wave chasing, Allison presents a body of photography printed on metal depicting the habits of “Cape Fear’s Ocean Dwellers”.

“Dugout” Silver Gelatin Print

“Revisiting” by guest photographer,  Jennifer Mace, is a brand new body of silver gelatin prints reflecting on the artist’s past.  This collection of images serves as symbols of Jennifer’ life. They represent locations, events and experiences from her world that have been embedded in her mind. They are reminders of  happy times. Working on this collection of work allowed Jennifer to separate the stress of her daily life and find a new path for her artwork.

About the Photographer
Jennifer received her BFA in Photography from Colorado State University in 1994 and my MFA in Photography from James Madison University in 2003. She moved to Wilmington in the summer of 2008 where she’s been teaching photography at Cape Fear Community College. Over the years  Jennifer has created several different bodies of work. She work with the film process and digital photography just as often. In the last decade as there are advances with technology, she find herself turning away from that progress. This collection of images was shot with medium format black and white film.

“Queen of Hearts” Pastel on paper by Jeri Greenberg

Hearts & Souls is Jeri Greenberg’s newest body of work featuring her amazing pastel paintings.

Click here to preview  some of the work that was on view and for sale.

About the Artist

After many years as a fashion illustrator and sportswear designer, Jeri Greenberg turned her love of graphic design and color into a new and exciting “next act”, working as a full-time painter and teacher.

Feeling that “Pastels are an immediate tool to express feelings” and the perfect medium in which to “Make the Ordinary, Extraordinary”,  Jeri works to tell stories in her work enabling her to draw the viewer in . With her background in illustration, Jeri helps her students get a strongly drawn foundation down behind their color work.

Jeri loves painting still lifes, urban interiors, figures and fabrics, and the occasional landscape as well. Recently relocated, Jeri teaches weekly classes at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington NC, and holds demos and workshops around the country, as well as jurying national and international pastel exhibits.

Debra Bucci is known for her vibrant and engaging floral and abstract paintings.

Dynamic color palettes, moving compositions and translucency from layering oils all work together to enhance the depth and bring Debra’s art to life. Her inspiration comes from the high’s and low’s of the human experience and believes this tension makes the art connectable. Her style is rooted in realism and woven with abstract elements.

Debra is a published illustrator and has achieved success as a licensed fine artist. Her art has been featured in Plow & Hearth magazine and can be found on ArtNeedlepoint.com. She has public and private collectors throughout the US including Savorez Restaurant and Wilmington Magazine. She is an anchor artist at Art in Bloom Gallery and has showing work at The Cameron Art Museum. She currently has paintings on sale at True Blue Butcher & Table Restaurant and has exhibited at the Wilmington International Airport.

Debra has a BFA in Design from Drexel University where she studied oil painting and enjoyed a corporate career in Package Design. She has recently moved to Wilmington, NC with her husband “Art” and dog “T-Bone”.

Ceramic Works by Brian Evans and Dianne Evans

This new exhibit celebrates the 3 dimensional ceramic work art of Brian Evans and Dianne Evans.

Click here to view the work that was on view and available.

About the Artists

Brian Evans‘ work conveys inspiration that he finds in his surroundings. Sometimes something as simple as the blade of a saw or a bellows used to blow on a fire can inspire an entire series of work. This body of work conveys simple found objects that inspire minimal or complex linear forms. Brian Evans was born in Beaufort, SC, but was raised in Western Pennsylvania.  He graduated in 1993 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Studio Art.  He moved to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1995.  He studied ceramics through the Continuing Education program at Cape Fear Community College while searching for an outlet for artistic expression. Brian studied under a Japanese-American Potter,  Hiroshi Sueyoshi. Brian is currently serving as President of the Coastal Carolina Clay Guild.

Local artist and potter, Dianne Evans, has had a passion for art since childhood. She was born and raised in scenic Indiana, Pennsylvania. Dianne developed an interest in art while studying under an inspirational high school art teacher. This experience also inspired her to want to become a teacher. Dianne earned a BS in Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1994. In 1995 she moved to Wilmington, North Carolina where she began teaching in several private schools. Although she is no longer teaching, she works at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Continuing her love of art, she took art classes at UNC Wilmington in 2009-2010 where she focused on sculpture and ceramics. A field trip to Penland School of Crafts sparked an interest in pursuing ceramics as an art form.  Dianne is an active member of the Coastal Carolina Clay Guild and participates in local art shows. She predominately works in the medium of clay focusing on hand-built pottery.

“Ibis Two-Step” Photograph on paper

David Norris has been a long time Art in Bloom Gallery artist whose work continuously evolves.  From his earlier monoprints, engravings, drawings, watercolors to his most recently painted oil on canvas.  David loves to experiment with multiple processes but has almost always worked from the photographs he has taken of landscapes and place, which serve as his muse.

About the Artist

Wilmington artist, David A. Norris, has a BFA degree from the East Carolina University School of Art.  Long settled in the Port City, he finds the historic atmosphere of Wilmington and the natural beauty of the Cape Fear River and the coast provide limitless sources of artistic inspiration.

Most of David’s work reflects the landscapes of the places where he has lived or visited.  Through his interest in art history, his work has absorbed influences such as English watercolors, 19^th century engravings, Japanese woodblock prints, Dutch Baroque landscapes, and Van Gogh’s reed pen drawings.

Dorothy Gillespie Photo Courtesy of The Dorothy M. Gillespie Foundation

In collaboration with The Dorothy M. Gillespie Foundation, Art in Bloom Gallery is pleased to present the work of, painter, sculptor and installation artist, Dorothy M. Gillespie (1920-2012), in a special exhibit of her work.

Wilmington celebrates the legacy of artist & activist, Dorothy Gillespie, in collaboration with The Dorothy M. Gillespie Foundation. Gillespie had close ties in Wilmington through a long-time friendship with Thalian Hall’s, Tony Rivenbark, who worked as her studio assistant in the 1970s. Rivenbark brought Gillespie and her art to the Cape Fear Region. Gillespie’s legacy lives on in Wilmington and the additional public venues showcasing Gillespie’s art, including the Cameron Art Museum, the New Hanover County Arboretum, Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Cape Fear Community College’s Wilma W. Daniels Gallery and the Wilson Center, and UNCW’s CAB Gallery.

The Foundation proudly presents the works and history of the 20th century American Artist, Dorothy Gillespie, which included abstract expressionism, decorative abstraction, site-specific installations, the women’s movement and art in public spaces. She was a pioneer in the new directions of metal sculpture and best known for large-scale, highly colorful painted arrangements of cut aluminum with enamel strips radiating, undulating, or curling in giant arrangements of ribbon, enchanted towers, and even the burst of fireworks piece. Dorothy Gillespie is well known as a painter, sculptor and installation artist whose work incorporated many significant 20th-century trends in art.

Click here to preview the work on view at Art in Bloom Gallery from July 6 – August 13.

Click here to view our DG Interactive Brochure featuring Dorothy Gillespie’s permanent art in public places around Wilmington!

Click here to download our List of Current, Temporary Exhibits featuring Dorothy Gillespie’s art in public places around Wilmington!

About the Artist

Dorothy Gillespie (1920-2012, American) was a painter and sculptor born in Roanoke, VA. She enjoyed an artistic career that spanned over 70 years before her death at 92. She studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art, MD then moved to New York City in 1943 where she studied at the Art Students League of New York and Stanley William Hayter’s Atelier 17.

Gillespie was also an important player in the women’s art movement. Known for her tremendous output of colorful, joyful sculptural art, she was among those who helped blaze a path for women artists during the feminist art movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Always experimenting and trying new materials and techniques, Gillespie mastered many mediums, including painting, paper, sculpture, printmaking, environment and happenings, ceramics, jewelry and set designs.

As a painter, sculptor and installation artist, Gillespie’s art encompasses many significant 20th Century trends in art, including abstract expressionism, decorative abstraction, site-specific installation, the women’s movement, and art in public spaces.

Education was always very important to Dorothy Gillespie, and during her life she visited over 50 colleges and universities where she gave public lectures, coached and taught young artists. She was a Distinguished Professor of Art, Radford University, and a Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow for many years. In 1990 she was recognized for her commitment to education when she received a Doctor of Pedagogy, Niagara University.

Dorothy Gillespie is the subject of numerous reviews, scholarly articles, television and radio interviews and the book Dorothy Gillespie.

This selection on view, and for sale, is organized and sponsored by The Dorothy M. Gillespie Foundation. The work is directly from the late artist’s studio located in Narrowsburg, NY.  The Dorothy M. Gillespie Foundation fosters the legacy of Dorothy Gillespie’s life and work. The Foundation supports artists, initiatives, and institutions that embody the same innovative, inclusive multidisciplinary approach that Dorothy Gillespie exemplified in both her art and philanthropic endeavors.

Visit The Foundation’s website for more in depth information on the artist and her larger than life works of art.

Barbara Snyder “Untitled 2”

In April, we welcome a new photography show “Interconnected” with new work by Barbara Snyder.

Barbara states that “There is often a commonality in what we think of as our individual past.  As a lens- based artist, I seek to reposition my past as an operative with a broader context. In exploring its impact, both active and benign, memory becomes metaphorical and ritualistic. I strive for my images and assemblages to provoke, engage, and inform a universal memory with influences of contemporary life, reinventing the narrative of the stories and rituals which continue to live on with a deeper, broader, context than the obvious. These new works referencing strength are being influenced by the interconnectedness of the natural world.”

Barbara Snyder is a self-educated lens-based artist, working with digital, film and alternative processes. She has shown nationally and internationally and was a recipient of the 2014 and 2017 North Carolina Regional Artists Grant. Snyder lives and works in Wilmington, North Carolina.

“Sunday Afternoon” by Mark Gansor

“Bold and Bright” is our newest exhibit with fresh new works by long-time gallery artists, Mark Gansor and Gale Smith.  Mark is a landscape painter using impasto surfaces to capture fleeting moments caught in the light. His works are playful and full of color!  Complimenting Mark’s paintings are the sculptural metal works by, mixed media artist, Gale Smith. Gale’s work in this exhibit is about the transformation of sheets of copper into complex assemblages that create a distinctive visual impact while allowing the intrinsic beauty of the metal to shine through.  Vibrant colours dance across the copper pieces and create abstract geometrical shapes.  These intricate works contain rich textures and reveal extraordinary manifestations of colour and formations.

About the Artists

Mark Gansor is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Out of several decades of work as a decorative finisher and classical musician, Mark Gansor’s career as a painter was born. Entirely self- taught he is now secure enough to tell people that he is an artist. He works in acrylics thickly applied to the

“Here Comes the Sun” by Gale Smith

canvas with knives, fingers, and occasionally brushes.  Since moving to Wilmington five years ago he has been caught up in the artistic vibe of the city, and the historical structures, nature, and the downtown all figure in his work. He has painted or restored original work in several structures on the National Registry which have added to his love of all things old or unusual. The beautiful old churches speak to him, bringing his love of sacred music and the pipe organ back time and time again.  For several years he has been painting works on canvas and hopes that this can be his career in retirement. His work is available at Art in Bloom Gallery. He has also recently become Director of Music Ministries at St Andrews Covenant Presbyterian Church in downtown Wilmington.  Mark Gansor is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Having studied at UNC Chapel Hill, Gale Smith considers painting as an ongoing study.  She has found a new interest in working with copper.  As a plein air painter, she began using copper panels as her canvas and loved how the copper made her colors warm and vibrant. She experimented with different gauges of copper and mediums and discovered that inks and oils on copper made colors radiate vibrantly. Never quite sure where the colors and copper will take her, Gale paints, cuts and weaves two abstract paintings together to create a dimensional piece of art.  The soft gentle curves that she cuts into the copper, allows her to form the piece into soothing and thought provoking structural designs.  It is her desire that the viewer will experience a personal interaction with her art. Often, she writes small quotes, prayers or poems that relate to the piece of work on the back of the copper strips and weaves them into the design.  Gale donates a portion of the proceeds from her sales to various organizations and charities. Gale is an award winning artist with her works exhibited in galleries, private collections and corporate installations.

“Monochrome Moments: A Photographic Glimpse into Nature” is a new exhibit by photographer, Tim Smith.  Tim’s images, shown here in black/white, illustrate a keen interest in light and composition. His visual voice is often one of quiet reflection and introspection. He is skilled enough to give the viewer those same emotions.  His talents have convinced local and regional photo editors as well as the movie industry to use his photographs on their magazine covers, TV shows and movies, often as light-hearted and beautiful scenes. ~Jerry Blow, AIAP, Raleigh, NC

On view along with this exhibit is Bold and Bright: New Work by Mark Gansor & Gale Smith. These new shows will be on view from January 12 – February 26, 2023, with an opening reception on Thursday, January 12th from 5-8pm.

About the Artist

Tim Smith, a native North Carolinian, is one of those rare people who has known his direction in life from childhood.  As the provocative writer, Henry Miller, said: “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.”  Tim’s personal photographic direction in life has been to give close attention to and to photograph his world. His interest began around the age of 8 after becoming fascinated with his uncle’s Polaroid camera.  He completed his first formal photography course during high school in Asheboro, NC where he contributed many photographs for his yearbook.  After that came a photography degree from Randolph Community College and then six years with the NC National Guard as a photographer. He has continued his photographic journey as a fine art photographer while living in the Wilmington area over the past four decades.

“Moments: Photography by Carlos Flores” on view in the gallery from December 4^th until January 8, 2023. Carlos states that “Life is nothing but an infinite number of moments that are in constant motion. Unfortunately, it’s quite impossible to remember it all. My camera is my greatest tool because with it I’m able to collect and store passing moments that become memories to later reminisce. It gives me great honor to share those with you. Moments.”

Carlos Flores is a contemporary photographer and filmmaker who was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States at the early age of two. In 2017, he discovered his passion for film photography. Ever since then, Carlos has been passionate about capturing moments to show the world what he sees through his lens.

His photography has been displayed at The ArtWorks Gallery Verrazzano, Gravity Records, Leland Cultural Arts Center, Leland Town Hall, Arts on Fire, and Art in Bloom Gallery.

Gallery events are always free and open to the public. On view along with these exhibits, Art in Bloom Gallery showcases a plethora of fine art of over local 30 artists.  The gallery is open Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm and Sunday 12-6pm and is now located in Mayfaire Town Center at 6866 Main Street in Wilmington, NC.

Collaborating with Nature investigates the intricate fiber art pieces created by Rebecca Yeomans. Rebecca’s current work combines botanical printing, knitting, and stitching with a painterly feel. She is a full-time artist residing with her family in Wilmington, N.C.

Rebecca Yeomans has lived her entire life centered around making. She learned to knit at eight years old and was considered the “class artist” in school. She studied studio art at UNC-Chapel Hill, receiving a BFA in 1974. After earning an MFA from Auburn University in 1979 she taught there for several years. Rebecca and her husband Tom moved to Wilmington, NC in 1984 and she worked as a scenic artist in the film industry. She was a founding board member for DREAMS of Wilmington and later taught classes. Her fiber jewelry can be seen at the CAM gift shop. After she and Tom raised two artsy daughters, Rebecca quickly moved into full time artist mode. Her current work combines botanical printing, knitting, and stitching with a painterly feel.

About the Process

The botanical printmaking process is almost always the inspiration and starting point for my work. Eco or botanical printing is the art of transferring color from natural plant material on to fabric or paper using pressure, moisture, and heat. Beautiful contact plant portraits are captured by bundling vegetation and fabric, either by rolling around a pipe or stacking in layers and binding tightly. The bundle is then steamed or immersed in simmering natural dye coaxing the pigment out of the leaves and on to the cloth. Results depend on many variables: type of fabric, water source, plant species, season, climate, and type of vessel used to name a few. Thus each piece is unique and always a surprise. The process involves many steps: scouring, mordanting, pre dyeing, printing with plant material, post dyeing, rinsing, and perhaps printing again. I enjoy the relationship with the natural world inherent in the process: foraging walks, growing my own dye plants, the aroma of cooking eucalyptus, and the opening of a bundle to reveal what gift Mother Nature has given. When a piece of printed paper or cloth excites me, I begin the slow process of embellishing. This involves tearing fabric, arranging and rearranging, pinning, basting, and deciding on a place to start. I approach this process intuitively, reacting playfully, exploring this or that, asking what if? The piece evolves and its story unfolds. Hopefully a lovely whole is created by the intricate details. In a nutshell, the beauty of the materials and the process of making are what my artwork is about. I am co-creating with Mother Nature and collaborating with the fabric, yarn, and thread.

“Mushroom Coral” Cyanotype on paper

Art Made with Light is a new collection of cyanotypes by photographer, Melissa Wilgis. Melissa is a fine art photographer specializing in photograms. Her cyanotypes on silver gelatin are a three-step process that requires thoughtful planning and time spent both in a traditional darkroom and outside under the sun. For this body of work, sea whips gathered from local beaches are combined with seashell x-rays and other collected items to create images that are eye-catching and unique.

About the Artist

I’m a fine art photographer specializing in photograms.  I made my first photogram in 1986 in Mr. Fecik’s photography class at Boardman High School.  I don’t recall the specifics, but I’m fairly certain a clear cassette tape was involved.  At the time, making photograms was simply a way to learn my way around the darkroom.  It taught me how to use an enlarger and what the various chemicals do.  Leaving photograms behind, I pursued photojournalism throughout high school and college.  After graduating with a BA in English from NC State University, I started working for a branch of Eastman Kodak called Qualex.  I was in tech support, helping one-hour-photo lab operators fix their problems via telephone.  Over the next several years, I moved further away from photography and became further entrenched in corporate America.  I finally came to my senses and left that world.  I found some film photography classes at the local community college and took a few to get back into the swing of things. Soon I started working there as the darkroom assistant.  Four years later I became pregnant with my daughter and left my job at the community college to focus on being a mom.  When my daughter was about a year old, my husband completed the darkroom in our garage.  The baby-monitor picked-up a signal out there, so I was able to go into the darkroom during naptime, in addition to occasional evenings and weekends.  Making photograms gained traction for me during this time because it was photography I could do without wandering too far from my young daughter.  She was and still is my regular, full-time job.

I initially began making photograms using what I refer to as my “critters”; seahorses, crabs, butterflies, dragonflies, sea whips, wildflowers and other found curiosities.  My husband works in marine biology and helps me gather specimens.  No animals are ever harmed—they’re gathered after they’ve passed.  One day my husband came home with a deceased baby stingray.  He had been out in the field and noticed some fishermen getting ready to toss it back.  He asked if he could have the ray and they agreed.  So, the joke now is that it’s all fine and good if your husband brings you flowers.  But it’s exciting if he brings you a dead baby stingray.  Eventually, I knew I needed to expand my photogram creations beyond critters.  I’m a thrift store junky and made it a priority to search out photogrammable objects at the charity shops.  I’m drawn to antique garments, lace, and glass baubles.  My photogram compositions are simple.  This simplicity allows the viewer to find their own story, be it politics, feminism, gender, sexuality, body-image, materialism, culture, economy, history, family or simply nostalgia.  To me, they’re first and foremost, a reminder to always try to see things in a different light.

“Pursuit of Joy: Paintings by Debra Bucci + Bradley Carter” is an exhibit featuring two artist’s individual search for creative freedom through brush, canvas, and paint. This exhibit will be the first featured artist show to enliven the walls of the new gallery space, located in Mayfaire Town Center.

About the Artists 

Debra Bucci is known for her vibrant and engaging floral paintings. Dynamic color palettes, moving compositions and translucency from layering oils all work together to enhance the depth and bring Debra’s art to life. Her inspiration comes from the high’s and low’s of the human experience and believes this tension makes the art connectable. Her style is rooted in realism and woven with abstract elements.

American Artist, Bradley Carter, is an award winning, international selling artist who grew up pursuing his passion for art in Virginia before moving to the North Carolina in 2007, where he currently resides in Wilmington, NC. He predominately works in the medium of painting with his passion in Abstract Expressionism.

“The Holiday Art Exhibit + Sale” Featuring Art in Bloom Gallery Artists & 
“Artistic Photography: Frank Fierstein”
December 11, 2020 – January 24, 2021
View more about this exhibit.
Virtual Tour created by Matterhorn Media.