In Pitt County, a luthier’s handcrafted guitars are sometimes discolored or full of knots; some are shaped liked snakes or shotguns. Each instrument’s story starts with the wood used to make it. And while the past may have left its scars, beauty can be found in the sights and sounds of art.
artist
The Burls of Bakersville
An injury led a former factory worker and lumber salesman to a new career as an artist. Known today as The Bowlmaker, he gives fallen trees in Mitchell County their own second chances.
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About North Carolina’s Wood-Carvers?
In North Carolina, wood-carvers transform an ordinary material into works of art — chiseling, whittling, and sculpting magnificent creations that reflect the state’s landscapes and wildlife.
A Tobacco Town Transformed: Durham
A mural artist re-creates the hustle and bustle of the local bright leaf trade on the wall of an old tobacco auction warehouse.
Ramblin’ Man: The Storied Life of Southern Artist Bob Timberlake
Bob Timberlake, one of the South’s most celebrated painters, turns North Carolina landscapes into visual stories. At 80, he, and his art, have more to tell.
Studio Tour with Harkers Island’s Walter Gaskill
The coots, loons, and surf scoters in this Harkers Island studio don’t fly. But they land in collections and competitions from coast to coast, as rows of blue ribbons attest.
Studio Tour with Rob Levin of Burnsville
In the mountains of western North Carolina, an artist creates blown-glass vessels and mixed-media sculptures.
Collecting and Preserving Southern Folk Art in Hickory
Allen and Barry Huffman of Hickory are saving the state’s folk artists from obscurity and finding joy in their discoveries.
Studio Tour with Whittier’s Joel Queen
A member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee uses traditional techniques to keep the pottery of his ancestors alive.