Dare County Arts Council

The quiet natural beauty of the Outer Banks has fostered creativity and inspired art in its residents throughout the decades. During the month of July, the community will have the opportunity to see the work of 20 young local artists in the Here and Now Group Art Show, hosted by the Dare County Arts Council. “We grew up here and this is what we make now” is the theme carried by the show, expressing the vast range of talent that is cultivated in our community and continues to develop beyond it.

“The artists are people I grew up with, people I was in art classes with or knew of their inclination to create,” says Holly Overton, 21,

of Nags Head who now attends Parsons School of Design in New York City and curator of the show. “It’s an opportunity to showcase what we have learned and developed since being raised on the Outer Banks, in light of our expanding knowledge from college and growing up.”

A reception will be held July 3 from 6-9 p.m. on the show’s opening night at the Dare County Arts Council Gallery at 104 Sir Walter Raleigh Street in downtown Manteo. The event is open to the public and guests will enjoy light homemade refreshments and live music from Here and Now artists and friends. All artwork, ranging from painting and photography to film and sculpture, is for sale. Proceeds will go to the artists and the gallery as we continue to nurture the passion for art in our community.

Artists and works include mixed media by Holly, pottery by Warren Wilson student Allie Clupper, videos by web designer/video artist Crawford Winstead and NYU film student Chris Ellison, photography by Savannah School of Art and Design student Chris Hannant, works by UNC Greensboro art student couple Taryn Cowart and Zack Francesci, local tattoo artist Gigi Wescott, Parsons School of Design fine arts student Lauren Tillett, French au pair and UNC Asheville student Sara Jane Moore, Meredith College student Courtney McIver, Tyler Byers, NYU student Kate Carbocci, NC State student Zach Clawson, MHS graduate Carli Cox, UNC Greensboro student Rachel Endsley, Appalachian State University student Shea Foreman, Meredith College student Hilary Harman-Scott, Justin Henderson, College of the Albemarle student Steve Hooker, musician Dave Lekens, UNC Asheville students Josh Martier and Blair Ward, Peace College student Maggie Miles, UNC Asheville student Carly Osmon, Louise Sanderlin, John Saturley, and East Carolina student Owen Sullivan.