Culture

Arts Step Into the Spotlight in Downtown Mooresville

Artist James M. Moore created this tall maple vase on display at Four Corners on Broad Street.

Intrigued by art?

If so‚ head to downtown Mooresville and visit the epicenter of the community’s arts scene.

“The art scene is lively in downtown Mooresville‚ and we’re trying to be even livelier‚” says Sandie Bell‚ publicity director and board member of the Mooresville Artists Guild.

Once a month‚ the guild sponsors a Gallery Crawl‚ which takes place in conjunction with a classic car cruise-in and always attracts large crowds.

The Saturday evening Gallery Crawl begins with a 6 p.m. reception at the old Southern Railway depot‚ home of the Artists Guild.

“There is no charge for the event‚ and many downtown businesses‚ such as the antique shops and restaurants‚ stay open for it‚” Bell says. “We feature an artist of the month at one of the galleries.”

Four Corners Framing and Gallery displays the work of more than 80 artists. Gallery owners Tony McDaniel and Kim Saragoni provide live music‚ as well as wine and cheese‚ for art lovers to enjoy as they browse during the monthly Art Crawl.

Four Corners occupies a 104-year-old building on Broad Street next to the Deluxe Ice Cream Co.

“We’ve provided a bench where gallery crawlers can sit to eat their ice cream and look at the art‚” McDaniel says.

Exhibited art ranges from watercolors and oils to pottery and some very popular metal work.

“We also display photography‚” says McDaniel‚ a photographer and a former Charlotte Police Department detective. Saragoni did custom framing in the Charlotte area prior to the gallery’s opening.

“Kim and I always talked about opening a gallery‚ and one day our spouses said‚ ‘Quit talking about it and do it.’ So we did‚” McDaniel says.

The gallery rotates exhibits on a regular basis. Prices range from $25 to $2‚000.

The framing side of the business offers 3‚500 samples for customers to contemplate. McDaniel considers framing an art in itself. The owners’ expertise in the area is one of the perks of having framing done at Four Corners.

Another benefit is a computer program that allows customers to test various frame and mat colors‚ textures and sizes before their picture is framed.

McDaniel says all the framing work is done in-house.

“We get a lot of return customers at the gallery and the frame shop‚” he says. “I think that speaks for itself.”

Another popular stop on the Gallery Crawl is the Depot Fine Arts Gallery‚ which is housed in the old Southern Railway Depot‚ home of the Artists Guild. Remodeled space at the depot also includes a converted warehouse used for large exhibits.

This Mooresville Artists Guild began in 1955 with six artists. Now with 225 members‚ the guild includes Mooresville residents as well as others from throughout the surrounding region.

The nonprofit organization is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council and the Iredell Arts Council.

Story by Bridget Huckabee
Photo by Ian Curcio

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