FEATURING: Cathy Johnson, Artist Jeanette Cloud, Artist

Al DiMarco, Jazz Musician and Accordionist 

Fourth Friday Gallery Nights are free monthly events where downtown area galleries, studios and art spaces open their doors to the public in an after-hours celebration of art and culture. Taking place from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month, the self-guided tours have made the downtown area downtown Wilmington a popular destination for art lovers.

The ArtWorks™ is planned art village providing art studios, gallery space, and an event venue-- fostering a creative environment for artists, educational opportunities, and enhancement of the Wilmington community. Once part of the original Block Shirt factory, the ArtWorks™ on Willard Street, is central to the developing district between South Front Street and Third Street, now known as the Cape Fear Historic Byway;  Near Greenfield Lake.

Cathy Johnson http://cathyjohnsonfineartstudio.com/

In Her Own Words

While my art is mostly self taught, I have benefited from art studies at UNC-Wilmington and have taken many workshops and classes in painting and woodcarving from world renowned instructors.

Although I paint a variety of subjects, including pet portraits and abstracts, I am especially intrigued with wildlife and nature. 

I strongly feel that working from nature instills in me the need to capture and preserve as art the world we see around us.

I view each new painting as an adventure. I so enjoy learning and exploring the mysteries of the animal kingdom as I work on each piece -  such as the many birds of prey and the wildlife we have along the southeastern coast.  

Whether working with charcoal, graphite, oils, or wood, I like to manipulate these mediums to capture the inner strength, personality, and mood of each creature.  

And because of these mediums, I am always looking for new ideas to further aid and educate myself in developing my own unique style.  

I am currently a member of the Associated Artists of Southport, the Wilmington Art Association, and the Cape Fear Woodcarvers Club where I can share ideas and learn from other artists. 

I have won many awards in competitions and my work hangs in private and corporate collections across the USA. 

For the past eighteen years I have lived with my husband Steve in the rural area of Bolivia, NC where I enjoy the great outdoors and fresh air on a daily basis.

I truly appreciate you viewing my work and please enjoy all of my galleries!

Jeanette Cloud, one of theArtWorks™ newest artists. Recently retired and getting back into her art. Testing mediums and expressions

Al DiMarco Jazz Musician and Accordionist  http://www.aldimarco.com/

Currently Al is playing with such musicians as jazz musicians Benny Hill and Lee Venters, occasional performances with Susan Savia, and in a local blues band known as Snake Malone & The Black Cat Bone, along with fill in work with other bands.  My solo work includes performances at senior facilities, weddings, private events and restaurants.

In a nutshell...

I've been playing music professionally for more than 35 years. Accordion lessons began at age six and I later learned to play the piano, trumpet and vibes. In my early teens I started singing and writing songs. Over the years since then I've worked as a solo, with bands of my own and in others' bands. I've played in cocktail lounges, "show rooms", concert halls; at weddings, parties, festivals; the usual things that musicians do. I've also written, produced and performed original songs for radio commercials, Cable TV shows and corporate trade presentations.

Some years ago, after moving to California from the East coast, I stepped into the realm of studio musician, playing accordion and keyboards on a number of CD's for independent artists .

In 2001 I was hired by Disney Entertainment to perform in Japan at their newest theme park: Tokyo DisneySea. I played there for sixteen months completing my work at the park in late 2002. After finishing at DisneySea, I continued to live in Japan, playing in and around Tokyo as a pianist, vocalist and accordionist. My time in Japan totalled 7 years, finally moving back to the U.S. in 2008.