Earrings by Stacey Lane.
Mica Gallery of Bakersville is mixing it up this year.
In addition to presenting the work of its seven artist members, the gallery has invited 25 guest artists to exhibit throughout the 2023 season.
“Supporting more artists in the community and sharing a wider range of media were the driving forces behind our changes for the year,” said Robbie Bell of Speckled Dog Pottery, Mica’s president.
Guest artists featured in the gallery this year bring distinctive, personal styles to their works in iron, jewelry, sculptural books, painting, glass, clay, textiles and wood.
Mica will feature Kurt Anderson’s signature painted creatures, Andy Dohner’s steel cooking utensils and trivets, Bridgette Fox’s iconic biomorphic porcelains and Kit Paulson’s intricate flameworked glass.
Other new artists include Colleen Connolly, John Geci, Judson Guerard, Gary Jobe, Nick Joerling, Sage Morgan, Joy Tanner, Amanda Taylor, Audrey Laine Sawyer, Jim Cooper, Melissa Engler and Graham Priddle.
Returning favorites are Valerie Berlage, Pam Brewer, Sondra Dorn, Daniel Essig, Nathan Favors, Nita Forde, Simona Rosasco and JJ Brown, Carmen Grier, Stacey Lane and Katherine McCarty.
“Adding these artists as guests to what Mica’s members offer will enable the gallery to grow and serve our visitors with a wider range of the incredible work made in this region,” Bell said. “We know so many talented craftspeople whose work deserves to be more widely seen.”
In recent years, Mica has drawn visitors from more than 26 states and 20 towns in North Carolina, upstate South Carolina and the Johnson City, Tennessee area.
Over the winter, Mica’s members created a new website (micagallerync.com), restaged the gallery and made new work. The new website includes works by all members and invited guests as well as links to artist websites.
Ceramics will remain strong with functional and sculptural works by Lisa Joerling, Teresa Pietsch, David Ross, Gay Smith and Bell.
Vicki Essig will bring her delicate, book-related inventions with mica and intricately woven silk pieces. Jean McLaughlin will add her explorations in mono-printing, lithography and woodcuts.
Mica Gallery is at 37 Mitchell Ave., Bakersville. It’s open April 1 through Dec. 31.
The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
For more information, call 688-6422 or visit micagallerync.com. Follow the gallery on Facebook at Mica Gallery NC or on Instagram at micagallerync.