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 Linda Kidd | The Daily Herald On right, the unique metal sculptures of Glen Garrison grace the yard of the Grant home on Lake Gaston for the second annual Fall for the Arts. The event is a fundraiser for O’SAIL, an organization dedicated to the arts and improving life in the Lake Gaston community. |
The second annual Fall for the Arts showcased not only local artists, but also artists from around the state, Virginia, South Carolina and Florida. It is sponsored by the Organization to Support the Arts, Infrastructure and Learning (O’SAIL) on Lake Gaston.
The artists’ works were displayed in seven private homes in the northwest quadrant of the lake. People had a chance to see art while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
Dennis Wells said he thought the event was very well planned. “We are halfway through it and found it to be very enjoyable,” he said.
An art teacher at Enfield Middle School and William R. Davie Middle School, he said it was great to see cultural events in the area. “I think we need more things like this,” he said.
Kathy Dikeman, a member of the Fall for the Arts Committee, chairman of O’ Sail and an exhibitor, was pleased with the turnout for the event. “Today has been nonstop people constantly getting out and enjoying arts on the lake,” Dikeman said.
On Friday night, the committee and the artists participating in the event traveled by bus to the different homes to preview the artwork. “We got to see all the art,” she said. “It was exciting to see all the artists’ network.”
Money from the event will be used to support information kiosks being built on the lake with the first going up in January. “We hope the funding will be successful so we can do a second or third one,” she said.
Dikeman said she has worked with textiles since she learned from her grandmother and mother as a child. “I have been knitting since I was 5 years old. I love to knit, crochet and any kind of needlework” she said. “I don’t like to sit with idle time. Whenever I am a passenger in a car or watching television, I’ll have my knitting needles.”
She had her scarves on display for people to buy. “They can use them as scarves or as belts,” Dikeman said. “I saw someone wearing one in her hair.”
They are sold under the name of Avery Scot Accessories. Avery is her granddaughter.
Lynne Simeon, of Roanoke Rapids, looked at several of Dikeman’s scarves. She said she thought the event was great. “You can tell the artists put some time into this, “ she said.
Simeon applauded the committee for their work. “They did a great job of selecting who got to show their work,” she said.
She added she planned to buy some things at the event. “Maybe a birthday or Christmas present or maybe something for me,” she said with a laugh.
B.J. Goswick, of Louisburg, knew exactly what she wanted to buy — some wooden spoons from Wayne Herrman of Littleton. “I am not leaving without getting some spoons,” she said.
Goswick attended with some friends who decided to have a girls’ outing. “We thought this would be fun,” she said. “It has been great. The people, the houses and the food have been great.”
As Herrman talked to her about the various spoons, he said some people buy them for decorative purposes. Goswick disagreed. “If I buy it,” she said. “I will use it. It will not be hanging up.”
Herrman started making spoons 20 years ago, when his next door neighbor came home from a craft show. He said she talked about seeing someone with some very primitive spoons.
“She said ‘Wayne, I bet you could make a better spoon,’” he said.
Herrman worked on a spoon that night and showed it to her the next day. “It was that little action that got me started,” Herrman said.
For a time, he made spoons to give away as presents for family and friends. About five years ago, his wife told him he had a lot of spoons and needed to either start selling them or stop making them. “Since then, I have sold a few spoons,” he said.
Herrman makes many varieties of crooked and laminated spoons from oak, hickory, maple, walnut and cherry woods.
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