Arts News in Raleigh

In the tradition of some of the world’s most vibrant locales, Art Raleigh will transform the city into a weekend celebration of the state’s fine art and craft community.  This first-of-its-kind art fair will showcase Raleigh’s leading galleries, arts organizations, and a juried arts and crafts exhibition and sale.

To supplement the kickoff weekend for the North Carolina State Fair, Arts Alive will hold it’s fourth of four events, Art Raleigh. This final event, which will take place October 18th & 19th on Lichtin Plaza in front of the Progress Energy Performing Arts Center, is highlighted by a art fair, showcasing the work of North Carolina artists.

Click through for the details on Art Raleigh.

While it is included on our First Friday Guide, we thought Rebus Works’ show Pro/Con was worth highlighting.  The politically themed art show is seasonally appropriate and diverse in the forms of political expression it showcases. One of the most exciting parts of the show is work by Combat Paper a project where Iraq War vets use their uniforms to make paper and then create works with that paper reflecting on the war experience.

Shown: Joe Grant - Kim Jong-il

Full Release Below The Fold

Pete Sack at Morning Times

Tonight will be a beautiful night to walk through downtown touring galleries and mingling with townies.  The shows look good and the weather is just right.  DesignBox hosts two shows that look fun, one, a reading of Big Beard, the Raleigh Quarterly’s children’s book that has been illustrated by artists from all over the nation. The artwork will be for sale and the live reading should be a hoot. DesignBox will also host a large selection of halloween masks painted and designed by local artists. 

Lump looks stellar as usual with a show curated by John Freeborn telling the evolution of the Philadelphia art scene. Rebus Works will host the poignant Pro/Con a politically themed show with masterful works by artists and veterans.

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Our Visual Map and Guide to All the Shows

On Tuesday October 7th, local singer/songwriter Tift Merritt will host the Raleigh Medal of Arts Ceremony at the Fletcher Theater for Performing Arts in Downtown Raleigh.

fashionSpark’s fashion show has always been the biggest event of sparkCon.  This year’s lineup included established local designers and newcomers alike in what was a flashy affair drawing a big crowd to the Moore Square outdoor stage.  While the third annual event was a shorter, more streamlined affair,  it showcased the most professional set of local designers ever collected in the Raleigh area.

Over 100 pictures below the fold