NCA Art Gallery Committee: Jan Cobb, Ellen Kelly, Alecs Long, Dianne Traylor, Lee Phillips-head of photography, Kim Walker-President of North Central Arkansas Foundation for the Arts & Education (NCAF&E), Catherine Swift-Director of the Community Education Center. Seated: Charlotte Rierson- NCA Art Gallery Coordinator, Mayor Paul Wellenberger, and Bonnie Hookman.
Celebrating 25 years of the NCA Art Gallery
Tuesday July 24, 6-8pm
Fairfield Bay Conference Center
The North Central Arkansas (NCA) Art Gallery is celebrating the Gallery’s Silver Anniversary. The public is invited to a Celebration & Reception July 24, 6-8 pm. Please come meet the artist and show your support the arts. The Arkansas Arts Council is sending Their Director and other representatives to talk to us about the Arts. The NCA Art Gallery is located in the Fairfield Bay Conference Center, 110 Lost Creek Pkwy. The gallery is a program of The City of Fairfield Bay and the North Central Arkansas Foundation for the Arts & Education (NCAF&E) and Fairfield Bay Community Club. For more information contact Art Gallery Coordinator, Charlotte Rierson, 501-884-6100, [email protected] or Conference Director, Wilba Thompson, 501-884-4202.
Some in our community can reflect back over the years since the North Central Arkansas Foundation of the Arts & Education started the North Central Arkansas (NCA) Art Gallery in 1993. The Executive Director (volunteer) of NCAFAE, Charlotte Rierson’s passion for promoting the arts worked with the board, who at that time was Dale Chapman-President, Al Franken-Vice President, Bernita Chapman-Secretary and Irene Puckett the founder of the NCAF&E. The Art Gallery brought such favorable results that others venues wanted to have art gallery in their space. Dick Kellenberg and Jo Chandler worked with Charlotte and established the gallery at the Fairfield Bay Library. Now several places have paintings exhibited throughout Fairfield Bay and surrounding areas. The gallery has featured artist leagues, professional artists, emerging artists as well as student exhibits. Charlotte has also been writing articles for the local paper since the beginning of the gallery. Charlotte says working with the arts has been her life’s passion. Now the gallery has evolved into having a “real gallery” space in the Fairfield Bay Conference Center. The NCA Art Galley now housed in the Fairfield Bay Conference Center is in its fifth year of operation. The center was opened in October 2013 after many years of setting empty. So many in our community donated funds so the gallery could have professional lighting, hanging rails for the paintings and photography and glass show case for 3 dimensional art. This all gave the gallery a professional look that can compete with the larger galleries in metropolitan areas. Bob and Sharon Berdine were responsible for making the donation box and Van Swink Memorial helped the gallery with funding exhibit supplies. The FFB Community Club, City of FFB, and NCAF&E have always been supportive of the arts. The gallery brings excellent quality art to our community with good taste and family values. Over the last four and half years, the gallery has been visited by hundreds of visitors from all parts of the U.S. and beyond. Vacationers, time share owners, residents, students, people of all ages and all walks of life have found their way to the North Central Arkansas Art Gallery. As we are in year five at the Conference Center, we look back with appreciation and thanks to those who have served and supported the continued effort it takes to keep the gallery open and functioning. To all of the many talented and dedicated artists, to all of the faithful volunteers who receive, inventory, and display the art. To all of the people who daily keep the art bountifully on view and most of all to people who visit, view, and purchase the art. The viewing of the art is open to the public whenever the Conference Center is open. The Conference Center is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
About the NCA Art Gallery:
The North Central Arkansas (NCA) Art Gallery Mission is to bring quality Fine Art to our community with good taste & family values. The artists are professionals as well as emerging new artists. The artwork is open to all Artists and chosen by a selection committee under the direction of Art Coordinator, Charlotte Rierson.
Art Gallery hours are Tue. – Fri., 9am-4pm (However, when we have conferences, meetings, weddings, events, entertainment, or visitors coming for information about The Bay, the art is available for viewing). The viewing of the Art is open & free of charge to the public. All art is available for purchase. The NCA Art Gallery is sponsored by the North Central Arkansas Foundation for the Arts & Education (NCAF&E) and The City of Fairfield Bay. For more information or purchase of artwork, contact NCA Art Coordinator, Charlotte Rierson – 501-884-6100, email [email protected] or Conference Center Directors, Wilba or Bob Thompson for more information- 501-884-4202, [email protected], 110 Lost Creek Parkway, Fairfield Bay 72088.