The Guide to Roanoke Island

The Arts Are Alive

By Lee Schindel

Roanoke Island has become a haven for artists. For such a small town, there is an unusually diverse array of artwork being created and displayed.

“There are over 500 practicing artists on the Outer Banks,” says Dr. Emily Robertson, program director for the Center for Professional Arts at College of the Albemarle, located on Roanoke Island. Robertson, a practicing artist herself, explains that Manteo is a microcosm of the larger arts community on the Outer Banks. She says that the town is an arts destination because there are so many galleries in a concentrated area, and the arts community is growing.

Jewelry artist Kathryn Stewart says that since opening the doors of her own gallery and studio on the island six years ago, she has seen the resident artist community on Roanoke Island triple in size. The variety is spectacular; on Roanoke Island alone, you’ll see blacksmiths, jewelers, weavers, potters, painters and stained-glass makers.

Many shops are a combination gallery and artists’ studio, so you’ll also be able to observe the artists at work. In the artists’ workspace you’ll see the artwork as it’s created, instead of just the finished products displayed on the shelves or walls. Stewart says that while seeing a finished piece of jewelry in a display case is beautiful, seeing the making of the jewelry is interesting and a great way for the artist to connect with their clientele. If you have questions you’re in luck - the resident artists love discussing their work.

To see expertly crafted jewelry, visit the Silver Bonsai Gallery, owned by Kathryn Stewart and her husband Ben. The shop is on the main highway in Manteo. In the Stewarts’ open studio you’ll see them use state-of-the-art technology and heirloom quality techniques, such as hand engraving, to create unique, custom jewelry. Diamonds Ôn’ Dunes, in the Waterfront Shops, features the work of the owners, like jewelry designs with colored gemstones by Eileen and lighthouse designs by Ken. If you’re inspired to make your own jewelry, you can sign up for a class at the nearby College of the Albemarle. You can create a treasure to take home, like a wire-wrapped sea-glass ornament, in just a half-day workshop.

There are many talented potters in Manteo. Scott Stockdale can be found raku-firing his ceramics, sold at his shop, Gallery 101 Main Street Studio on Budleigh Street. Gallery 101 is an open studio, with workspace for artists and ceramics classes. They host weekend workshops on pit-firing ceramics on the beach, as well as workshops in raku, a sixteenth-century Japanese firing technique. The gallery features work by Outer Banks artists like Stockdale, Sharon Enoch and other North Carolina artists. Nearby is Nancyware Pottery, where the potter exhibits her work and has studio space. Watch Nancy work at the wheel and take a ceramics class here in the off-season. On Fernando Street you’ll find the original Manteo ceramics shop, Wanchese Pottery, where local potters Bonnie and Bob Morrill are often at work in their studio. Come in and see the finished products for sale on the shelves, and ask the potters questions about their work.

For a step back in time, you can see a blacksmith at work on the lawn in the center of Magnolia Market. Blacksmith Randy Hodges makes all kinds of ironworks, from vintage tools to wine racks, all hand-forged. Hodges sells his creations at the Blacksmith’s Store. In the Waterfront Shops in downtown Manteo you’ll find the studio space and gallery for the local painter Steve Andrus. Andrus works with watercolor, and his paintings are done not from photographs, but entirely from his imagination, fueled by his own experiences as a sailor and a mountaineer. In Andrus’ studio there are often several paintings in progress, giving a glimpse into how the artist works.

If you’re interested in fabric, stop by Endless Possibilities on Budleigh Street in downtown Manteo. This weaving studio is colorful and cheerful, and the feeling is infectious. You’ll see weavers and volunteers working at the looms with recycled fabric from the Hotline thrift stores, weaving the discarded pieces into something new, useful and beautiful. In the shop there’s artwork on consignment from artists who work with recycled materials to create sculpture, jewelry, hats and more. All of the proceeds at this shop go to support Hotline, a local non-profit organization that offers community services like crisis intervention and prevention. The mission of Endless Possibilities is inspiring, and weaving is a great artistic outlet. Volunteering here is free, and they’ll teach you to weave. For a fee, you can even keep what you make.

Many Manteo art galleries showcase local artists. The Christmas Shop and Island Gallery is along the main highway. The shop is an amalgam of rooms devoted to holiday decorations of all sorts, and the Island Gallery features fine art from local and regional artists. Another great gallery to visit is the Roanoke Heritage Art Galleries, where you can view the work of native wildlife artist Herbert Bliven. The shop is on Ananias Dare Street, across Highway 64 from the downtown area. You’ll find photographs, original artwork and prints, all framed with Bliven’s distinctive wooden frames. Bliven also has a fascinating Civil War museum with artifacts he found on the island.

In the historic waterfront area of Manteo, the art galleries are so close together it’s best to park the car and stroll between them. The art gallery at Roanoke Island Festival Park features rotating exhibits, mostly of local or regional artists or groups. The setting is peaceful, and perfect for ruminating over what’s hanging on the walls. The Outer Banks History Center’s exhibit space is next door, and always offers an interesting perspective on area history. Exhibits often include artwork, like black and white photographs from decades ago or swirling batiks of the landscape and waterways.

The John Silver Gallery is on Fernando Street, with paintings by Roanoke Island native John Silver and a variety of works by other artists. The Sea and Sounds Gallery, which is operated by the Dare County Arts Council, is on Sir Walter Raleigh Street. This is the place to find lots of work by local artists, and because there are so many, there’s a great variety here. Volunteers with the Dare County Arts Council take turns staffing the gallery, so you’re likely to meet a Dare County artist here.

Local arts education and organizations include strong arts programs in Dare County Schools (attend a student art show and prepare to be amazed by the talent of these young artists) and the local Arts Council. The Center for Professional Arts at College of the Albemarle includes professional clay and jewelry-making programs. The programs are very intensive and include business courses. Robertson says the program’s goal is to educate artists who will stay on the Outer Banks and pursue a career in their craft, thereby helping to keep the local arts scene thriving.

Don’t overlook Wanchese when you’re looking for arts. A visit to Decoys by Nick Sapone, the artist’s studio in Wanchese, will provide a glimpse into a time-honored Outer Banks craft. Sapone carves hunting-style duck decoys, and even employs the traditional Outer Banks canvas style.

Artists Ellinor and Robert Nick are also at work in Wanchese. Nick-E Stained Glass is the Nicks’ studio, gallery and classroom. The Nicks are expert instructors; they’ve had more than 500 stained-glass students in the past 20 years. Their stained-glass windows can be seen in several local churches.

While you’re vacationing on the Outer Banks, spend an afternoon strolling through the art galleries on Roanoke Island. Better yet, get started in the morning, with the whole day ahead of you, because you’ll find there is quite a lot of talent for such a little island.