Artspace

Artspace is a non-profit visual art center dedicated to presenting quality exhibitions and educational programs within an open-studio environment. Since 1986, Artspace has been inspiring creative energy by bringing artists and the public together to experience the creative process in a very real and personal way

The Artspace building, located at 201 East Davie Street, has always been a center of activity and a community focal point. The 30,000 square foot building was built in 1911 as Raleigh’s city livery. At that time Raleigh businesses were located around Capitol Square. Fayetteville Street was the main street of commerce and the City Market area focused on bringing county residents into town to sell produce and goods for markets around the city.

The next owner of the building was the Sanders Ford Car Dealership, which at the time was one of the largest dealerships in North Carolina. In 1969, urban sprawl forced the Sanders Ford Dealership to move from the downtown area, leaving the building empty for several years.

Raleigh began to refocus its efforts on downtown revitalization, and with that mission in mind, Artspace was the perfect solution to enhance and rejuvenate the City Market and Moore Square Areas.

Artspace officially opened its doors and invited the public to experience the art making process in November of 1986. At that time, the City Market area suffered from problems relating to urban decay and was in need of revitalization. In many ways Artspace and its founders were pioneers in downtown Raleigh, convincing arts organizations and artists to join them in creating this new visual art center and bringing visitors to a then blighted area.

Artspace Visual Art Center

201 E Davie St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 821-2787
Get directions

What Is This Place?

I've never noticed this place until last night. There are no signs indicating what type of business or gallery this is. The address is 400 East Martin Street, and searches yield nothing.

Anyone know?

UPDATE: Reader jbroome points out that this is the home to Bryan Regan Photography.


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Theatre In The Park

According to the plaque in the lower right corner of the third image, the old North Carolina National Guard building was built by the Works Progress Administration during the years of 1935-1937. The Ira David Wood III Theatre In The Park web site says that

Theatre In The Park is located in the northern end of Raleigh’s scenic Pullen Park and is internationally acclaimed for its outstanding theatrical achievements—more than 40,000 people attending our programming last year alone. TIP is second only to the celebrated Louisville Actor’s Theatre in original works premiered— producing over 40 original plays during the last two decades (two of which moved to off-Broadway).

Originally chartered in 1947, TIP started out as The Children's Theatre of Raleigh, Inc. During the early 70s, its name was changed to Theatre In The Park in order to reflect its expanded programming, location and new "home" in The National Guard Armory building located in scenic Pullen Park. In 2004, the building was renamed as “The Ira David Wood III Pullen Park Theatre,” to reflect the decades of work done by Executive and Artistic Director, Ira David Wood III.

The facility includes a beautiful garden (named for its caregiver, John Bento, a fellow City of Raleigh employee), Season Member Lounge, administrative offices, costume shop, technical workshop, dressing rooms, lobby and totally flexible (black box) performance space. The theatre is in-door, air conditioned and has a seating capacity of approximately 250. Year-round programming includes no less than four mainstage productions, classes, workshops and independent productions.

Between TIP, Stewart Theatre, and The Raleigh Little Theatre, this little patch of Raleigh sure has quite an array of performing arts options.

107 Pullen Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 831-6936
Get directions

The Violinist Of Hillsborough Street

David McKnight has been playing beautiful music on Hillsborough Street for a long time. Many street performers are somewhat transient in nature with regard to where they play, but David isn't. He is always near the stairs to Mitch's Tavern.
Dana over at gogoraleigh suggested that the "no hands king" should get a statue dedicated to him, or at least agreed with the idea. While I don't disagree with the awesomeness of the no hands king, I think that David is slightly more deserving of such an honor. He has exposed college kids to music they would otherwise never hear, in addition to adding an element of class and sophistication to an area that is usually devoid of it. I've been wanting to get a photo of him for some time, but the spring semester Hillsborough Hike presented the first opportunity for me to do so. He's almost out exlusively during the day.
This was David's tenth Spring Hillsborough Hike performance. For the past 10 years he has graced passersby with his playing. He plays lunch sets at Global Village on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Flanders Art Gallery at 311 West Martin St.

Flanders Art Gallery was opened with the past First Friday (November 2) and according to their website,

This new exhibit space differs from Flanders Art Gallery, located at 18 Seaboard; on the whole the work may be edgier, more contemporary and experimental with drawings, photography, and other works on paper in a range of styles by innovative emerging artists.

Opening the gallery for the month of November is “Works by Diane Feissel and Sharon Lee Hart.” ... Flanders 311 is open Tuesdays through Saturday, 10am-6pm and on First Friday from 10am-9pm. For more information, contact Kelly Flanders McChesney at 919-834-5044 or www.flandersartgallery.com.

The piece seen in the window is Tabula Rasa 2, and is a 30" x 40" oil on canvas. You can get a better view on the item's page at the Flander's Art Gallery website.

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More Photos from the Fish Market

Out of view is a fan which would blow the fish's fins to and fro as well as provide a comfortable breeze.

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There were a few more photos I wanted to post from The Fish Market last Friday.

Fish Market Gallery
133 Fayetteville St
http://www.ncsu.edu/www/ncsu/design/sod5/fishmarket/events-show.html