Wilkes Women in Art

Wilkes Women in Art

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, a lot of things changed with the way business was done at Wilkes Art Gallery. For a place that had relied on in-person events and gatherings to show off the visual art on exhibit, not being able to gather indoors was a challenge. But it was one that the women of the art gallery, Ashley Barton and Kayla Merrell, approached with their signature creativity and enthusiasm, and they quickly found new ways to bring art to the people of Wilkes.

One such effort is currently on display. March is Youth Art Month, and to celebrate, the gallery has curated and exhibit of art from students in Wilkes County schools. The high school students have their art on display inside the museum, and the art from K-8 students is displayed in various businesses throughout towns of Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro. Having the art displayed through town gave people the ability to see the exhibit without crowding into small space, in light of the COVID restrictions, but it also brought the added benefit of reaching more of the community by being out in public.

“This event was a great opportunity for us in a couple of different ways,” Ashley says. “We’re really interested in growing our partnership with the schools, to connect with students provide education centering around the importance of the arts. This art exhibit just builds on that initiative. It’s also been a great way to build a bridge between the two towns, connecting them with art.”

Another benefit of the pandemic has been the expansion of the digital art gallery. “In the past we shied away from relying on digital content,” says Kayla. “We as artists can sometimes feel a bias towards experiencing art in person, especially the visual arts. But as we invested in our online gallery, we found it’s been a way to make our art accessible to many more people.”

Even as people in the community start getting vaccines and restrictions on the number of people allowed indoors are lifted, the two expect to continue to promote their online presence. “Not everyone feels comfortable coming into the art gallery,” Kayla says. “There’s an underlying anxiety, or stigma, about who the arts are for, and the great thing about putting the art online for people to view in their homes is it takes away that anxiety.”

Improving the access to the arts for people in Wilkes County falls right in line with the goals of the founding mother of Wilkes Art Gallery, Annie Winkler. Seeing a need for a place in Wilkesboro to experience the visual arts, Annie opened up her own home to the arts community, allowing artists to set up exhibits and inviting friends and neighbors to come view their work. “Annie took a real hands-on approach to fostering the art community in Wilkes,” Ashley says. “She didn’t just provide a place to exhibit, she would take an artist around and introduce them to people, drive them around to find subject matter, she really helped artists further their craft.”

A lot has changed since Annie’s time. No longer do artists exhibit their work in someone’s living room. The art gallery now inhabits the old post office, renovated in 2004 to provide the arts community with over 3,500 square feet of exhibition space, an education center with a ceramics studio, painting and drawing studios for local artists, two multi-purpose classrooms and a gift shop with work from regional artists.

While the space may have changed, the mission has not. Through programs, scholarships, grants and other initiatives, Ashley and Kayla are following Annie Winkler’s example, to support the arts community in Wilkes County and improve access to the arts for all residents. It’s no coincidence that this team of women leading the Wilkes Art Gallery into the future are also finding ways to help support women artists in Wilkes County, whether it be helping attain grant money to support local businesses or providing studio and exhibit space, the gallery is continuing to build on the vision started in 1962 in Annie Winkler’s parlour.

Plan Your Visit:

Wilkes Art Gallery is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

You can also view many exhibits through a virtual tour, just click on Past Exhibits.

And be sure to check out the many difference classes, workshops and summer camp opportunities.