Century Center hosts ‘Unexpected’ art
By Jordan Lawrence
Staff Writer
Commons Photo by Jordan Lawrence
Though art is never unexpected in Carrboro, an exhibit on display in the Century Center has been given just that title.
“The Unexpected Interlude,” a series of paintings by Chapel Hill resident Eileen Neacy, will be on display until the end of February.
The series, which consists mostly of abstract and landscape paintings, has been on display since January. A formal reception with Neacy will be held at the Century Center Friday, Feb. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Neacy explained that the name refers to the tumultuous period during which she produced the paintings.
Neacy and her family moved to North Carolina in 2003 when she took a job as strategy and operations manager for the Eli Lilly research facility in Research Triangle Park.
The facility was shut down in 2005, however, and Neacy lost her job.
“It was during this period that I was doing most of the paintings,” Neacy said.
Because of this unanticipated transitional period Neacy named the series “The Unexpected Interlude.”
The exhibit is part of a program with the Carrboro Art Committee in which both the Century Center and Town Hall display art by a different artist every two months.
The program is meant to cater to people in Carrboro with high interest in the arts, said Jackie Helvey, member of the Carrboro Art Committee and founder of Carrboro.com.
“It’s good to promote the arts in Carrboro because there are so many artistic types,” she said. “It’s good for the economy and it’s just good for the soul.”
Helvey added that the program is also an excellent opportunity to expose local artists such as Neacy.
“I think it really adds so much to the walls to have local art hanging,” she said. “It gives the artist the opportunity to sell their work as well and have it seen.”
The tradition of hanging local art in public places in Carrboro began in 1998 with the help of former Mayor Mike Nelson, now a member of the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
Art was first hung in Town Hall, and when the Century Center opened in 2001 exhibits were displayed there as well.
Neacy, who has never had her work exhibited in Carrboro before, said that she is pleased with the exhibit and with the people running the program.
“It’s a good group of folks,” she said. “I’ve just had a great experience with all of them.”
Neacy added that she is anxious to discuss her work with people at the reception.
“I haven’t gotten any kind of feed back yet,” she said. “It’ll be good to be at the reception.”
Neacy was unable to name a favorite among the works being shown.
“They’re like my kids, it would be hard to give them up,” she said. “I love them all.”
Neacy’s paintings are accompanied by Geneva Sophia’s series of photographs, “Dispatch From Beijing,” on display in Town Hall.
Sophia’s photographs will also be shown throughout February.
For more information on upcoming exhibitions sponsored by the Carrboro Art Committee, visit www.carrboro.com/artcommitteecalendar.
