By Stephanie Kane
Carrboro Commons Writer

Mary Votta, Panzanella Gallery coordinator, stands with some of the paintings featured at the exhibit. Artists featured (left to right) are Sharon Barnes (top), Marcy Lansman and Maureen Detwiler.
Staff photo by Stephanie Kane

The Panzanella Gallery is currently hosting the first ever “Local Farms/Local Art” exhibit in conjunction with the 13^th Annual Piedmont Farm Tour.

The exhibit of 30 paintings, drawings and photography by 26 North Carolina artists will be in Panzanella until June 1.

There were few restrictions stipulated, said gallery coordinator Mary Votta, except “that it had to be evocative of North Carolina farms, ideally inspired by farms anywhere in North Carolina.”

The Piedmont Farm Tour, taking place Earth Day weekend, April 19-20, involves only farms within the Piedmont. This year, five new farms were added to the tour for a total of 35 farms.

How the artists were chosen:

Votta received 170 entries from artists from as far as Beaufort, though most submissions came from Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Durham artists.

Through an electronic screening process, Votta, Barbara Matilsky of the Ackland Art Museum and a small selection team chose 30 pieces for the exhibit that they said “captured the flavor of this region.”

On Monday, April 28, Panzanella will hold a reception honoring the artists and their works. Votta expects all available artists to attend as well.

Panzanella is currently accepting votes for favorite pieces from customers at the restaurant and will announce the top three vote-getters at the reception, which will feature light hors d’oeuvres and an open bar.

“Guests are very enthusiastic about voting,” Votta said, “I have mixed feelings about when I finally have to count them!”

“Ned” by Nathalie Worthington is one of 30 paintings on display at the “Local Farms/ Local Art” exhibit. The exhibit will be in Panzanella from April 1 through June 1.
Staff photo by Stephanie Kane

Some notable pieces:

One piece, “Ned,” by Nathalie Worthington, where a small goat’s face stares curiously at the viewer, has caught the eye of several employees, including Votta.

Another, “Faraway,” by Cynthia Bainbridge, has already been sold this week.

While every piece is for sale, they will remain in Panzanella throughout the duration of the exhibit. Prices range from $75 to $2,800.

The Panzanella Gallery is a function of the Weaver Street Market Cooperative, a founding sponsor of the Piedmont Farm Tour. The restaurant is able to handle payment and delivery on behalf of the artists for artwork currently on display.

Votta, who likes the association with the Piedmont Farm Tour, hopes to make “Local Farms/Local Art” an annual exhibit.

“There’s a lot that local artists and North Carolina agriculture can share, and the interest is there,” Votta said.