...a long resume of accomplishments including early aerial photography and being a leading...

4 NEW BERN MAGAZINE JUNE 2020

6 Downtown Street Cafes

8 This Month in New Bern History

12 First “Selfie” Snapped a Long Time Ago

14 New Bern Bears

16 A Salute to the 1st North Carolina Colored Volunteers

18 Cocktail of the Month

22 The Battle of New Bern

24 Map

24 Advertiser Directory

28 An Interview with Bille Ruth Sudduth

32 Art Events

40 More Events

60 Oriental

New Bern

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VOL. 6 • NO. 8 • JUNE 2020

EDITORIAL DEADLINE for the JULY 2020 issueis June 10th. Email articles, events & photos to

[email protected]

TO ADVERTISEChristine Farver • 252.626.5812

[email protected]

Matt Farver • [email protected]

New Bern Magazine is a free publication distributed at select locations in Craven and Pamlico counties. Entire contents, maps, advertisements and graphic design elements copyright 2020 Inspired Publishing. Reproduction is strictly prohibited without the publisher’s consent.

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CONTENTS

JUNE 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 5

CONTENTS


This Monthin New Bern History

By Claudia Houston, New Bern Historical Society

New Bern is the site of many significant “firsts” – first provincial convention in America held in defiance of British orders, North Carolina’s first capital, first postal service, first free public school, and first black-owned bank. During the month of June in the year 1749, New Bern was the site of a major new institution that had a profound cultural and political impact on the future of the Old North State.

Prior to the mid-eighteenth century, information and news in North Carolina were passed through word of mouth and handwritten records. As the population grew and towns formed from rural areas, the provincial government found the handwritten, incomplete and error-filled colonial laws inadequate. After voting to revise the laws, the Assembly hired James Davis of Williamsburg, Virginia, and on June 24, 1749, Davis arrived in New Bern to become North Carolina’s first public printer.

Davis had likely apprenticed under William Parks, at that time Virginia’s first and only printer. The printing press Davis brought with him to New Bern from Williamsburg was the first to be used in North Carolina. He initially set up shop on Pollock Street, but later moved to the southwest corner of Broad and East Front Streets. In 1749, Davis printed the first official publication for the colony entitled The Journal of the House of Burgesses of the Province of North Carolina.

Davis was also responsible for printing the colony’s first currency. In 1751 he finally completed the revisal of the colonial laws. While completing his public printer duties, out of financial necessity he supplemented his income by private printing. In 1751, Davis began publishing the first newspaper in the colony, the North-Carolina Gazette, with the motto, “With the freshest advices, foreign and domestick,” which he produced until 1760. Davis started another newspaper in 1764, called The North Carolina Magazine; or, Universal Intelligencer, but it only lasted four years. In 1768, he resumed publication of The North-Carolina Gazette, which continued to be printed until 1778.

Photos courtesy of Gray Whitley, New Bern Sun Journal.


511 Broad St. • 252.638.8558newbernhistorical.org

In 1753, Davis published a book, A Collection of Many Christian Experiences, Sentences, and Several Places of Scripture Improved, written by Reverend Clement Hall. This book was a first in several categories: the first book written by a native of North Carolina and the first privately printed, non-legal book published in the colony. Davis served as North Carolina’s public printer for almost thirty-three years and published over one hundred documents in that time.

While he was a prolific printer, Davis also wore many other public hats. In 1753 he became a member of the county court, an office he held for over 25 years. In 1754 he was elected Sheriff of Craven County, leaving that position after ten months upon his election to the Assembly. He was later appointed New Bern Postmaster and served as a justice of the peace from 1768-1778. Davis was a supporter of the American Revolution and during this period was appointed to numerous influential political positions representing New Bern and Craven County. He reached the zenith of his political career with his 1781 appointment to the Council of State, North Carolina’s powerful executive branch.

James Davis’ appointment in New Bern as the state’s first public printer ushered North Carolina into a new world of information sharing between the state and the rest of the world, brought its citizens unprecedented access to news and ideas, and bound together the colony’s patchwork of isolated rural areas into a single political entity. He died in New Bern in 1785 and is buried at Christ Episcopal Church. Inscribed on his gravestone is the following:Established the art of printing in the Colony of North Carolina,1749Public printer to the Colony and the StatePublished first book, first newspaper and first magazine in North CarolinaMember of the Council of StateOf the General AssemblyOf the Provincial ConventionOf the Provincial CongressAnd of the Committee of Safety for the County of Craven and Town of New BernJudge of the Admiralty CourtJustice of the County CourtSheriff of Craven CountyPostmaster and Contractor to convey the public mails from Suffolk to WilmingtonPrinted currency for the colony

Photos courtesy of Gray Whitley, New Bern Sun Journal.


First “selfie” snapped a long time agoby Edward Ellis, Special Correspondent

selfie nounself· ie | \ 'sel-fē \

Definition of selfie: an image that includes oneself (often with another person or as part of a group) and is taken using a digital camera especially for posting on social networks.

You’d think selfies – as much a fixture of modern life as UFO sightings – are a recent phenomenon stemming from the use of cell phones. Even Merriam-Webster define them above as “digital.” Well, not so much. The first self-portrait was taken by a man named Robert Cornelius in 1839 and it ranks among the earliest photographs in the world. The photographic plate was invented by Frenchman Louis Daguerre in the same year. His method used a silver-coated copper plate and fumes of mercury. It took Cornelius, an American silversmith in Philadelphia, just a short time to understand and duplicate Daguerre’s technique.

But while your selfie takes a fraction of a second to create, Cornelius had to sit still for as long as 15 minutes. Quite a feat all by itself. His off-kilter image shows a striking young man with crossed arms and hair much in need of a brush; so, pretty much like the selfies we often see today.

Cornelius’s interest in photography was sparked by a person name John Saxton who, also in 1839, enlisted the silversmith’s help to take a picture of Philadelphia’s Central High School. Cornelius fabricated the silver plate and the resulting image – as dim as it may be

– is the first photo known to have been made in America.

The new technology soon spread. By 1843, a photographer named Stringfellow was offering “Daguerreotypes” in his Raleigh studio. In 1846, members of the North Carolina General Assembly were being solicited for photographic portraits by a gentleman advertising as Mr. Doratt.

First photograph made in United States.

Robert Cornelius, first selfie, 1839


Eddie Ellis is the author of New Bern History 101 and other works about Craven County’s rich heritage. He can be reached at [email protected] Talk

In the late 1840s, you could have your tintype portrait made in Wilmington. During the 1850s, North Carolina photographers offered their services in Fayetteville, Wadesboro, Greensboro, Charlotte and Winston-Salem.

Finally, in 1859, J. W. Watson advertised his “gallery” on New Bern’s Craven Street in the Daily Progress newspaper. Watson boasted that business “for likenesses” was so steady that he’d enlisted the services of two cameramen to handle all the traffic. Fifty cents “and upwards” would cover the cost of a picture.

Soon photography was adopted all over the world and a steady series of photographers has staffed New Bern studios ever since. Considering the dates of these events, it’s clear

to see why such important photos were made during the Civil War. Photography came into its own just in time the capture the historic and horrific events of that unfolded 1861-1865.

One New Bern photographer who later gained national recognition was Mary Bayard Morgan Wootten (1875-1959). Bayard, as she was called (it’s pronounced BY-ard), had a long resume of accomplishments including early aerial photography and being a leading portraitist and landscape specialist. She was the first woman to serve in the N.C. National Guard. And she’s credited as having been the person who named Pepsi-Cola in 1898. She also designed the famous Pepsi logo for her neighbor, Caleb Bradham, who invented the carbonated beverage he first called “Brad’s Drink” in New Bern in 1893.

So, is Bayard Wootten’s stylized likeness, shown here amplified with modern retouching software, a selfie? Maybe.

Photographer’s ad from Newbern Daily Progress, 1859

Selfie? Bayard Wootten


Download an official bear map atvisitnewbern.com/bear-town-bears-details/

New Bern was settled in 1710 by Swiss and Palatine German immigrants led by Baron Christoph DeGraffenried. The new colonists named the settlement after Bern, the capital of Switzerland and hometown of their leader. Many years before New Bern was settled, Bern, Switzerland was founded by a group of hunters who named the city after the first animal they came upon on their hunting expedition...a bear! “Bern” is the old Germanic word for bear, and the bear became the symbol of the city. The bear symbol was passed along to Bern’s sister city, New Bern, and still serves as the city’s mascot with bear flags and statues featured throughout the town.

New Bern celebrated its 300th Anniversary in 2010 by hosting a variety of festivities. In honor of the anniversary, over 50 fiberglass, ceramic bears, sponsored and adopted by local businesses, were situated throughout the city. Once local businesses chose to sponsor and adopt a bear, a year-long process began which included selecting a local artist to design the bear’s theme, and designating a display location for the bear. Originally, 50 bears were erected and since an additional 20 bears have been created and positioned at various locations throughout the city.

Harvest BearNew Bern Farmer’s Market

Artist: Toni & Wayne TaglieriSponsor: New Bern Farmer’s Market

Be sure to see all of New Bern’s Bears! There are over 70 around town.

Dogi The Bear3551 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd.

Artist: Ed Macomber Sponsor: Domino’s Pizza

Kare Bear203 South Front Street

Artist: Sandy BrunoSponsor: Keller Williams Realty


157 years ago, New Bern, North Carolina was the site of an event that would dramatically impact the conduct of the Civil War and provoke a major societal shift across our young nation. In 1863, the United States War Department created the Bureau of Colored Troops, organized to oversee and direct the historic incorporation of black troops into the Union Army. On May 17 of that year, thirteen Union officers and a civilian recruiter arrived in New Bern to organize the “African Brigade,” the country’s first official major military unit largely made up of African American escaped slaves, then known as contraband.

This daunting military and social experiment would settle once and for all the unanswered question of the time, “Can the slave be trained to intelligently and heroically fight as well as his white counterparts?” By the end of the Civil War the answer was a resounding “yes,” as United States Colored Troops (USCT) fought and died in every major campaign of 1864-1865, except Sherman’s invasion of Georgia. As further evidence of the military value of black troops to the war efforts, on March 13, 1865 the Congress of the Confederate States of America passed and President Jefferson Davis signed into law General Order 14 allowing the enlistment of slaves with the promise of freedom.

A Salute to the 1st North CarolinaColored Volunteers

by Bernard George, New Bern Historical Society


After being captured by Union forces in March 1862, New Bern became the headquarters for more than 14,000 Union soldiers. According to an early 1863 census, there were at least 8,500 black refugees or contraband seeking freedom in New Bern and three outlying camps. Many of the refugees became the original residents of James City, a planned freedmen community on the south shores of the Trent River. Due to the area’s large number of contraband, Col. Frank Lee, commander of the 44th Massachusetts, predicted that “a brigade of colored men could be easily raised in North Carolina.”

When charismatic General Edward A. Wild arrived in New Bern in mid-May of 1863, he was accompanied by one of the most experienced and competent staffs of officers that would lead any of the 139 black regiments formed during the Civil War. Fresh from successful efforts to organize and recruit the famous black Massachusetts 54th and 55th Regiments, Gen. Wild was charged with raising four regiments of an “African Brigade” of 4,000 soldiers in the Department of North Carolina. With New Bern serving as the recruitment headquarters for this historic military undertaking, more than 6,000 African Americans enlisted in the Union army.

The first regiment raised by Gen. Wild was the 1st North Carolina Colored Volunteers, commanded by Col. James C. Beecher, brother of author Harriet Beecher Stowe of Uncle Tom’s Cabin fame. Lt. Col. William N. Reed, the Regiment’s second in command, was a seasoned German-trained officer. Some sources describe Reed as a mulatto, although the army had an official policy prohibiting the appointment of black officers in command positions. Col. Beecher’s original staff also included Major John De Grasse, the first black surgeon admitted to a Medical Society in this country and one of only a few black surgeons in a Union regiment. An additional black officer, the Rev. John N. Mars, was selected to be the 1st NCCV Regiment’s chaplain. Undoubtedly, the presence of black officers inspired many of New Bern’s young black men to enlist in the 1st NCCV.

By the end of the Civil War, over 190,000 would black men serve in the Army and Navy. Nearly 40,000 black soldiers died over the course of the war—30,000 of infection or disease. Black soldiers served in infantry and artillery and performed all noncombat support functions as well. Black carpenters, chaplains, cooks, guards, laborers, nurses, scouts, spies, steamboat pilots, surgeons, and teamsters also contributed to the war cause.

The flames of racial prejudice cut short the majority of the heroic military careers of our nation’s first black Civil War leaders. Nevertheless, this grand experiment in New Bern helped sow the seeds of change that would one day allow all Americans to reap the benefits of full civil rights, and pave the way for the election of our nation’s first African American president.


Pineapple Mojito

1.75 ounces Bacardi

Pineapple Rum

1-2 lemon slices

1-2 Mint leaves

1 Ounce of Pineapple juice

.25 ounces of simple syrup

Top with seltzer water

By Natasha Stalnaker

Muddle the lemons and mint in the

simple syrup. Pack shaker with ice, pour

rum and pineapple juice with muddled

lemons and mint in shaker and shake

vigorously. Strain over ice and top with

the seltzer water. Last, but not least…

Enjoy!

237 Craven St. • Downtown New Bern • 252.649.1838www.prohibitionnewbern.com • Open 3pm-2am

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH


Gettysburg. Vicksburg. Antietam. You’ve heard of the most famous of the more than 10,000 Civil War battles; maybe even visited a battlefield or two. But many folks – including even native New Bernians – are unaware of the brief but fierce battle that took place right here in New Bern. This six-hour struggle would have a profound, far-reaching impact on almost every aspect of this picturesque little town in ways that could not have been imagined.

Why New Bern? Early in the Civil War, a key Federal objective was disrupting the Confederate’s supply chain, from ports to critical railroad lines. North Carolina’s second largest city, New Bern figured prominently in these plans as it was located along the railroad connecting Fort Macon and the port of Beaufort with the rail hub at Goldsboro. Seizing New Bern would give Federal forces control of significant agricultural areas and supply lines to the Confederate’s Army of Northern Virginia.

On March 13, 1862, 11,000 Federal troops led by General Ambrose Burnside and supported by 13 heavily armed gunboats led by Commodore Stephen Rowan, landed at Slocum’s Creek, now part of the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The weather was cold and rainy as Burnside advanced his three brigades to New Bern: Brigadier General John G. Foster on the right along Old Beaufort Road, and Brigadier General Jesse L. Reno on the left via the railroad. Brigadier General Parke’s brigade followed behind Foster in reserve Foster. Rowan’s gunboats would shell the shoreline just ahead of the Federal advance.

Awaiting the Federal forces were 4000 inexperienced and ill-equipped Confederate troops commanded by General Lawrence O’Bryan Branch, a politician with virtually no

The Battle of New Bernby The New Bern Historical Society

1862 Harper’s Weekly illustration of the Battle of New Bern, courtesy of NCPedia


military experience. Branch positioned his infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, local militia and three gun batteries to defend a line extending from Fort Thompson on the Neuse River to Wood’s Brickyard adjacent to the railroad tracks (the “Thompson Line”) and westward from the railroad along the Bullen Branch of Brice’s Creek.

Extending Branch’s right wing to the railroad tracks was the 26th North Carolina Regiment commanded by Colonel Zebulon Vance, later governor of North Carolina. Redans were built along the confederate line of defense. Artillery and two companies of cavalry under Col Vance strengthened the right line with three infantry companies led by Lt Col Henry King Burgwyn, the “Boy Colonel,” for he was not yet 21 years of age. However, he was an able leader, having graduated from Virginia Military Institute.

Lt Col Burgwyn’s companies manned a series of redans situated on several promontories high above Bullen’s Branch that had been dammed to create a depth of about four feet of cold water. An area south of the redans was cleared of trees extending out some 300 yards for a field of fire. The felled trees were fashioned into an abatis to further slow the attackers.

The battle began at 0730 on March 14th and raged for nearly six hours. The main Federal attack was in the vicinity of Fort Thompson. Despite support from Commodore Rowan’s gunboats, this attack stalled. However, a regiment of General Reno’s brigade flanked the militia battalion in the vicinity of Wood’s brickyard adjoining the railroad. The poorly armed, fresh militiamen were driven from their position leaving the right flank of the 35th North Carolina Regiment exposed. The Confederate line was broken between the 26th and the 35th regiments, and the Federal forces pushed through, forcing the retreat of the Confederate troops.

Estimated Confederate and Federal casualties for the battle totaled about 1080 killed, wounded, or captured. The fierce battle in the swamps and along the railroad was a major victory for the Federals and led to the occupation of New Bern by Burnside and his successors for the remainder of the Civil War. Federal forces created a series of strong fortifications around the town with many of New Bern’s homes being used as hospitals, staff offices, and troop quarters.

Confederate forces tried three times but failed to recapture the town. The presence of Federal forces in New Bern required the Confederacy to continually divert troops to the railroad’s defense that might have been better utilized elsewhere.

Approximately 10,000 slaves and free blacks sought refuge in New Bern during the Federal occupation. The refugees worked for the military as laborers, craftsmen, even soldiers. From this group, one of the first US Colored Troop regiments, the 1st NC Colored Volunteers was formed. They would go on to fight with the Federal Army through the war’s end. The military government established schools for the refugees and the Trent River Settlement, which eventually became James City.

You can walk the hallowed ground where a key portion of the Battle of New Bern took place, at New Bern Battlefield Park, owned and managed by the New Bern Historical Society. The detailed interpretive panels along the History Walk not only tell the story of the battle, but also the war’s causes, its consequences, and its relevance to New Bern today. Located at 300 Battlefield Trail, the free park is open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours. Visit www.newbernhistorical.org/battlefieldpark.


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North CarolinaHistory Center

FarmersMarket

Coldwell BankerWillis-Smith

New Bern RiverfrontConvention Center

Twice As Nice

Four C’s

Union Point Park

MitchellHardware

TRENT RIVER

Trent RiverRealty

Nauti Paws

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Black Cat

Savage’sPizzeria

Magnolia Jane Salon

AccidentalArtist

Midtown Olive Oil

Blue Magnolia

Thornbury Brides

NauticalWheelers

Franklin’s Antique Mall

Juliette’sBoutique

New BernHistoricay Society

Prohibition

Blackbeard’sTriple Play

PersimmonsWaterfrontRestaurant

The Jarvisat 220

CommunityArtists Gallery

Lloyd DawGuaranteed Rate

Ghosts of NB

BeartowneEscape Room

Nautilus WealthManagement

ReStoreHabitat for Humanity

New BernTours

Dirty BarnVintage

Living Well

Middle St. Antiques

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

The Accidental Artist ......................33

Arturo’s Mexican Restaurant ............30

Beartowne Escape Room ................ 17

Blackbeard’s Triple Play ...................20

The Black Cat Shoppe ....................34

Blue Magnolia ...............................35

Carpet One Floor & Home ..............30

Century 21 - Sail/Loft Realty ............. 47

Coastal Carolina Regional Airport..... 41

Coldwell Banker ............................45

Community Artists Gallery & Studio ..33

Copy & Print Warehouse ................. 10

Creekside Cabinets ........................ 21

Dirty Barn Vintage ..........................33

Edward Barnes Ellis, Jr. - Author ........45

The Four C’s ..................................20

Franklin’s Antique Mall ....................26

Ghosts of New Bern .......................34

Guaranteed Rate - Lloyd Daw ..........42

Habitat for Humanity ReStore ..........30

Harbor Point Contracting, Inc. ...........3

Hearne’s Fine Jewelry...................... 27

The Jarvis at 220............................. 37

Jill’s Pet Gallery...............................43

JL Kirkman’s Antique Mall ................42

Living Well ....................................26

DOWNTOWN NEW BERN


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Broad St

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Fleet StLiberty St

Pollock St

Tryon Palace

North CarolinaHistory Center

FarmersMarket

Coldwell BankerWillis-Smith

New Bern RiverfrontConvention Center

Twice As Nice

Four C’s

Union Point Park

MitchellHardware

TRENT RIVER

Trent RiverRealty

Nauti Paws

NEU

SE R

IVER

Black Cat

Savage’sPizzeria

Magnolia Jane Salon

AccidentalArtist

Midtown Olive Oil

Blue Magnolia

Thornbury Brides

NauticalWheelers

Franklin’s Antique Mall

Juliette’sBoutique

New BernHistoricay Society

Prohibition

Blackbeard’sTriple Play

PersimmonsWaterfrontRestaurant

The Jarvisat 220

CommunityArtists Gallery

Lloyd DawGuaranteed Rate

Ghosts of NB

BeartowneEscape Room

Nautilus WealthManagement

ReStoreHabitat for Humanity

New BernTours

Dirty BarnVintage

Living Well

Middle St. Antiques

Magnolia Jane Salon ....................... 37

Marsha’s Cottage ...........................46

Middle Street Antiques .....................4

Midtown Olive Oil .........................20

Mitchell Hardware .........................35

Nauti Paws ....................................35

Nautical Wheelers...................10 & 46

Nautilus Wealth Management .........44

New Berne Antiques & Collectibles .. 31

New Bern Tours .............................26

Persimmons Restaurant ...................35

Prohibition Drinks & Desserts ........... 18

Sound Fitness ..................................5

Tab Premium Built Homes ...Back Cover

Thornbury Brides ........................... 15

Tidewater Appliance & Mattress .......11

Tidewater Tileworks .........................4

Trent River Realty ..............................2

Tryon Palace .................................. 19

Twice As Nice ................................ 37

Uptown Gallery .............................33

You’ve Got Maids ..........................44

EVENT DIRECTORY

Partners in Education Spring

Luncheon .............................................. 41


ART

An Interview with Bille Ruth SudduthBille Ruth Sudduth is an internationally acclaimed craftswoman whose unique baskets are featured in collections across the world, including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian, the Mint Museum, The Carter Institute, and many others. She has taught at the top craft schools in the United States, including Penland, Arrowmont, and the John C. Campbell Folk School. Sudduth lived and worked in New Bern for 13 years during the early part of her career, and returned to the area recently. Craven Arts Council’s Gallery Director, Jonathan Burger, interviewed Bille Ruth about her career and journey as an artist recently.

1) I know you were born in Sewanee, Tennessee and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, what made you move to New Bern, NC?Doug, being a Duke graduate and in the Army at Ft. Bragg, swept his new bride out of Alabama and headed to NC, first to Durham then to New Bern in 1973. He was director of the Neuse Center and I went to work as a school psychologist. Our two sons grew up in New Bern. We remained here for 13 years.

2) You have a masters in social work and worked in that field for more than twenty years. A lot of artists work full time jobs and wonder about the path to becoming a full time artist, can you tell me about what that path looked like for you? Although I have a MSW, I went to ECU and UNC and obtained my certification as a school psychologist. I took a basketmaking class at Mayland Community College in the summer of 1983 and was smitten. I sold my first basket in a teacher’s lounge at Vanceboro Elementary. After entering the Juried Spring Arts Festival with the Craven Arts Council and winning the Jurors Choice Award, I wanted more time to pursue basket making and one of my careers had to go. I left my professional career as a school psychologist and took a leap of faith. I still had energy and passion and wanted to see if I could make a living as a basket maker. Fortunately, my family was extremely supportive. I have been one of the lucky ones.

3) On the topic of social work, are there any things you learned or experienced in that field that you brought into you artistic practice? Focus and discipline.

4) You incorporate a lot of mathematical ideas into your work. What sparked your interest in using math into basketry, and how exactly do you incorporate it? Is it part of the visual composition with the colors, or the weaving technique, or something else?As a school psychologist, I worked with math and statistics, although I hated math in school. I saw the parallels and perpendiculars in baskets, rather than history and function.


I intuitively incorporated Fibonacci numbers and sequences in my work before I even knew what it was called. It looked good and had a pleasing rhythm to it. When I am making a basket, it is like I am playing music. You can’t hear it but you can see it.

5) Is there another artist, in basketry or any other field, that inspires you or whose work you admire?Potter Cynthia Bringle. She is about 10 years older than I am and is still going strong, I hope to be able to say that in another ten years.

6) You’ve really been at the leading edge of contemporary craft coming into the art world. What are the biggest changes you’ve seen since you started, and what your feelings on it? What are your feelings on the contemporary art world?I don’t distinguish between art and craft. It is all about an object touching your spirit. I see less and less young people learning to do things with their hands. My grandmother said idle hands are the devils workshop.

7) Your resume is full of awards, residencies, and honors. Is there any award, exhibition, or compliment that stands out to you, and why?1994 when the Smithsonian acquired a basket for their permanent collection. That same year I was named a North Carolina Living Treasure. It doesn’t get any better than that.

I have made over 10,800 baskets and have kept a log of every one who has ever acquired my work. These collectors are now like a huge family with whom I stay in touch. It has always been a compliment to my creativity when they respond to my work.

8) You’ve moved back to New Bern a few years ago, how long were you at Penland and what changes have you seen in New Bern since coming back?I lived over the ridge from Penland for 24 years. We moved back to New Bern to be near our son and his family in Wilmington and to stop shoveling snow. I like to say we “moved to New Bern”, not back to New Bern. It has changed so much from when we were here in the 70’s and 80’s. New communities have developed and the population has grown. There are a lot of new bridges. It is a quaint and thriving town. The one constant is the vibrant Craven Arts Council.

We lived in New Bern from 1973 to 1986 and never had a hurricane affect us. That has definitely changed.

9) Do you have any advice to someone in the craft or art field on technique, pursing their work, or being an artist?

Follow your passion and have a great support system. No one creates and thrives in a vacuum. Don’t be afraid of rejection. Use it as a learning opportunity. Network with other artists.

10) I know people can find your work at Bank of the Arts and Carolina Creations, where else is your work represented?My website brsbasket.com and Etsy.com –justabunchofbaskets

We converted our garage into a studio. It is always full of baskets.


ArtWalks To Resume in JuneJune 12 • 5-8pmBank of the Arts • 317 Middle St.Craven Arts Council and Gallery is proud to announce the resumption of the monthly Downtown New Bern Artwalks starting in June, contingent on the Governor’s orders. Due to the effects of COVID-19 and the stay at home order issued by Governor Roy Cooper, the April and May ArtWalks were canceled this year. We plan to resume ArtWalks with the June 12th date if the State of North Carolina has entered Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Response Plan by that time. Each business participating in the downtown Artwalk will decide for themselves if they wish to remain open for that night, but all locations will remain on the June card in order to promote their business and highlight their support of ArtWalk and the arts.

Craven Arts Council will host receptions for their “Through the Lens,” “Juneteenth,” and “New Bern High School National Art Honor Society” exhibitions. Attendance in the gallery will be monitored and restricted in accorded with CDC and state guidelines, and patrons are encouraged to wear masks and maintain social distancing. ArtWalk locations may adopt hygiene and sanitary guidelines as they see fit.

We encourage people to attend ArtWalk on June 12th while maintaining and understanding the health guidelines as outlined by the CDC and the State of North Carolina. It is our wish to spread the therapeutic, health, and creative benefits of art in our community while contributing to efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Craven Arts Council will also maintain their virtual galleries online for those at risk who may not leave the house.Please contact Craven Arts Council at [email protected] or 252.638.2577 if you have any questions or concerns.

ART

Woodland CreaturesArtWalk: April 10 • 5-8pm • 309 Middle St.Community Artists Gallery will Celebrate “Woodland Creatures” for the Month of June. The featured Artists of the Month are painters: Karen Schaaf and Belinda Scheber, also Shawn Bradley, woodworking. Visit our upstairs Annex to see our Studios and meet the Artists with works in progress.

Karen Schaaf works in transparent watercolor, drawing inspiration from the amazing people she has had the pleasure of living with in the South. She is best known for her figurative and portrait work. In 2019 Karen was named “ Among Best 50” in the Global Association of Watercolor Artists Annual International Watercolor Contest.

Belinda Scheber’s passion is to express God’s beauty in painting. She won the 2016 New Bern Mumfest competition which made her painting the official artwork for the New Bern Mumfest 2017.

The Gallery has two new members: Linda Sura, fiber baskets and Robert Forbes, blown glass.The Gallery is non-profit and co-operative, staffed by the participating artists. We offer classes taught by our Gallery members. Stop by to see Whats on the calender or visit our website: www.communityartistsgallery.org or call 252.633.3715.


New Bern High School National Art Society ExhibitionOpening Reception: June 12 • 5-8pmExhibit on Display May 15- June 30Bank of the Arts • 317 Middle St.Craven Arts Council & Gallery is proud to present the works of students in the National Art Honor Society in the Director’s Gallery for May and June. These piece were created by students at the local high school in a variety of mediums. Craven Arts Council and Gallery will host a reception during the downtown New Bern ArtWalk, June 12th, from 5pm to 8pm, contingent on the state entering Phase 2 of the COVID-19 plan by that point.

The impact of the arts on students has been well documented by the National Endowment for the Arts, Americans for the Arts, and numerous other organizations. The students of the National Art Honor Society at New Bern High School serves to inspire and recognize students who have shown outstanding ability and dedication to the arts. This exhibition featured four students from New Bern High School: Anna Morefield, Kimberly Cusack, Sarah-Rose Spann, and Soe Gay Moo. Each student has contributed pieces that reflect their unique talents and styles. Craven Arts Council and Gallery is open 10am-5pm Tuesday through Saturday, and admission to all galleries is free and open to the public. For information, 252.638.2577 or www.cravenarts.com.

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Through the Lens & JuneteenthOpening Reception: June 12 • 5-8pm • Exhibit on Display June 1-30Bank of the Arts • 317 Middle St.Craven Arts Council & Gallery is proud to present two exhibitions in the Main Gallery for the month of June: “Through the Lens” and “Juneteenth.” These exhibitions were originally planned as separate exhibits, but due to the effects of COVID-19 on our state, have been consolidated into one exhibition. “Through the Lens” features works by children in military families. “Juneteenth” showcases he talents of local African American artists in our area. Craven Arts Council will host an opening reception during the downtown New Bern ArtWalk on June 12th, from 5pm-8pm, if the state has entered Phase 2 of the COVID-19 response.

“Through the Lens” is a photography and humanties based program operated by Craven Arts Council and Craven County Schools. Students at Havelock High School and Arthur Edwards Elementary School have worked with photographer Patrick Kehoe and writer Devyn Dawson over the past several months to create mixed media pieces and accompanying narratives about their unique experiences. All students were provided with cameras and instruction on photography, composition, narrative writing, and mixed media art. The exhibition was originally scheduled for April to commemorate the Month of the Military Child, but the hanging of the exhibition and number of works was affected by the COVID-19 crisis. This program was funded by a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Juneteenth, celebrated June 19th every year, commemorates the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in the state of Texas at the close of the Civil War. In honor of this historic celebration of freedom in the South, local African American artists will present works about the holiday, African American History, their experiences as African Americans, and what freedom means to them. Mediums range from acrylic to colored pencil to digital painting, with individual styles drawing on classical portraiture, animation, outsider art, and Afrofuturism. Craven Arts Council and Gallery is open 10am-5pm Tuesday through Saturday, and admission to all galleries is free and open to the public. For information, 252.638.2577 or www.cravenarts.com.

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ARTFirst Citizens Public Sculpture ParkWhile many cultural institutions have been closed or reduced hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one aspect of New Bern that has remained open for residents to enjoy every day of the year, twenty four hours a day, is the First Citizens Public Sculpture Park. The grassy field located at the corner of Broad and Middle Streets in downtown New Bern now showcases five piece of public art from North Carolina sculptors, executed in a variety of mediums and styles. These public art pieces are funded through Craven Arts Council & Gallery and generous sponsors, committed to the benefits of public art for our communities.

Pieces for the sculpture park are leased from the artists through juried art calls and the New Bern Public Art Committee. The works “Pull Toy,” “In Motion,” and “Metamorphosis” have been on display for a year and half, and will be returned to the artists in September 2020, to be replaced by two new sculptures selected through the 2020 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition. “Love Bound With Claws” and “Solar Voyager” will be on display until March 2021, when the New Bern Public Art Committee hopes to secure two new pieces for exhibition.Public art in New Bern is only made possible through the generous contributions of local citizens, and Craven Arts Council is currently looking for sponsors for the new works in 2020 and 2021. If you are interested in sponsoring public art please contact Craven Arts Council at [email protected] or 252.638.2577.

The works “In Motion” and “Metamorphosis” were completed by artist Hanna Jubran, a sculptor who works in a variety of mediums including steel, bronze, iron, and stone. Hanna’s work addresses the concepts of time, movement, balance and space. Each sculpture occupies and creates its own reality influenced by its immediate surroundings. The two pieces contrast the use of movement in composition, with the use of flowing line in “In Motion” in comparison to the alternation of forms in “Metamorphosis.” Hanna Jubran is the head of the sculpture department at East Carolina University and operates his own artistic practice out of a studio in Grimesland, NC.


The latest addition to the sculpture park is “Solar Voyager” by Tom Grubb, constructed from bamboo, ropes, lights, and a solar panel. The piece is approximately 30 feet tall, and was assembled on site by the artist with volunteer help, including staff from New Bern Parks and Recreation. Tom’s work highlights our civilizations consumption of limited resources and offers a new way forward in the use of easily grown, renewable materials. The bamboo for the sculpture grows to its full height in two years, and all electric components of the piece are reused in future pieces. Installation of “Solar Voyager” was sponsored by Allison and John Robert Mattocks.

Paris Alexander’s “Love Bound with Claws” is a limestone carving on a marble base. The texture and organic forms of the sculpture contrast with the geometric design and smooth surface of the marble base, showcasing the versatility of the materials and skill of the artist. The Raleigh based sculptor’s works are in a number of public art collections across the southeast United States, and ranges from studied human anatomy to organic abstracts. This piece was sponsored by Harry and Linda MacDonald.

“Pull Toy” by Greenville based Jonathan Bowling utilizes recycled steel and other elements to create an homage to the toys of our youth. The eleven foot tall elephant is supported on four functional wagon wheels, and is created from gears, automotive exhaust pipes, tools, and other found objects discarded by others as use-less or broken. Speaking of his work, Bowling says “Over the past 10 years I have been working on a series of steel animals which focus on interior and negative space as much as on contours and surface.”


eventsPIE Spring Luncheon Goes VirtualJune 5 • 12pmIn lieu of a physical luncheon, Partners In Education is taking the luncheon virtual! Because of our generous sponsors, PIE is able to make this a free “lunch in place” event, available through the PIE website and on social media. This annual event supports and recognizes teachers who won PIE Grants during the 2019-20 school year. PIE awarded over $270,000 through a variety of grants and programs during the 2019-20 school year.

To be a part of the virtual luncheon, join us through a link on Facebook, Twitter, or the PIE website, www.cravenpartners.com on June 5th at noon. If you cannot join us at that time, the video link will remain available on PIE’s social media pages and website.

David Baxter, President of Craven County Partners In Education’s Board of Directors, announced that the virtual luncheon will feature the 2019 National Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Curtis Jones from Bibb County Georgia, as keynote speaker. The theme this year is “Victory In Progress.” After arriving in Bibb County, Dr. Jones adopted this mantra for the district, and it has become central in the planning of their district’s strategic priorities and shared culture.

Dr. Jones is an educator with more than 20 years of experience. He began his career in education as a JROTC instructor with the Griffin-Spalding County School System in Griffin, Georgia. He became a high school principal and then advanced to assistant superintendent, then superintendent before going to Bibb County. Before his educational career, Dr. Jones served in the United States Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

In December 2018, Dr. Jones was named 2019 Georgia Superintendent of the Year by the Georgia School Superintendents Association. He was then named one of four finalists for 2019 National Superintendent of the Year by The School Superintendents Association. In February 2019, at the Association’s National Conference on Education, Dr. Jones was named 2019 National Superintendent of the Year.

When Dr. Jones first became Superintendent of Bibb County Schools in 2015, his first long-term goal to raise the district’s graduation rate to 90 percent by 2025. The district has made great gains in improving its graduation rate, which was 58.9 percent in 2014. The Class of 2019 had a graduation rate of 79.4 percent. Six of the district’s seven high schools had graduation rates greater than 80 percent in 2019, putting the district on track to achieving this goal.

Dr. Jones is is married to Evelyn, a retired elementary school principal. They have three children and are the proud grandparents of two granddaughters and a grandson.

Mr. Baxter explains, “The virtual luncheon is an excellent opportunity for our community to show their support of Craven County Schools and our public-school educators and administrators. Because of our sponsors, we were able to make this a free virtual event and fund PIE Grants, grants that are awarded to teachers for creative and innovative projects in Craven County Schools classrooms and to fund materials for technology, science, music, and art projects, along with supplies and books for our students.”For information, Darlene Brown, Executive Director, Craven County Partners In Education, [email protected] to learn more.

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Farmers MarketOpen 8am-2pm Saturdays • 421 S. Front St.The New Bern Farmers Market is an essential local food distribution hub and will remain open on Saturdays.

We will continue to practice advised safety guidelines and we ask our customers to respect social distancing protocol.

Visit our website for a list of our vendors and contact them directly to pre-order and arrange pick up.For information, 252.633.0043 or newbernfarmersmarket.org.

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The Great Trent River Raft RaceRescheduled to September 12The Great Trent River Raft Race has been moved to Saturday, September 12, at Union Point Park. This will allow more time to build your winning vessel! Please note that this event is subject to the governor’s execu-tive order regarding festivals, events, concerts and larger gatherings and may be subject to change. Stay tuned for more details.

Virtual Run ForThe WarriorsJuly 4As we all navigate social distancing; finding ways to compete, stay fit and motivated is more important than ever. Based on safety guidelines from city officials and the CDC, we have elected to make this year’s New Bern Run For The Warriors virtual. Although we would all like to be together to honor those who serve, this virtual run offers you more flexibility as you can complete your run remotely–when and where ever you wish!Registration: Virtual Dog $7, Virtual Athlete $25. For information, runsignup.com.


Oriental Boat Show Rescheduled to September 25-27 Oriental’s annual In-water Boat Show originally scheduled for April 17-19, has been rescheduled to September 25-27.

Based on the combination of number of vendors, number of boats, sales attributed and number of attendees, the Oriental show has become one of the largest and most successful in-water shows between Annapolis and Savannah. Stay tuned for details or visitwww.orientalboatshow.com.

The Silos Open MicWednesdays • 7pmDuring Phase 1 Open Mic will stream on TownDock.netOnce in Phase 2 Open Mic will be back at The SilosWhile we are in Phase 1 some performers sing live at The Silos – but this limits it to a small number (3 to 5) to maintain legal gathering limits.

But – you can participate from your home. Sing a song and record it.

Here’s how:• Record your video in a wide shot (landscape view), close up enough to get you and your guitar, piano, or whatever.• Upload your video to your Google Drive. • Share the link, with your name and the name of your song, to [email protected]

If you upload to your personal YouTube or Vimeo ac-count, you can share that link too.Order your takeout dinner online at silosnc.com or by calling 252.249.1050. Then pickup your dinner and enjoy it while watching Open Mic night online at TownDock.net.

ORIENTAL

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