By Dan Click
For the Carter County Times
The Grayson Gallery & Art Center, Inc. (GGAC) will present their annual “Kicking Off the Arts” event during the monthly F!nal Fr!day’s opening reception on January 31, 2025, from 6 – 9 p.m. Artwork by creatives from across the Tri-State and Eastern Kentucky region will be on display and for sale, including several newcomers both to the area and the arts organization.
In addition to the nearly 45 works on exhibit over the next month, the GGAC Artist Market’s selection of pieces on hand will be set up in different areas, in “flip racks” for artist-prints and via special displays. Visitors are also encouraged to see what’s available, changing up and expanding on the retail side of the gallery, with special sale prices and discounted items. The GGAC reinvests all proceeds from art sales into marketing and promotion to help create income for the artists as well as to help cover expenses for the space.
Awards and announcements will take place at approximately 7:45 p.m. and, in addition to sharing details on what’s coming up at the gallery, Emily LaDouceur, of Berea, Kentucky, will present her “Appalachian Spirit” card deck project. LaDouceur will share her crowd-funding successes and lessons along with details on how and why she started the creative procedure.
You can find out more at http://www.appalachianspirit.com and look for her on Facebook. Her 60 card decks will be available for purchase at the gallery.
Four $50 cash (or equivalent purchase) prizes will be handed out for Pen Lady’s Choice, the Brandon Click Memorial Award, the GGAC Board Choice and – awarded by popular vote – the People’s Choice Award, along with blue ribbons to each winner.
Entertainment will be by the “Kill Devil Hillbillies”, a regional duo, performing acoustic versions of songs from their repertoire exploring the genres of Americana and traditional and vintage rock, throughout the evening. Check them out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kill_devil_hillbillies and be sure to catch them at various local festivals all year long as well.
Coming up will be February’s annual “Peace & love” art show and event, set to open on February 28. Women in the Arts is set for March 28, featuring all female artists’ work with live music by the Appalachian Ladies Revue. Please make note that a year-long calendar of events is posted on the front door of the Grayson Gallery, 301 East Third Street in Grayson, and is updated as needed.
The GGAC is a proud Arts & Entertainment venue for the Grayson Main Street District and will be co-sponsoring the upcoming “Love Your Downtown” celebration on Valentines Day, February 14 at the Blue Goose Collective on Main Street.
Contact Dan Click, director, via email: graysongallery@gmail.com for questions about showing artwork, booking entertainment, classes and volunteering opportunities; you can also look for them on Facebook and Instagram. For current information, phone the GGAC Info Line at 606-474-7651 for pre-recorded announcements.
Contact us at news@cartercountytimes.com
