Putting up an exhibit of her paintings in the Herring-Kivette Gallery located in Yancey County Public Library had a special meaning for Claudette Hensley McCurry.
A native of the Pensacola community, daughter of Claude Hensley and Ruby McMahan, she recalled riding the bus to attend elementary school in the building that now serves as Yancey’s public library.
She reflected on her years attending school in the building. “I was the artist in my classes. I was always asked to create the bulletin board displays. I just always knew I wanted to be an artist.”
She started painting in 1981 after taking an art class to learn how to mix colors from basic oil paints. “I was in the mall in Johnson City when I saw artist Urban Byrd demonstrating painting,” she explained. “I took a class from him to learn how to mix the paint and that was the beginning of what has been more than 40 years of doing something I love.”
The work of self-taught artist Claudette Hensley McCurry reflects the mountain culture that shaped her life. The exhibit can be viewed at Yancey County Public Library during regular operating hours.
Claudette is a self-taught artist and her work reflects the mountain culture that shaped her life. “I do realist oil painting and I hope the work I create kindles sweet memories of the past and also reminds future generations of their heritage,” she said.
A big influence on Claudette’s painting has been celebrated N.C. artist Bob Timberlake, who she was thrilled to meet three years ago. “It was an honor to be able to talk with him and show him my work.”
Surprisingly, this is the first real showing of a collection of her work in one exhibit. She has sold prints of her paintings at local craft shows and other venues but has never had an opportunity to pull her body of work together for an exhibit.
Included in the exhibit will be four original paintings that were some of her first work in the early 1980s. Many people who have visited the library over the years, including the old location on Town Square, may recall seeing the paintings of four buildings located around the town’s square. They currently hang permanently in the upstairs meeting room of the library. The paintings are of the NuWray Inn, the old library building, Rush Wray’s home (now housing Mountain Medical Arts), and the former Yancey County Country Store (now the site of the Garden Deli restaurant).
This exhibit of Claudette’s work has special meaning to her because it is in the building where the Pensacola native attended elementary school.
Claudette sells prints made from the original paintings. Her contact information will be available at the gallery for anyone interested in purchasing prints of these nostalgic paintings.
The exhibit opens Dec. 6 and continues through Jan. 5 and can be viewed during regular library hours M-W-F from 9-5, TT from 9-7, and Saturday 10-1. The library is located on School Circle across from Parkway Playhouse.
The Herring-Kivette Gallery and Archives is supported by the Ruth and Everett Kivette Trust held by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina with funding administered by the AMY Regional Library System.
