Mooresville Arts celebrates creativity

from Limitless Magazine August 2020

by Lake Norman Currents

Where to find lessons on the lake

Unleashing Photography by Ken Noblezada

Creativity Photography by Ken Noblezada Photography by Ken Noblezada Mooresville Arts offers classes in drawing, painting, sculpting, photography, calligraphy and more. Mooresville Arts offers a haven for artists and art enthusiasts he tagline of Mooresville Arts is “Art to People-People to Arts,” and it seems fitting given the mission of the organization. Mooresville Arts started out as The Mooresville Artist Guild in 1955 as an informal gathering of painters who wanted to work together. It eventually evolved to include potters, photographers, sculptors and jewelry artists. A board of directors voted to change the name of the nonprofit to Mooresville Arts in 2014 in order to expand the arts focus beyond visual arts. Housed in the historic Mooresville Train Depot, Mooresville Arts is on the National Register of Historic Buildings and the warehouse T BY: » Renee Roberson LimitlessMagOnline.com | August 2020 17

is in near-original condition. As a mainstay in the Lake Norman community, the organization also offers a variety of classes and workshops for anyone interested learning a new craft or exploring passions. Never too late to learn

Linda Fossum, Mooresville Arts Director of Education, was in her 50s when she began painting watercolors and knows how important the arts are to active residents in the area.

“The socializing is important,” she says, “along with being creative and keeping your mind alert.”

Residents can purchase annual memberships (starting at $50 for individual) where benefits include dis- counts to enter Mooresville Arts exhibits and shows, opportunities to participate in group shows and display artwork in satellite galleries and sell artwork in the gift shop, among others. Mem- bers will also receive dis- counts on all workshops and some of the classes.

Fossum says these memberships help support arts in the community and the majority of members fall into the 55+ category. Dynamic instructors in an intimate setting

The classes and workshops at Mooresville Arts are typically small and provide participants with an intimate setting so they can get individualized attention.

“What Mooresville Arts can do is provide beautiful and eclectic artwork,” says Fossum. “Every two months we have brand new shows and exhibits. A membership also offers education for adults, youth and teens.”

Beginning in September, Mooresville Arts will host weekly workshops on drawing, calligraphy, and special- ized classes in photography and watercolor starting in October. There is also an option to take a weekly class with an hour of one-on-one drawing instruction with Dr. Mary-Louise Biasotti Hoop- er and a weekly multimedia class for all experience levels.

Fossum says Mooresville Arts also sponsors events like open studio time, where artists can get together for free and paint together once a week. There’s also a life-drawing group, with live models, where the only cost for participants is the cost of the model.

In addition to enjoying and participating in artwork of all mediums, Mooresville Arts is almost completely run by a network of pas- sionate volunteers. Fossum says they are always looking for more, whether they are helping out with facilities operations and manage- ment, greeting students and visitors, acting as docents for visitors of the gallery and working on intake of artwork for the shows.