I WILL MAKE ART as Long as I Live

by

Continued from Page 15 in Eden and Reidsville. “I’m known by some people for painting the Lucky City Brewery sign in Reidsville.” She is currently working with Reidsville on two quilt-square murals on panels to complement the redesign of downtown sidewalks. “These are for the sesquicentennial celebration of 2023 in the city. One quilt mural involves having the public participate in painting on the panels. The other one I will do myself. They will go on display when completed.”

For Ryan, it’s hard to pinpoint a single work as her favorite. But she cites “Pow Wow,” the Native American Mural Design from the ARTchitecture series currently on exhibit in Eden

City Hall. “The people featured are native North Carolinians from various tribes. I received their permission and blessing to paint their images into the design. I connected to them through my photographer friend Gordon Allen, who frequently attends pow wows around this state and knows many of the leaders. It was an honor to be permitted to do this. I worked very hard on that painting.”

Ryan recently received a regional artist support grant from the North Carolina Arts Council in Raleigh. She was chosen for, and awarded, the grant by the Stokes Art Council. “For this project I am painting a series of 30 large new paintings which I’ve titled Unfolding,” Ryan added. These are intuitive works featuring images from her meditation practice. She has completed six so far and figures it will take the rest of the year to complete the project.

Along with Unfolding, Ryan is still taking on commissioned work. “I also have my 2022 ARTchitecture series traveling around Rockingham County on exhibit through April. The next stop will be the MARC in Wentworth for the summer season. I’m still looking for a venue in western Rockingham County that is big enough to exhibit the collection before it moves to Greensboro in October.”

As she stated, Ryan plans to make art for the rest of her life. She sees next year being more of the same. “2024 could involve a lot of travel again, exhibiting the second series. I’m busy year-round with one project or another,” she concluded.

Art is often one of the first seeds planted in the revitalization of a community. It can change the perception of a location and create a sense of pride in a neighborhood. Street art (murals) are perfect examples. Artwork can engage the community, bring people together, and create a sense of belonging. Paintings can help create a dialogue between people of different backgrounds, and to create a space for conversation and exchange of ideas. Murals are often deep-rooted in the history of an area. “Street art differs from an art gallery. It’s more accessible, and its scale is massive.” Marty Kotis, a local real estate developer, said. Kotis is using his love of art to paint a better picture for the communities he invests in.

Artists invest a lot of time into their community when painting something beautiful. Unique images create a trickle-down effect that can draw attention to a location, which can lead to increased investment in the area. Kotis added, “Street art can draw