A Museum Visit Reflection: Cabarrus Arts Council

Over the given period, I had the privilege of visiting the Cabarrus Arts Council. The North Carolina Arts Council aimed to spread awareness of art across as many counties as possible. As a direct result of those efforts, the Cabarrus Arts Council was established in 1980. Located in downtown Concord, it was created to enhance its community through the promotion of art while also striving to unite the community as a whole and increase art awareness.

Reflections on Visiting the Cabarrus Arts Council Museum

I discovered this place when I was in middle school during a field trip to the courthouse in Concord, just a block away from the Cabarrus Arts Council. We finished early, and it was decided that we would walk over to enjoy the artwork displayed at the Arts Council. The exhibitions change every eight weeks, and during my visit for this project, they were showcasing pottery. I went with a friend, and we were the only ones there. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The staff were nice, but being in such a quiet place isn't really my scene, which made me feel somewhat disconnected from the experience. The fact that we were the only visitors might have contributed to my sense of feeling rushed, though it could just be my personality shining through.

Art Appreciation: Daniel Johnston's Pottery

While observing the pottery, a piece by Daniel Johnston caught my eye. It was a large jar with a very intriguing external design. In this artwork, he uses wood-fired salt-glazed stoneware and local clay from his own Seagrove. Wood ashes from a wooden stove are used to create the glaze, along with a variety of local elements from his home clay. Johnston believes that using clay from his local area connects him to other potters who have used the very same clay from the same place. This connection to tradition and local culture enriches the piece with a deeper significance.

The piece grabbed my attention because it was unique compared to the other pottery pieces. I found it especially interesting how it looked as if syrup had been poured down the side of the jar during its creation. The specific glaze and movement of the lines in the artwork create an illusion of tasting sweetness dripping from it. I appreciate the contrast between the dark and light colors; although contrasting, there is enough balance to make it aesthetically pleasing. The design has a smooth texture due to the glaze, even though it may not appear so because of the contrasting lines on the outside, which made me fall in love with the piece even more. I find the shape to be very symmetrical, with unity from top to bottom; it starts dark, shifts to light, and then fades to dark again. There is so much depth and activity in this single piece of art.

Community Impact and Exposure

Personally, I don't believe that this piece of artwork will have any major impact on the community. This is not due to the artwork or the artist, but rather the Cabarrus Arts Council and its location. I have concluded that it doesn't get enough exposure, which was evident when I walked in and it was empty. Although I feel I participated in a community experience, knowing that the Arts Council is an older part of downtown Concord, it remains somewhat hidden. I've been there before and still had to use GPS, indicating it's hard to find, especially with major buildings and organizations nearby like the police station and the new courthouse.

Proposed Relocation for Greater Impact

I would love to share this artwork with others. To achieve this, I propose moving this piece to my hometown of Mount Pleasant. There is a museum known as the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum, but I don't believe it receives enough exposure either to make a significant difference in the community. Therefore, I would place it in a popular and growing restaurant called 73 and Main, which hosts bands and parties and has a loft-like space above the eating area where an exhibit could be possible. I believe this would gain a lot of exposure and positively impact the community by raising awareness of art as a whole, hopefully opening people's eyes to the museum down the road from the restaurant and the Cabarrus Arts Council.