I was invited out to the Cary Arts Center this weekend to attend a special screening of Barry…read moreGordy's The Last Dragon. As a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop and Black History Month, this was a unique event. There were 2 guest DJ's who spun old school hip hop throughout the event and a DJ who spun a live score throughout the entirety of the film. It was refreshing to see so many people of color come out to this side of town to gather. There was merchandise being sold in the lobby and food trucks such as Presto and Go Yaki in the parking lot. It was convenient for those attending this 3 hour long event. The staff kept things organized and they were kind and welcoming. The facility itself is in need of some renovations and updating. I get that this is a old historical building. I will definitely return for further programming of interest.

Saturday, 14Jan2023 Event: DR. MARTIN L. KING JR. ANNUAL…read moreDREAMFEST WEEKEND Dr. Harry L. White Jr. gave a profound, thought-provoking speech on moving from dreaming to DOING. All of the performers who came on stage for this event were amazing. I enjoyed this event in its entirety.

A great spot to support local artists, with a wide range of mediums on display: painting, pottery,…read morejewelry, photography, and more. Prices vary by medium and artist, but there are plenty of affordable pieces. I loved browsing all the beautiful and unique work! I also appreciated that one of the artists was there running the store.

Jane, one of the featured artists at this gallery, was very welcoming and friendly when I stopped…read morein briefly. The art is very high quality, and I'll be back to check out their holiday popups and such. It's amazing to see a place with so many local artists. The selection was varied--jewelry, paintings, sketches, 2D/3D art, and more. Truly impressive, pricey but for good reason.

I personally never collected art before, however there is something so utterly addicting to…read moreShalimar's style of art. She is amazing to work with and her gallery shows are so appealing, it's a great date night out or girls night. We now have multiple pieces and love the experience of Shalimar's studio!

From the owner: Art by Shalimar studio and gallery is a haven for contemporary art lovers in downtown Cary, North…read moreCarolina. Local artist Shalimar Waffa's passion for oil painting comes alive in her stunning impasto pieces. With over 15 years of experience, her unique perspective captures the beauty and energy of the world around us. Our gallery offers a welcoming and creative space for all visitors. We hold two major events each year, these events are a great opportunity to meet the artist, engage with fellow art enthusiasts, and learn about the inspiration behind each piece. Our mission is to inspire local art and connect our community with the vibrant world of contemporary art. Come visit us and immerse yourself in the world of modern art!

We had some time to kill and were looking for a non-chain coffee spot. This one was close by and…read morehad great reviews. So we decided to give them a try. We had a little difficulty finding it. GPS brought us to the parking lot behind the building. There isn't clear signage to direct you where to go. We managed to find our way up the stairs and into the building. There are a number of businesses located inside. Lucky Tree is super cute. It's set up to encourage working, with plenty of charging spots all around. There is a variety of seating, from long wooden tables to smaller individual areas. We ordered a chai latte and golden milk latte, both with oat milk. Both drinks were good. Fyi there is a separate entrance from the side that takes you directly to another smaller parking lot.

This is a place I wish was closer to my home. Thankfully it's not to far away. Very cool relaxing…read moreenvironment. Friendly staff. Good menu selection. A variety of seating options. And a variety of things for sale in the front. I got the iced vanilla maple, it was phenomenal. It had the right amount of sweetness with a great flavor. Also the almond butter cookie was soft and flavorful. I will be back. Thank you for a great experience.

Is a beautiful museum on beautiful grounds well curated properly taken care of and the café is the…read morecherry on top of everything. The food there is amazing.

Summary: 4.0 - Free and art go hand-in-hand here. If you like both, NC MoA is worth your time…read more Free admission to the NCMA to see art and history is a gift. If one doesn't mind the West Building (although new, it felt old to me), the different galleries containing historical art pieces (new and old, and very old) organized by continents are educational and surprisingly full of variety. The East Building (original one) hosts both permanent and limited-time collections. I've enjoyed a car exhibit, but my favorite limited-time exhibit featured Academy Award winner Ruth E. Carter's costumes for the movies "Black Panther", "Selma", "Amistad", and others. Her showcase exhibit was well worth the price of admission. A huge museum park provides miles of trails and places for picnics. If one plans accordingly, a series of trails connects all the way from the museum to downtown Raleigh! MISC Opened in 1956. Has pieces that originate from about 5,000 years ago (but thankfully it doesn't take that long to go through the museum). The museum is accessibility-friendly. A museum store and café are onsite. Tours are available. Outdoor concerts are on hiatus at the time of this review for "facility improvements." Be sure to check the museum's website for updates.

A gallery and studio owned and operated by one artist, Catherine Martin, who both creates and…read moredisplays her work here as well as uses it to teach students. This is a working studio. Unlike most galleries exclusively for displaying finished art, this place has the look of an art school. The back room has the requisite paint splatters, a color wheel of sorts on the wall and displays of student art. The front room, currently in the midst of a reorganization showcases the artist's work. The artist-owner, Catherine, assured me the canvases on the walls, leaning against the walls, or on the floor, would be displayed more appropriately once she finished rearranging them. In a way, though, the haphazard arrangement really made it seem I was seeing part of the creative process. The owner and artist was very sweet and took time to explain her inspirations. It was fascinating. Her works, and even those by her students, are in the impressionist style, with the vivid colors reminiscent of that era. There were canvases of all sizes, but the most striking for me was a small scene in the front window that Ms Martin said she painted of the area out behind her gallery. There was something about that picture that made time disappear. Nothing in it suggested it was a modern time or a modern work. It was captivating.

I love this artist both personally and professionally. Professionally her work has made my house a…read morehome. I get very real pleasure from the works of art that grace my walls - she brings a loving touch to every piece of art she creates. Personally, talking to her - she is a delight in every way. Warm, genuine and civic minded she is a credit to her community of artists and to Apex. She gives of her time and talent to wonderful causes and wherever she has been or wherever her art hangs is made so much better for it. I simply adore her and am so glad that my realtor, 10 years ago, drove me down Salem Street and I looked into her studio window and just went ahhhh!!!!

Vanya's is a wonderful art store. It's specialty seems to be African and African American Art and…read morecustom framing although I did see a few items that looked to be from the southwest US. The prints and the art intrigued me for some reason. There was something very personal about the images that were captured on the canvas. Amazing and beautiful prints and lithos of people celebrating and just living life. I was especially intrigued by what looked like hard carved pieces, but ran out of time before I could ask about them. But now I have another reason to go back. It's worth a trip.