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.

An amazing place for buying some really beautiful art by local artists. This surprising gallery…read morehas paintings, photos, prints, some stoneware and a few other miscellaneous items. It's nice to see work of local talent in one spot. Each month CGA highlights a local artist . As a added bonus, on the last Friday of the month you can meet the artist(s) to hear first-hand about the work you were just admiring, or to hear about his or her inspirations. Periodically, CGA holds weeklong auctions in which you bid on a piece and stop back during the week to see if your bid won. It's a good way to add pieces into your collection at an affordable price. If you're the type who wants to hear about the art, the people working can talk in detail about the artists technique, use of color, and previous works. At least that's been my experience the couple of times I've stopped by. It's less crowded than a museum(!)

From the owner: The Cary Gallery of Artists is a cooperative operated by local artists. We feature contemporary and…read moretraditional fine art and fine craft, with more than 300 artworks exhibited by 20 plus artists from around the Triangle. Each day an artist is on duty. Displays change monthly so there is always new work to enjoy when you visit.

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!

Lucky Tree is one of the best places in Raleigh to grab a cup of coffee, enjoy a pastry, and truly…read morerelax. With bar-top seating, couches, tables, and chairs, it offers a welcoming environment to work, study, or find a bit of end-of-day calm. This place also holds personal nostalgia for me. I recently released my book Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name -- Letters from Me to Her, a collection written for a woman I love living in Raleigh, and I was able to write some of those love letters and poems right here in this lovely café. Lucky Tree regularly hosts open mic nights for musicians and poetry-focused events, and the owners are deeply involved in the local arts scene. Through these events, I've met artists, authors, and incredible people--and I've even shared my own work from my above mentioned book here. Overall, this is a truly unique and beautiful shop. The food is always fresh, the staff is vibrant, polite, and genuinely helpful, and the atmosphere shifts naturally from lively to quiet and relaxing depending on the events taking place. Top-tier shop and easily one of my favorite coffee spots in Raleigh. And yes--the coffee is really good.

I decided to try this out for a quick coffee stop while in town for a conference. The service was…read morefriendly and quick! I tried the breakfast bagel bites, which were soft and warm. I loved the cheese on top! I was not a huge fan of the flavor the almond flour gave them but it was not overpowering. I would probably get them again! They had a lot of options as far as specialty lattes but I am glad I went with the Vanilla Maple. I was worried that the maple flavor would be too much but it complimented the vanilla well. The inside was VERY well decorated, and I would've loved to stay and do a little computer work! I could see myself coming by and sitting down for a quick brunch, meeting up with friends, or staying for a work session.

During my weekend visit in Raleigh, I could not waste the opportunity to go to the museum. I don't…read moreever get tired of looking at their fine art collection and exhibits. Numerous people with their friends and family came out this past weekend to also enjoy the greenway and outdoor art. There's also a café and small museum shop inside. We had a great time.

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.