Burgwin-Wright House Brings Color to Black Friday PDF Print Email
Written by Hope Trent   
Wednesday, November 23, 2016 01:38 PM

The Burgwin-Wright House will offer a colorful alternative to Black Friday, that big shopping day after Thanksgiving, which happens to coincide with Fourth Friday Gallery Night. The historic house museum will host an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 25 for local artist Elizabeth Darrow and her show, “Exuberant Graffiti.” On the same night, “Tales of the East” will showcase items from the museum collection that illustrate the Asian influence on the decorative arts of the 18th and 19th century.

All of the pieces in Darrow’s “Exuberant Graffiti” combine oil and collage on canvas to produce vibrant and textural abstracts. Darrow began many of these pieces by writing in cursive on the blank canvas.

“This was just a means to beginning”, Darrow says. “Each piece achieves its own identity as the process moves along. I don't set out with a specific outcome in mind, but let the process lead me along.”

In some instances, Darrow’s process resulted in pieces with a botanical appearance, while others resemble prayer rugs. Several square canvases evolved into mandala-like designs.

Articles on display for “Tales of the East” include a gravy dish from the mid-1800s, likely owned by the Wright family and found in a trash pit on the Burgwin-Wright House property, an early 19th century tea chest and a Blue Willow Chinese porcelain pitcher and basin set.

Darrow’s signature painted leaves and pillows featuring her mandala designs will be available for purchase in the Burgwin-Wright House gift shop.

Located at 224 Market Street in downtown Wilmington, the Burgwin-Wright House was built in 1770 and offers guided tours interpreting colonial history on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The house also serves as the headquarters of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of North Carolina, a nonprofit founded in 1894, with the three-fold mission of historic preservation, patriotic service and education.

Visit www.burgwinwrighthouse.com to learn more about Fourth Friday, special tours and other events.

Note: This story was published by Star News

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