FRANK Gallery

FRANK in Focus
2021-10-26 00:00 - 2021-11-13 00:00 (America/New_York)
FRANK Gallery has a space dedicated to the photographers of FRANK in Focus which is in association with the triangle-wide CLICK Photography Festival.
Featuring a selection of works by photographers; Dan Gottlieb, John Rosenthal, Alan Dehmer, Bill McAllister, Peter Filene, Barbara Tyroler and with Barbara’s workshop participants Dawn Colsia and Diane Cashion.

2021 Off the Wall Fundraising Gala
2021-10-09 18:00 - 21:00
FRANK’S SIGNATURE FUNDRAISING EVENT IS WELL-KNOWN FOR ITS EXCITEMENT, SPECTACULAR SELECTION OF ART, AND COMMUNITY ROOTS. JOIN US IN OUR 11TH YEAR AS WE SUPPORT FRANK GALLERY’S MISSION TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ART.
How does it work? With the purchase of an Art Ticket, the ticket holder’s name is entered into a pool with other art ticket holders at the beginning of the night. When the drawing starts, the names of art ticket holders will be drawn at random (this is the fun part!) and read out loud by our emcee, local radio personality, Aaron Keck. Once your name is called, you’ll have one minute to choose your favorite piece of art “off the wall” to take home. It gets exciting as you never know what the next piece to go will be!
You are also invited to visit the gallery the week before the event to see all the donated art in person and we will be sending out an artwork list prior to the event so everyone can make a list of your favorite art, in order of preference.
There will be over 70 pieces of donated art (from our generous artists!) all valued at more than the price of a ticket and will be posted on our website prior to the event, so stay tuned and check back often to get an early look.
Where? The Gala will be live broadcast via Zoom from the Gallery to your home where you can enjoy art and gourmet food in the comfort and safety of home.
How much are tickets? Tickets for virtual attendance are $395 for two people for one piece of art.
We would love if you could join us from anywhere in the country and are happy to ship you the piece of art you win at an additional cost.

Featured Artists Exhibit for September/November 2021
2021-09-28 00:00 - 2021-11-13 00:00
Featuring Carolyn Rugen, Kaidy Lewis and Tinka Jordy
VIRTUAL RECEPTION & ARTIST TALK: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22 6-7 PM
The gallery is excited to feature the paintings of members, Kaidy Lewis and Carolyn Rugen and sculptural work of guest artist, Tinka Jordy.

Carolyn Rugen
All of my work is grounded in my perceptions of the natural world – it is about seeing and feeling deeply about what is seen. This work is perhaps the most autobiographical of any of my work.

I was born on a small farm in rural Tennessee. My earliest memories are of the open comforting fields, and sky, dense woods, and the animals, always the animals. And I was able to fulfill many a young girls dream, that of having her own horse and riding frequently.
Then came college, marriage, three children, an advanced degree in library science, the study of art history, a museum internship and finally the serious work of trying to make art. And most of this time I lived in cities.
About thirty years ago my husband and I built a house in Chapel Hill and I was delighted, after a short drive out into the country, to find myself surrounded by the same gentle landscape that I had grown up with. Out on Mt. Carmel Church Rd. I came upon a field of beautiful horses and after a chat with the farmer I was able to sit on the edge of the pasture and draw. And a few years later my oldest daughter and I spent a magical three days at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley, NC with and riding the horses.
And here are these paintings.

Kaidy Lewis
‘I began these paintings with the expectation that we were emerging from Covid-19. This exceptional time is hybrid. It is collectively new and yet the same as the time before. This is what I examine when I paint. In the process my intention(consciousness) dances with my unconscious. Often offering me up a way to understand my experience of the world a little ( sometimes to my own surprise). I paint in all orientations of a 2D canvas as there are no sides in a round world.
As I apply paint I am trying to understand world dynamics, patterns, distortions, humor, truth beauty and essence. I glimpse at several realities often saying the same.
When I emerge from painting, I check that every inch of the canvas sings, whether it be in the narrative, design or paint. They are made to be generous for years to come’.

Tinka Jordy
The surfaces of my sculptures are full of surface cracks, fissures and imperfections that express the earth, the passing of time, our mortality, vulnerability, and the search for spirituality and acceptance. I work on them until they look back at me.
Although the viewer is not there during the actual creation of this work, it’s my intention that the final piece will draw the viewer in to participate in the sensuality of the work, and that their perceptions will be questioned, while their emotions are evoked, through my use of the clay in its final form, scale and texture.
For over 40 years I have worked in clay as it is the one material that, if I listen closely, communicates these sentiments so beautifully.

Featured Artists Exhibit for August/September 2021
2021-08-10 00:00 - 2021-09-25 00:00
Featuring Gordon Jameson, Joe Grant and Michele Maynard
OPENING RECEPTION FRIDAY, AUGUST 20TH FROM 6-8PM
Please visit us in August and September to see the newest exhibit at FRANK featuring artists Gordon Jameson, Joe Grant and Michele Maynard. Join us in-person for the opening reception at the gallery on August 20th (masks required).

Gordon Jameson
I am interested in the ongoing layering of life, ideas, history, personal stories, and mythologies.
My visual conversation is like poetry, a whispered interval between the past and tomorrow, subtracting and adding, losing one thing but gaining something new. My images, while abstract, reference specific places, events, memories, moments in a day, or a road taken. It isn’t the literal I wish to find in my paintings but the idea or feeling of the experience of some place or time.
Constructing the paintings involves catharsis, seeking a balance and finding a concrete language for an idea that may be very fleeting – like holding fog in a crystal bowl.
“All things are in process, rising and returning…” – Lao-Tse

Joe Grant
Embracing the myriad relationships between science, nature, design and art allows many of my works to emerge. Science is creative but the language is limiting. Art has a wider vocabulary with which to interpret nature, one that can employ the subjective experience. There is room for mysticism, transcendence, intuition, hybridization, feeling and emotion in art.
Coaxing molten glass into a form that reflects my interests visually, conceptually, and functionally is at the forefront of my process. My efforts result in work that strikes a balance between control through technique and the serendipity created by working with an unpredictable, molten liquid.

Michele Maynard
Pandemic lockdown at my art studio resulted in a big shift in my work, a silver lining in my COVID cloud. Not able to travel and spend time with family and friends, I spent time with people and places by drawing and painting them from 30 years of photographs. My husband and I took these images while traveling and raising three sons, but I never had adequate time to peruse and process all of them. Lockdown gave me an opportunity to do this, and the photos became the basis of the body of work shown here. I went back to basics, spending newfound blocks of time drawing with oil stick and oil pastel from compilations of images. After a few months, I continued developing this new direction in acrylic and Flashe paint, drawing on looser techniques I have employed in abstract pieces.
This is the most personal and deeply satisfying body of work I’ve ever done.

Featured Artists Exhibit for June/July 2021
2021-06-08 00:00 - 2021-08-07 00:00
Featuring Susan Filley, R. Scott Horner, Vince Pitelka, Sudie Rakusin, and Pat Scull
VIRTUAL OPENING RECEPTION JUNE 18TH FROM 7-8PM
The FRANK Gallery is thrilled to present an exhibit featuring member artists Susan Filley and Sudie Rakusin and with guest artists R. Scott Horner, Vince Pitelka, and Pat Scull.
The gallery is open for walk-in traffic Tuesday-Saturday from 12-5pm.

Sudie Rakusin
“Part of being in quarantine for me was re-framing and reimagining the relevancy of things and the role of art.” Exploring both what was familiar and incorporating new approaches to her art, Sudie Rakusin will be displaying her latest work new to the gallery—collage drawings and 3-D mixed media tables. Sudie has a unique ability to excel in many different media and along with being an incredibly talented visual artist she is a sculptor, illustrator, children’s book author, and member of FRANK Gallery. Using collage and mixed media Sudie’s art is a highly emotive and narrative representation of her inspiration—her love for the natural world.

Susan Filley
Truly mastering form, function, and beauty, member artist, Susan Filley creates exquisite functional and sculptural pieces from porcelain. Holding a cup of Susan’s in your hands or viewing one of her sculptural pieces the viewer is simply engrossed with the sumptuous and unique forms, rich crystal glaze surfaces and vibrant colors of her work. In her own words, “I strive to make pots that are beautiful and a pleasure to use, forms that bold and well balanced, and always a body of work that brings grace, elegance, and delight into our lives.”

R. Scott Horner
An abstract painter working mainly in acrylics, the gallery is excited to have the paintings of R. Scott Horner for the first time at FRANK. “By methodically layering thick and thin skins of paint, old events are covered up, sometimes rediscovered through transparency or scratch-throughs. In this way, the art builds its own history, allowing the viewers to read into it many stories.” Though avoiding direct representation, Scott is inspired by the world around him, and with an enchanting color palette and his unique technique of layering, the viewer is drawn into his interpretation of nature.

Vince Pitelka
A writer, teacher, and potter, FRANK is thrilled to have the work of Vince Pitelka for the first time. Working in academia for 35 years and having taught clay workshops both nationally and internationally, Vince now renders his many years of experience to his own clay studio and as member of the Chatham Artists Guild. Creating slab-built functional pottery and large coil-built vessels, Vince’s work is known for his ability to impress intricate patterns on to his pottery. By carefully selecting glazes that highlight the beauty of his own carved bisque-stamps and rollers, Vince creates sophisticated and highly unique textures and patterns which are imprinted on to the surfaces of his clay work as 3d relief.

Pat Scull
Showing her work in juried shows across the United States, and featured for the first time at FRANK, we are excited to have the mixed media and clay work of artist Pat Scull. Pat has a unique ability to have her artistic nuances and sensibilities translate so seamlessly from each medium of her choosing. “An explorer of artistic processes and mediums, she creates her own imaginary world using clay, paint, wood, found objects, and metal.” Using organic forms, textures, colors, and patterns, one is able to venture into the inner world of Pat’s artistic mind through her incredible and intricate work.

Featured Artists Exhibit for April/May 2021
2021-04-06 00:00 - 2021-06-05 00:00
FEATURING Keith Allen, Alan Dehmer, Judith Ernst, Jean Lecluyse, Jim Oleson, and Barbara Tyroler
VIRTUAL OPENING RECEPTION APRIL 9
Opening on April 9th the gallery is excited to present a new exhibit featuring current FRANK member artists; woodworker/furniture maker Keith Allen, wood sculptor Jim Oleson, and photographer Barbara Tyroler and guest artists (and former members!) photographer Alan Dehmer, ceramicist Judith Ernst, and drawer/illustrator/mixed media artist Jean LeCluyse. With a common theme of trees, the six featured artists showcase their extraordinary talents in a wonderful and cohesive exhibit at FRANK for the months of April and May.

Keith Allen
Creating works of functional artistic furniture, self-taught artist Keith Allen emphasizes the natural nuances of wood and spotlights the once perceived flaws in his chosen material—all with a bit of whimsy. His striking pieces often use butterfly joints inspired by George Nakashima and he brings out the beautiful grain in his wood work by using geometric and brightly colored features. He draws inspiration from both his background as a mathematician and computer scientist as well as pioneer of modern furniture design, Gerrit Rietveld.

Jim Oleson
A very accomplished furniture maker in his own right, Jim Oleson, has seamlessly transitioned into the art of sculpture making. A common theme with all of Jim’s work is his exceptional and imaginative designs and his incredibly high level of craftsmanship. Playing with shapes, color, kinetics, and precision, Jim’s sculptures are his creativity and imagination come to life.

Barbara Tyroler
The photography project that Barbara Tyroler be displaying began around the onset of the pandemic with a few nature walks inspired by three of her nature-loving students. Predominately a portrait photographer, Barbara took this new creative inspiration and opportunity to focus on trees and how to incorporate people into the imagery. These fine art images of composited renditions of portrait/landscape photography will be showcased in FRANK in a series titled, “Seeing-Trees; Memory, Re-planting and Re-gifting, featuring Charlotte, a little girl and her relationship with the natural world. This series was awarded an artist grant and was juried into The Fence 2021 during the CLICK! Photo festival with selections exhibited at Through This Lens gallery during the FRANK:inFocus annual. After completing the fine art series, Barbara extended the study to photographing social distanced portraits of friends, students, colleagues, educators, and some new acquaintances who graciously shared their knowledge of trees in this video which will also be displayed in this exhibit.

Alan Dehmer
Photographer and master of the process of gum bichromate printing, artist Alan Dehmer takes two related art forms and combines them into photographs with an atmospheric sense of time and nature. A complex method of printing begins with Alan enlarging a negative of one of his own magnificent images, and transforming the photographs through gum bichromate. Then using mostly mineral pigments and other organic materials like locally foraged walnut hulls, turmeric, and dyes like sandalwood and indigo, he is able to achieve a painterly and evocative final art piece. What emerges through this developing/printing process is “a haunting beauty as well as depth of surface character that is uncommon in the world of photography.”

Judith Ernst
Always, expertly, testing the limits of her medium, Judith Ernst creates incomparable sculptural, and labor intensive ceramic vessels that are impeccably designed and glazed. Directly inspired by her life experiences, studies, and traveling abroad Judith developed a highly meticulous approach to building her ceramics. “Using sculptural techniques, she cuts through the wall of the pot to get more depth and dynamic movement, taking apart thrown vessels and reconfiguring them in new ways.” The finished vessel is an incredibly unique, energetic, textural, and exquisitely colored vessel.

Jean LeCluyse
Creating immensely detailed and magnificent works of art with a combination of drawing, illustrating, and mixed media, Jean LeCluyse’s art are “windows into a ‘secret’ narrative.” Observing Jean’s artwork transports the viewer to a state of meditation, examining each detailed nuance as a viewer, one can get a glimpse into the complex story and skill of the artist. Jean’s work is directly inspired by her professional and artistic background in classical drawing and scientific illustration. Keeping with the underlying theme for this exhibit of trees, Jean’s series for the upcoming exhibit will give the viewer a look into the extreme proficiency of her chosen medium.

Live Reading: The Rope of Life by Mirinda Kossoff
2021-02-21 14:00 - 15:00
Please join us via Facebook Live for a reading an interview by local author and FRANK guest artist, Mirinda Kossoff interviewed by Nora Gaskin. Mirinda’s highly anticipated book, The Rope of Life: A Memoir, is a daughter’s story told with love and compassion. Readers will come away wiser about family bonds and the ways in which they can hurt or heal. Mirinda took one flight in her father’s Cessna Skyhawk as he piloted and navigated by landmarks that revealed themselves through openings in the trees below. A short three years later, he was dead at age fifty-six.
Memory of that ride fueled Kossoff’s desire to understand who her father was and the forces that shaped him. And by extension, how he shaped her life. Her need to know and to understand became a life-long pursuit. As well as being an exceptional jeweler, Her essays and creative writing have been passions she pursued alongside her day jobs. She penned a weekly column for a local paper, was an essayist/commentator on regional public radio, and taught essay writing at Duke University.
To purchase this incredibly well written and well reviewed book, click on the link below to be directed to local bookseller McIntyre’s Books.

Featured Artists Exhibit for February/March 2021
2021-02-09 00:00 - 2021-04-03 00:00
FEATURING keith Allen, Alan Dehmer, Judith Ernst, Jean Lecluyse, jim oleson, and barbara Tyroler
VIRTUAL OPENING RECEPTION FEBRUARY 19
Opening on February 9th the gallery is proud to present a new exhibit featuring FRANK member artists; ceramicist Sasha Bakaric and photographer John Rosenthal and guest artists; sculptor Holly Fischer and illustrator and drawer Ippy Patterson.
Fascinated by the dichotomy between viruses, microorganisms and creating beautiful art, Sasha Bakaric typically works with white stoneware coated with terra sigillata to create delicately carved surfaces inspired by these complex cells. Always challenging the perfection of her technique and highly creative sensibilities, her latest work is guaranteed to be distinctively unique and flawless as it always promises to be.
Renowned and talented photographer John Rosenthal is always finding ways to tell a story in an inspiring way, either with the written word or with his photography. John’s photos are incredibly emotive and transport the viewer to another time and place. With the ability to capture a perfect moment in time, combined with a bit of mystery and brilliance, John masterfully shares the story of his subject in a way true to his own narrative.
We are thrilled to have the incredibly talented Ippy Patterson, exhibiting at the gallery. Having the artistic mastery to be able to render nearly any subject matter on paper, Ippy works with ink, pencil, watercolor and charcoal in a highly intricate, beautiful, and graceful way. With a fascinating biography that directly inspires her work, Ippy’s travels, studies, and life experiences translate to a breathtaking collection of illustrations.
Rounding out the elegance of this featured artists exhibit are the ceramic sculptures of artist Holly Fischer. Holly has perfected the use of her medium, it is simply astonishing the sculptures that Holly is able to create by using clay. Building and forming sensuous shapes inspired by the duality between masculine and feminine figures and represented by the combination of colors and textures, each piece of Holly’s art asks the visitor to question what they are viewing and step out of their preconceived notions.

Print Invitational and 10 years, 10 artists juried exhibition
2021-01-05 00:00 - 2021-02-06 00:00
We are thrilled to announce a dual exhibit happening at FRANK for the month of January. Running from January 5th-February 6th, 2021 the gallery will feature the work of local and regional printmakers as well as 10 local and regional artists who were chosen by our guest juror Jennifer Dasal.
“10 Years, 10 artists”
GUEST JUROR JENNIFER DASAL
10 Years, 10 Artists was a statewide call for artists to celebrate FRANK Gallery’s 10th anniversary year. Choosing only 10 artists was a challenging task, but thankfully we had the highly esteemed and discerning eye of Jennifer Dasal to take on the assignment and we are honored to have her involvement in this show. Dasal is the curator of modern and contemporary art at the NCMA and host and creator of the podcast Art Curious. The chosen ten artists represent a wide-range of media and we are excited to see the show hanging with all their creative and incredible work. Thank you so much to Jennifer Dasal and to everyone who applied for this exciting juried statewide exhibit.
The chosen artists are:
Sean Bailey, Ivana Milojevic Beck, David Davenport, Cindy Geary, Virginia Green, Mitzie Jokich, Tara Kuhn, Jennifer Markowitz, Rob Morgan, and Richard Perry.
CONGRATULATIONS TO AWARD WINNERS:
BEST IN SHOW:
Jennifer Markowitz, Fleshmap Panel 11
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Virginia Green, Love My Sugar Daddy
Rob Morgan, Air Plant 1

2020 Holiday Exhibit
2020-11-17 00:00 - 2021-01-02 00:00
The months of November and December will be an exciting representation of work of all our FRANK members, guests, and many, many new artists! This exquisitely curated show will highlight gift giving with a variety of media and price points represented. Gift local!

2020 Off the Wall Fundraising Gala
2020-10-10 18:00 - 21:00
How does it work? With the purchase of an Art Ticket, the ticket holder’s name is entered into a random drawing the night of the event. In order to view all the artwork ahead time, you can click on the“Donated Art” button (below) prior to the event—which is updated as new art pieces come in. You are also invited to visit the gallery October 6th-10th 12-5pm to see all the donated art in person and we will be sending out an artwork list on October 6th so everyone can make a list of your favorite art, in order of preference. When the drawing starts, the names of art ticket holders will be drawn at random (this is the fun part!) and read out loud by our emcee, local radio personality, Aaron Keck. Once your name is called, you’ll have one minute to choose your favorite piece of art “off the wall” to take home. It gets exciting as you never know what the next piece to go will be!
There will be over 60 pieces of donated art all valued at more than the price of a ticket and will be posted on our website prior to the event, so stay tuned and check back often to get an early look. The format of this year’s event will be a little different since it will be done virtually however we can assure you the same exciting event with the same quality and value of beautiful art choices. We will be sending out a form for your preference of food and drink and will be making non-contact deliveries prior to the event for each ticket holder with a charcuterie box from Femme Fromage, bottle of your choice of wine from Gioiawines, or non-alcoholic beverage, and sweet treat from SmallCakes.
Where? VIRTUALLY! The Gala will be live broadcast via Zoom from the Gallery to your home where you can enjoy art and gourmet food in the comfort and safety of home. It will be a different Gala for sure, but we promise it will still have the same excitement as years past!
How much are tickets? Typically tickets are $450 and an extra $50 to bring a companion, however, since the format (not the fun!) is different this year the tickets are $375 for two people for one piece of art. TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!
We would love if you could join us from anywhere in the country and are happy to ship you the piece of art you win at an additional cost.

Featured Artists Exhibit for September/October 2020
2020-09-08 00:00 - 2020-11-14 00:00
Featuring: Peg Bachenheimer, Lew Graham, Paul Hrusovsky, Ronan Peterson
SEPTEMBER 8TH-NOVEMBER 14TH
Starting on September 8th, FRANK Gallery will be displaying a beautifully curated exhibit featuring the paintings of FRANK member artist, Peg Bachenheimer, mixed media of Lew Graham, painting/mixed media of Paul Hrusovsky, and the ceramics of Ronan Peterson.
Peg Bachenheimer’s newest paintings are oil and cold wax medium as well as acrylic on canvas. With an impressionist quality with a pleasing and soft color palette Peg’s graceful and beautiful paintings are light filled, glowing abstracts and abstract landscapes. Perfecting her use of her medium, Peg is able to create a textural surface with depth that highlights her choice of colors.
Working with the encaustic medium on birch panels, Lew Graham’s latest work in the gallery is a highly luminescent and tranquil journey for its viewer. “Deepen” is a series of mixed media pieces made by combining many layers and working with a neutral color palette; pops of colors shine through ever so delicately but oh so alluring.
Paul Hrusovsky’s current body of work is a nod to “childhood memories of play, ceremony, and reflection.” Working with metallic and mixed-media materials on canvas, his latest work is inspired by objects and textures from the natural world. With a rich and lush color palette and working with layers of color that are “stenciled, painted, layered and taken away,” Paul’s work is not only captivating with colorful metallic nuances and layers but there is a beautiful depth to his paintings from his layering technique.
Creating his own quintessential style that is both whimsical and highly sophisticated, Ronan Peterson’s ceramics are very sought-after and shown across the country. Using red earthenware clay, Ronan’s work though artistic and creative, are functional sculptures for every day use. Drawing inspiration from, “processes of growth and decay in the natural world and translated into a ceramic comic book interpretation of both real and imagined phenomena.” Every piece of Ronan’s ceramics are a combination of textures, colors, and patterns making each piece bewitching and one of a kind.
We hope that you can stop in to see this incredible exhibit when we open from on Tuesday, September 8th and visit the gallery with our hours of operation from Tuesday-Saturday from 12-5pm. If you would prefer to visit the gallery by appointment please contact our gallery manager, Natalie Knox at info@frankisart.com to schedule.

Featured Artists Exhibit for July/August 2020
2020-07-09 00:00 - 2020-09-05 00:00
Featuring Charlie Dupee, Susan Finer, Rosalie Midyette, Theresa Pastoriza-Tan
JULY 9TH-SEPTEMBER 5TH
Please join us on July 9th for the new exhibit in the gallery featuring Charlie Dupee, Susan Finer, Rosalie Midyette, and Theresa Pastoriza-Tan. In their debut featured show at the gallery, FRANK is excited to showcase the work of the four artists in a highly creative and stunning exhibit showcasing a variety of mediums.
Charlie Dupee has been the “emerging apprentice artist” at FRANK for the last year, and as a cumulation of the program with the gallery, Charlie will be the featured artist for the July and August exhibit. Creativity knows no bounds with the artists current body of work, combining his own life experiences, experimentation with materials, systematic racism, and the playfulness of color, Charlie is able to visually tell a story with a supremely unique and creative approach. In his own words; “Unquestioned intuition, capitalism, and the KKK have influenced my current work direction: queer, kitsch American-nonsense.” FRANK is really proud of Charlie and excited that he will be staying around town to start his MFA program with UNC in the Fall.
Showing for the first time at FRANK, Susan Finer, is a fiber and mixed media artist. Susan draws inspiration from …“ ancient craft 20th century masters of painting, sculpture, illustration, textiles, and music; and textures found in nature.” Combining fabric pieced and stitched together, both hand and machine stitched, Susan creates elegant abstract fiber works mixing purposeful and organic stitchery in a muted color palette often with pops of color.
Also exhibiting for the first time at FRANK is ceramic artist Rosalie Midyette. Drawing directly from her background of growing up in North Carolina and being inspired by a childhood spent playing in creeks and the woods, Rosalie’s sculptures are organically shaped with lustruous, pearly mica finished. Rosalie’s sense of tranquility and calmness when creating each piece comes through when viewing her work, each with a sensuous finish and rounded form evokes feelings of her life experiences.
A favorite artist during the last holiday show, Theresa Pastoriza-Tan will be a featured artist for the first time at FRANK for this July/August exhibit. A member of the Durham Art Guild, Theresa’s mixed media work is as much about the end result as the process itself. Ethereal abstract landscape’s with a luscious color palate often dabbed with bits of gold and bright colors and using a variety of materials all lead to a beautiful, dreamy work of art.
We hope that you can visit this exceptional exhibit when it will be up from July 9th-September 5th. We will be practicing safety and health precautions in the gallery and in doing so will not be having an opening reception nor in-gallery artist talks.

Featured Artists Exhibit for March/June 2020
2020-03-10 00:00 - 2020-06-28 00:00
Featuring Carroll Lassiter, Nerys Levy, and John Parkinson
MARCH 10TH-JUNE 28TH
Please join us on March 10th for the newest exhibit at FRANK featuring member artists and painters, Carroll Lassiter and Nerys Levy and guest artist furniture maker John Parkinson. Carroll and Nerys spend a lot of time working in “plein air,” or painting outside. Though each artist approaches their techniques differently they are able to capture their natural subjects with beautiful results. For the first time showing at FRANK, the gallery is excited to have the exquisite work of John Parkinson.
A longtime member of FRANK, Welsh native, Nerys Levy is no stranger to travel and has found herself painting all over the world. “I work on site in mixed media watercolor documenting the planet’s diverse landscapes–ancient forms, animals, Polar Regions, Welsh Mountains, Italian cityscapes, North Carolina, and the like,” says the artist. The March/April exhibit will be no different in that respect but the subject matter will encompass her more recent trip to Jamaica. Revisiting her time in the British organization Voluntary Service Overseas, Nerys captures the ethereal beauty of the scenery of Jamaica with her distinctive, graphic quality mixed with the saturated earthly colors of the beach. She has also worked extensively in Italy and this exhibit features interiors of many of Italian churches.
FRANK member, Carroll Lassiter grew up in Edenton, which continually inspires her paintings of North Carolina’s scenery. There is something so familiar about her paintings, each transporting you to the place that she is capturing with her brush. The familiar solitude of an empty barn we see as we drive by, a a memory of a lush landscape of a wild field, the ordinary scene of a road made extraordinary by the feeling and exactness Carroll paints. With her signature welded steel, polished frames, Carroll is able to add a stunning finish to her enchanting landscapes.
Specializing in functional furniture with “clean elegant lines, incorporating quiet details and accents to enhance visual vitality” John Parkinson will be showcasing his work at FRANK for the first time. Originally from England, John’s love of woodworking started from a very young age being taught by his father. After honing his skills and starting his business, John Parkinson Furniture, John has gone on to have his work recognized by magazines, national art shows and of course gracefully adorne the homes of his clients. We are thrilled to have his beautiful work in our gallery and hope you can stop in to see it. Click on the link below to see more of John’s work and visit his website.
Please consider attending one of the events surrounding this incredible exhibit. The show will run from March 10th-May 2nd, the opening reception originally scheduled for Friday, March 13th has been postponed. The artist talk is still currently scheduled for Friday, April 10th from 6-8pm but we will inform you of any changes. Light refreshments will be provided and event is free.

Featured Artists Exhibit for January/February 2020
2020-01-07 00:00 - 2020-03-07 00:00
Featuring Shelly Hehenberger, Luna Lee Ray, and R.J. Dobs
JANUARY 7TH-MARCH 7THOPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, JANUARY 10TH 6-8PMARTIST TALK: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH 6-8PM
We are starting 2020 with a new exhibit! Featuring the work of member and mixed media artists Shelly Hehenberger and Luna Lee Ray as well as the work of guest sculptor, R.J.Dobs. Inspired by nature, all three of the featured artists have a unique interpretation on how they see the living world that surrounds us.
Working with a mixed media technique of building many layers of sheer and semi-opaque colors and direct printing with handmade stamps and free drawing, Luna encapsulates a nuanced and ethereal approach to her interpretation of “the interplay of air, water, and light, trying to capture a sense of the intangible: sunshine and mist in an abstract way.” With a delicate color palette that is injected with a spark of brightness, the viewer is easily transfixed and transported into a dreamlike state.
Typically and expertly working with cold wax medium, Shelly Hehenberger is able to create highly textural surface with layers and layers of cold wax. When looking at Shelly’s work it is astonishing to see the command, artistray, and perfection she has over her chosen media in depicting her interpretation of the natural world. In Shelly’s most recent art, she’s been working with mixed media on paper. Using the more dynamic and porous 100% cotton rag paper rather than using conventional wood pulp paper, Shelly was able to experiment with all kinds of different items from frozen blueberries to coffee to more typical artistic materials in order to achieve the incredibly spectacular results of mixed media work.Being a featured artist in a FRANK exhibit for the first time, we are thrilled to showcase the beautiful sculptures of RJ Dobs. Evoking the spirit of the earth and nature, RJ carves and grinds into sandstone, granite, and found stones to create pieces with “non-symmetry that have inherent balance.” With a feeling that the stone sculptures are picked straight from the earth, RJ combines his creativity and artistry to the organic pieces for a beautiful collection of work.
Please join us to see this beautiful exhibit which will run from January 7th to March 7th. The opening reception will be Friday, January 10th from 6-8pm and the artist talk will be Friday, February 7th from 6-8pm. Light refreshments will be provided and event is free.

2019 Holiday Exhibit
2019-11-12 00:00 - 2019-12-06 00:00
Featuring Frank members, returning, and new artists
NOVEMBER 12TH-JANUARY 4THOPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH 6-8PM
The months of November and December will be an exciting representation of work of all our FRANK members, guests, and many, many new artists! This exquisitely curated show will highlight gift giving with a variety of media and price points represented. Gift local!Please join us for the opening reception of this exhibit on December 6th from 6-8pm. Light refreshments will be provided and event is free.

Featured Artists Exhibit for October/November 2019
2019-10-08 00:00 - 2019-11-26 00:00
Featuring Peter Filene and Bill McAllister
OCTOBER 8TH-NOVEMBER 10THOPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11TH 6-8PMARTIST TALK: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH 10-11AM
The months of October/November will be celebrating the work of accomplished FRANK members and photographers, Peter Filene and Bill McAllister. Both artists approach the medium of photography in their own highly skilled and creative way.
On exhibit by Peter Filene will be his latest series in photocollage as well as his double-exposure photography. Photocollage is a technique whereby the artist tears up his photographs and assembles the pieces together in order to take a new photograph. This in turn gives his imagery a new life as well as a striking and imaginative result.   For his double-exposure on film photographs, Peter first takes a photo in an urban landscape or in a museum setting. He then cocks the shutter without advancing the film, and takes another photo of a subject that he hopes will harmonize with the first. The effect is a masterful, painterly image, one not easily replicated, which Peter eloquently describes as “a marriage of intention and chance.”
Bill McAllister’s work for this fall exhibit is a series of Cyanotype photographs. In images taken with an underwater camera, Bill explores how the reflection and refraction of light in water interplays with and abstracts the floating human figure. Printing these shots in the Cyanotype process enhances an ethereal and otherworldly feeling of his underwater work, making the printing process integral to the imagery itself.
We hope that you can visit the gallery during this exceptional show and for the opening reception on October 11th and the Artist Talk led by Peter Filene and Bill McAllister on October 26th.

Featured Artists Exhibit for August/September 2019
2019-08-06 00:00 - 2019-10-05 00:00
Featuring Katherine Armacost, Nikki Blair, Natalie Boorman, Marguerite Jay Gignoux, Linda Prager & Carol Retsch-Bogart
SHOW WILL RUN FROM AUGUST 6TH-OCTOBER 5THRECEPTION: FRIDAY, AUGUST 9TH, 6-8PMMUSIC SALON: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 6-7PMARTIST TALK: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 6-8PM
The months of August and September will be a celebration of a diverse and extremely talented group of females artists entitled 6@FRANK. This exciting exhibit will showcase paintings by member artists and ceramicists Natalie Boorman and Linda Prager, guest ceramic artist Nikki Blair, mixed media work by member Carol Retsch-Bogart, paintings by Katherine Armacost and textile work by Marguerite Jay Gignoux.
Please join us on Friday, August 9th 6-8pm for the opening of “6 @ FRANK” the new exhibit for August/September. Live music by Red Nucleus! Refreshments will be provided. Event is free. As a special treat, on Sunday, September 8th, the group “Sail Away Ladies” made up of Linda Prager and her musical partners, Irene Felsman and Mitzi Quint will be putting on a musical salon from 6-7pm. The artist talk will be on Thursday, September 12th, from 6-8pm. We hope to see you all for one or all of these events!Katherine Armacost’s oil paintings are inspired by the world around her, letting her imagination and her creativity take the lead, Katherine has a dialogue with her paintings that often end in a different way then they have begun. Having her work in private collections all over the world is a true testament to the universality of her incredible work.
Nikki Blair is currently an Associate Professor in Ceramics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her ceramic work is bold and graphic, often working with a slab technique in building her pieces, she creates large scale vessels that are functional and fantastical. In describing her aesthetic she says, “my work harks back to the shiny bright futurism of post WWII architecture and product design.” Nikki has had her work displayed in museums and galleries across the country.
Hand building her work through the pinch pot method, Natalie Boorman, forms clay as almost a meditative experience, taking each step of the process as a way to build a relationship with her vessels. Natalie then finishes her pots with burnishings, bisque firing, raku and pit firing. The added smokiness of the final product returns the story of the clay back to a new beautiful organic form.
Having a multitude of talents and media to her name, Marguerite Jay Gignoux, the current work of Marguerite (Peg) really showcases the creativity she has with textile and fiber art. Using the textures, shapes and colors from fabrics and paper to form the base of her work, through collage she then brings it all together with intricate hand stitching and weaving to create intensely beautiful and imaginative works.
While also being talented in many different arenas and artistic media, Linda Prager’s ceramic work will be highlighted in the August/September show. Handbuilding and working often with the slab technique, Linda is constantly inspired by the use of objects around her to create interesting and dynamic textures in her clay. The pieces she creates are both architectural and organic in form and design. Linda calls her pieces functional vessels, and she uses layers of colors and textures to enhance their shapes, and also to draw the viewers’ eyes into the surface.
Carol Retsch-Bogart is always challenging herself as an artist; Carol often uses textiles, encaustic medium, paper, and pigments to create her stunning mixed-media pieces.Instead of making the materials conform to her work, Carol works with the materials and makes them truly shine. Marrying originality and purpose, Carol’s finished pieces are always alluring and unique.

Featured Artists Exhibit for June/July 2019
2019-06-11 00:00 - 2019-08-11 00:00
Featuring Berkeley Grimball, Jim Lux, Jim Oleson, Mary Stone Lamb and Phillip Welch
SHOW WILL RUN FROM JUNE 11TH-AUGUST 3RDRECEPTION: FRIDAY, JUNE 14TH, 6-8PMARTIST TALK: JULY 12TH, 6-8PM
The June/July Exhibition at FRANK will be highlighting the work of member artists Mary Stone Lamb and Jim Oleson as well as guest artists Berkeley Grimball, Jim Lux, and Phillip Welch. This diverse exhibit will showcase the art of the five talented artists and their mediums of encaustic wax, wood, ceramic, and jewelry.
Having a background representing a multitude of artistic styles, Mary Stone Lamb is currently working with the encaustic wax medium. Through encaustics Lamb is able to create beautiful, abstract pieces with rich textures and a structural quality. Rather than trying to fight the nature of encaustic wax, Lamb has perfected working with the medium to create sumptuous, textural pieces which encapsulate a type of depth often not found with other mediums.
With a brilliant body of work in functional wood furniture, Jim Oleson has more recently taken the design quality of his furniture and implemented it into creating remarkable sculptures. A commonality with all of Oleson’s work is his exceptional designs and his incredibly high level of craftsmanship. We are thrilled to be presenting his newest designs for this highly anticipated exhibit.
Berkeley Grimball, owner of Grimball Jewelers a Chapel Hill institution, will be showcasing his beautifully handcrafted and inventive jewelry. Drawing on his long career as a designer, jewelry maker, as well as his background as a musician, Grimball uses parts of instruments to create exceptional and finely crafted pieces of wearable art.
With a unique process combining time tested techniques and his own personal methods, Jim Lux creates beautiful pieces of pottery with distinctive finishes. Building his pieces with coils of clay pinched together and then expertly smoothed and finished by hand, Lux then fires his pieces in an electric kiln followed by covering his pieces in organic material and lit on fire. This interesting process creates fascinating surface textures which are made even the more fascinating when finished with wax and metallic powders.
Believing that form and function are inseparable, Phillip Welch creates “art as furniture.” With precision, individuality and utility, Welch builds pieces that stand the test of time but with a unique twist. For the first time showing at FRANK gallery, please help us in celebrating his work. We look forward to sharing this exciting exhibit with the public and hope to see you at the opening reception on June 14th, from 6-8pm and Artist Talk on July 12th, from 6-8pm.

Featured Artists Exhibit for April/May 2019
2019-04-09 00:00 - 2019-06-08 00:00
Featuring Keith Allen, Ben Hamburger, Kaidy Lewis and Carolyn Rugen
SHOW WILL RUN FROM APRIL 9TH-JUNE 8THRECEPTION: FRIDAY, APRIL 12TH, 6-8PMARTIST TALK: FRIDAY, MAY 10TH, 6-8PM
Starting on April 9th FRANK gallery will have an exhibit featuring the work of Keith Allen, Ben Hamburger, Kaidy Lewis and Carolyn Rugen. This exciting, colorful exhibit will showcase the differences in technique and nuanced approach to their mediums these artists share and will make up a beautifully curated show celebrating landscape, the abstract and woodworking.
Creating works of functional furniture art, self-taught Keith Allen really gives detailed attention to the subtleties in the wood and highlights the natural elements of his chosen material. His striking pieces often use butterfly joints inspired by George Nakashima and he brings out the beautiful grain in his wood work by using geometric and brightly colored features drawing inspiration from Gerrit Rietveld. Painter Ben Hamburger combines his passion for social engagement and the ever-changing world around us with the visual arts to represent a diverse range of subject matter. No matter what his subject, all his paintings share his fluid brush strokes and captivating color palette as will be seen with his plein air landscapes in April. One of FRANK’s newest members painter, Kaidy Lewis, draws inspiration from the world around her to create vivid, colorful interpretations of her subject matter. Often times, Kaidy simply hints at the objects she is representing to allow the viewer to make their own distinctions, but she does so with skill and interjecting bits of humor. With effortlessness and sophistication, Carolyn Rugen, paints her perception of the living world around her. Capturing landscapes and still life’s in the abstract she allows her viewer to interpret her beautifully rendered light filled imagery how they see giving significance to the seemingly every day.
Please join us on Friday, April 12th from 6-8pm to celebrate the work of these four talented artists with an opening reception with live music by Griffanzo. Refreshments will be provided. Also, on Friday, May 12th from 6-8pm the artists of the April/May Exhibit will be giving a talk about their techniques and the work from their current collection, light refreshments will be provided.

2019 Off the Wall Fundraising Gala
2019-04-06 18:00 - 21:00
FRANK is a contemporary fine arts gallery, featuring work by local artists, and enriching our community through exhibitions, events and arts education. The annual Off The Wall Gala is FRANK Gallery’s largest fundraising event of the year and is responsible for the majority of funding to sustain the Gallery annually.

Featured Artists Exhibit for February/March 2019
2019-02-05 00:00 - 2019-04-06 00:00
Featuring Peg Bachenheimer, Sasha Bakaric, Susan Filley & Sudie Rakusin
SHOW WILL RUN FROM FEBRUARY 5TH-APRIL 6THRECEPTION: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, 6-8PMARTIST TALK: FRIDAY, MARCH 8TH, 6-8PM
Beginning on February 5th we will be showcasing the work of four FRANK artists in a new exhibit entitled, “Color and Light.” Ceramicists Sasha Bakaric and Susan Filley join painter Peg Bachenheimer and mixed media artist Sudie Rakusin for an inspiring show. Though all of the artists approach their medium in a creative and expertly executed way they all exemplify the theme of the exhibit uniquely.Working in porcelain, Susan Filley creates exquisite functional and sculptural pieces that give the viewer insight to the delicate and complex nature of glazes and porcelain work. Inspired by cells and microbiology, Sasha Bakaric typically works with white stoneware coated with terra sigillata to create interesting surfaces, always challenging her technique and creative sensibilities her new work is guaranteed to be distinctively unique. Sudie Rakusin is a visual artist, sculptor, illustrator, and children’s book author, and though excelling in so many different disciplines, it is Sudie’s harmonious and emotive approach to her figurative and abstract paintings and sculptures that will be highlighted in the show. The use of color and texture in Peg Bachenheimer’s graceful and beautiful paintings is ever evolving, however, the constant in her abstract and landscape pieces is the ease in which she delivers a gloriously light filled finished piece.Please join us on Friday, February 8th from 6-8pm to celebrate the work of these four talented artists with an opening reception for Color and Light with music by Griffanzo. Refreshments will be provided. Also, on Friday, March 8th from 6-8pm the artists of Color and Light will be giving a talk about their techniques and the work from their current collection, light refreshments will be provided.

Featured Artists Exhibit for December/January 2018
2018-12-11 00:00 - 2019-02-02 00:00
Featuring Peter filene & Barbara TyrolerSHOW WILL RUN FROM DECEMBER 11TH-FEBRUARY 2NDWe will be opening our doors on December 11th with a new exhibition featuring the work of FRANK member artists Peter Filene and Barbara Tyroler. Though both artists are photographers, each works with their medium to represent their subjects in a distinctive and painterly way.
Join us on December 15th from 5-6pm for a reading with authors Samia Serageldin and Lee Smith from their upcoming anthology Mothers & Strangers, in collaboration with portraiture from the photographic exhibition Mothers, Daughter, and the Writing Life. Following the reading will be the opening reception from 6-9pm for Peter Filene and Barbara Tyroler. The band Red Nucleus will be performing and refreshments will be provided.
On January 19th from 2:30-4pm we will be having a dramatic reading and discussion lead by historian and photographer Peter Filene one of our featured artists for January. Peter recently wrote and published “Striving Fathers, Troubled Sons” which “dramatizes the history of manhood-making in America through the intimate narratives of seven families: the Adamses; the Rockefellers; Woodrow Wilson and his father; journalist Lincoln Steffens and his son; painters N.C. and Andrew Wyeth; literary critic Alfred Kazin and his immigrant father; and writer James Baldwin and his two fathers.”
Barbara Tyroler will also be present to discuss her collection of portraiture of authors in collaboration with the upcoming anthology “Mothers & Strangers.” Light refreshments will be provided.

Holiday Pop-Up Market
2018-12-08 13:00 - 18:00
On December 8th from 1-6pm FRANK Gallery will be hosting a Holiday Pop-Up Market! Along with all your favorite FRANK artists we will also be having new guests show with us including; Apt. N Coffee bar, Peppertrain Jewelry, Julie Olson Ceramics, Sweet Little Something Bakery, Ara Leigh Jewelry, Ornaments and Jewelry by ceramicist Evelyn Ward and more!

Featured Artists Exhibit for October/November 2018
2018-10-09 00:00 - 2018-12-09 00:00
Featuring Michele Maynard & Nerys Levy
SHOW WILL RUN FROM OCTOBER 9TH-DECEMBER 8THOpening Reception October 13th 6-9pm and Artist Talk November 9th 6pm
October/November will feature the work of FRANK member artists Nerys Levy and Michele Maynard. Mainly painting en plein air, Nerys uses the outside world as direct inspiration for her evocative and impressionistic work. Her latest collection uses a trip to the Antarctic as a focus of her work while also informing on the ever evolving effects of climate change on the earth. Michele’s energetic and colorful figurative and abstract work takes cue from the vibrancy and emotion of color and shapes. Her current collection is a true representation of the creative work she does with both paint and fabric elements drawing inspiration from all facets of life.Please join us on Saturday October 13th from 6-9pm for the opening reception of this show!

Featured Artists Exhibit for August/September 2018
2018-08-07 00:00 - 2018-10-07 00:00
Convergence
SHOW WILL RUN FROM AUGUST 7TH-OCTOBER 7TH Opening Reception August 11th 6-9pm and Artist Talk September 28th 6pm**THE ARTIST TALK HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED to 9/28 AT 6PM**
With their own distinctive interpretations of the natural world, FRANK apprentice artist Austin Cathey and member artists, Shelly Hehenberger and Luna Lee Ray approach their art with variances of mixed media. Using actual or implied texture each artist evokes emotion through their singular and collaborative pieces. Also, for the first time at FRANK, sculptor Tripp Jarvis will be showcasing his metal sculptures!Please join us for the opening reception of “Convergence” their August/September exhibit in the gallery on August 11th from 6-9pm.

Featured Artists Exhibit for June/July 2018
2018-06-05 00:00 - 2018-08-05 00:00
June and July will be featuring the woodworking of Keith Allen, paintings of Carroll Lassiter, ceramics of Linda Prager and the photography of John Rosenthal. Their talents come together in a beautiful and unique show at FRANK.One of the featured artists will be doing a talk, discussing their work at FRANK on the next second Friday, July 13th from 6-8pm.

OCAG 2018 Pop-Up Show
2018-05-11 00:00 - 2018-06-10 00:00
SPRING SUBLIME SHOW Opening Reception May 11, 2018 6-9pm
Dates of Exhibit: May 11th-June 10th
Members of the Orange County Artists Guild (OCAG) will be having an exhibit of 37 of their member artists which will be held in the Michael and Laura Brader-Araje Outreach Gallery (on the Southern Seasons end of University Place). The Spring Show will be highlighting the work of local professional artists representing a wide array of mediums. The opening show will be on May 11th from 6-9pm, it will be free to attend and refreshments will be provided. Visit OCAG’s website to learn more about the many incredibly talented artists they feature; http://ocagnc.org/artists/
Also, in the main gallery (closer to Silverspot) FRANK will be hosting an artist talk, showcasing the innovative photography of Bill McAllister. Mingle with the FRANK crowd and then head on over to the OCAG opening! Light refreshments will be provided.

2018 Off the Wall Gala Fundraiser
2018-04-04 18:00 - 21:00
FRANK’S SIGNATURE FUNDRAISING EVENT IS WELL-KNOWN FOR ITS EXCITEMENT, SPECTACULAR SELECTION OF ART, AND COMMUNITY ROOTS. JOIN US IN OUR 8TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR AS WE SUPPORT THE FRANK GALLERY’S MISSION TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ART.

Featured Artists Exhibit for April/May 2018
2018-04-03 00:00 - 2018-06-02 00:00
April and May will be a celebration of mixed media and photography featuring mixed media artist Carol Retsch-Bogart and photographers; Bill McAllister and Sam Wang. The three artists unite their unique processes to create an inspired and original exhibition showcasing their beautiful work.Please join us for a reception of the work of these talented artists on April 6th from 6-9pm. Light food and drinks will be served and as always all the artists of FRANK and especially the highlighted artists will be at the gallery to talk about their interesting processes and magnificent works.
As of June 2nd the show has ended, but to see some of Carol’s work from this show, please visit the Siena Hotel at 1505 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 to see her work in their lobby and in their restaurant Il Palio.
