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person The Wilkes Record

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article local schedule May 29, 2026

Wilkes Art Gallery Call for Artists for Dual July Exhibitions

Wilkes Art Gallery in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, has issued a call for artists for two concurrent exhibitions opening July 17th: "Minute: A Miniature Art Exhibition" and the 47th Annual Northwest Artists' Exhibition. The miniature show invites artists of all ages to submit 4x4 inch canvases, with entry fees starting at $10 and a maximum of four submissions per artist. The Northwest Artists' Exhibition is open to artists aged 16 and older living in or near northwestern North Carolina, with submissions accepted in three divisions (paintings/drawings, sculpture/pottery, mixed media/fibers) and a limit of nine pieces total. Both exhibitions run through August 26th, with an opening reception on July 17th. Awards include cash prizes determined by juror Thomas Thielemann and People's Choice voting.

candle obituary schedule May 11, 2026

Acclaimed Wilkes Artist Ward Nichols dies

Ward Hampton Nichols, a celebrated artist from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, died on May 5 at the age of 95 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, surrounded by his children. A few weeks before his passing, a celebration of his life, legacy, and art was held at the Wilkes Art Gallery. Nichols, born in 1930 in Welch, West Virginia, taught himself to draw as a child and later served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict, where he designed a NATO shoulder patch and co-founded a shipboard newspaper. After his service, he pursued a lifelong passion for art, painting until January of this year, and was also an avid aviator and sports car enthusiast.

article local schedule Apr 30, 2026

Exhibit Features Works by Ward Nichols

An exhibition titled “From Reality to Realism, A Lifetime Perspective,” featuring works by veteran artist Ward Nichols, opened at the Wilkes Art Gallery in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina on April 17. The opening event included a jazz performance by the Todd Wright Trio, hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and a street closure on C Street / Ward Nichols Way. Nichols, a full-time professional artist for over 60 years, has participated in 200 group shows, more than 170 solo exhibitions across 94 galleries and museums in 24 states, and has received 30 major awards including the Grumbacher Award of Merit from the El Paso Museum of Art. The exhibit runs through June 17.

article local schedule Apr 10, 2026

Ward Nichols Opening at Wilkes Art Gallery is April 17

The Wilkes Art Gallery in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, is hosting a career-spanning exhibition titled “From Reality to Realism, A Lifetime Perspective,” featuring the works of veteran artist Ward Nichols. The opening reception on April 17 will include a jazz performance and an indoor/outdoor celebration that involves the closure of Ward Nichols Way, a street recently renamed in the artist's honor.

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