41st Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show Celebrates Local Artists

Poster for the 41st Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show. Painting by Frank Stick.
Poster for the 41st Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show. Painting by Frank Stick.

Opening this weekend at the Dare County Arts Council Gallery in Manteo, the Frank Stick Memorial Art Show is worth a special trip just to check it out.

The show runs from January 26-February 26. The opening reception will be this Saturday.

Unlike most art shows, the Frank Stick Show is not a juried event, meaning all art submitted is shown. Because of that, there are always some example from young, local artist that let the world know they need to be taken seriously.

The 2019 show is the 41st annual showing of local art for the show. It is a joyous and wonderful event, but it will be tinged with sadness this year.

One of the greatest advocates for the arts in Dare County and the founder of the Frank Stick show, Glenn Eure, passed away in September of last year.

There is no way to adequately describe the impact Glenn had on the Dare County arts community…and the community in general. Generous to a fault with his time and patient with young artists as he helped them nurture their careers his passing leaves void in the local art scene that will be hard to fill.

Because of Glenn’s role in the Frank Stick Show and the arts in general, the best in show ribbon is titled “Eure Best in Show.”

The Frank Stick Memorial Show was first conceived by Glenn and Outer Banks author and developer David Stick as a way for David to commemorate his father Frank.

Frank Stick was the preeminent magazine illustrator of outdoor magazines of the early 20th century, before walking away from his success and moving to the Outer Banks in 1929. 

Along with being an outstanding artist, Stick was an ardent conservationist, and it was largely through his efforts that Cape Hatteras National Seashore was established.

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41st Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show a Tribute to Outer Banks Community

This year's Frank Stick Memorial Art Show will celebrate the legacy of Glenn Eure.
This year’s Frank Stick Memorial Art Show will celebrate the legacy of Glenn Eure.

The Outer Banks has one of the most dynamic art communities to be found anywhere. It is one of the parts of life for those of us who live here that make this such a wonderful place to live.

During the summer, the examples of art are everywhere—it is, after all, how so many of our painter, jewelry makers and sculptures earn a living.

But, during the winter, it’s time to bring out some of the works that take a bit longer to create and may not have quite the appeal to our visitors that other works would have. Those are the pieces that end up in the art shows.

At the end of the month, the longest continually running show will be open at the Dare County Arts Council on Sunday, January 26 at 6:00 p.m. in Manteo.

The 41st Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show was a way for Stick’s son David, in collaboration with gallery owner and artist Glenn Eure, to commemorate the remarkable artistic achievements of his father.

For about 20 years during the early years of the 20th century, Frank Stick was the most sought after illustrator of hunting, camping and outdoor magazines. To this day, his artwork is still highly collectable.

Stick eventually soured on the world of illustrations and magazines. He was always a passionate advocate for conservation and the out of doors and it was largely through his efforts that Cape Hatteras National Seashore was created.

Always a celebration of the talent of local artists, this year’s show will be missing an important ingredient—Glenn Eure, who passed away in September of last year.

Glenn’s wife, Pat, however, will be on hand this year as the artistic judge. Glenn and Pat believed in giving back to the community—both the art community and the overall Outer Banks community. 

That the Frank Stick Memorial Art Show is still an important part of local culture is a wonderful testament to their vision.

The show will run through February 26.

Any time of the year, there is always a reason to visit the Outer Banks. Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates is ready to help create that perfect time at the beach.

Two Art Shows at DCAC Worth Checking Out

Frank Stick and COA Highlight DCAC Month

Eure Best in Show: Mike Bennett “Savannah” (oil on canvas)
Frank Stick Memorial Art Show Eure Best in Show: Mike Bennett “Savannah” (oil on canvas)

There’s a couple of events that are happening at the Dare County Arts Council (DCAC) in Manteo in February and they’re really worth checking out.

First up, and it’s already in progress is the 40th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show. The opening reception was last Saturday at the DCAC Gallery which is the old Dare County Courthouse.

The Frank Stick Art Show is open to anyone who is a member of the DCAC, meaning there is no preselection before the show.. Anyone can enter, and for a lot of young artists, it’s a great opportunity to get a sense of what is involved in a professional presentation.

The quality of the art is excellent and the themes addressed all encompassing.

Until recently the show was at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head. Glenn and Pat Eure are getting a little older and the display area at the DCAC Gallery is larger allowing for a little better showing of the art.

The other show that’s worth checking out will be opening this Friday in the vault at the Gallery. Keeping in mind that at one time the DCAC building was a courthouse, the vault was a gigantic safe where the most valuable evidence and records were kept.

Now it is the home to the monthly featured show, and during February it’s COA’s Jewelry Student & Alumni Exhibit.

The exhibit is always an outstanding demonstration of creativity and craft. The exhibit gives COA students a chance to show what they are doing with their art and to get the feedback so necessary to become successful in their field.

Both shows will run throughout the month. The Frank Stick Memorial Art Show ends February 24. The Jewelry Exhibit will be on display until February 28.

The Tale Behind the Tall Pine Bridge Replacement

Tall Pine bridge over Snow Goose Canal nearing completion in April.
Tall Pine bridge over Snow Goose Canal nearing completion in April.

After 55 years or so they’re finally replacing the bridges over the Southern Shores canals. Not a bad lifespan for a used bridge.

Residents and regular visitors to the Outer Banks know that the Tall Pine Bridge that spans the Snow Goose Canal is being replaced. The latest bulletin from the town of Southern Shores has the completion date of the project right on schedule in about a month.

The new bridge is a modern construct—looks like it will last at least 50 years and maybe 100. The old bridge. . . . well, it had a life before coming to Southern Shores and how it got there says a lot about David Stick who played such a pivotal role in the creation of the town.

David joined his father, Frank, in the early 1950s to market the new resort community of Southern Shores. Frank felt the beachfront properties were where the greatest potential lay. His son disagreed, viewing the soundside of the 2600 acres as ideal for year round residents.

To raise money he harvested the dogwood trees in the forest and used the money made from that to cut some roads and create canals to drain the swamp. However, after building the roads and cutting the canals there was no money left to build a bridge. Since the roads did not meet NCDOT standards, the state was not going to put a bridge in for him.

But NCDOT was replacing some bridges in Eastern North Carolina and David agreed to take the old bridges away intact. It was a classic win/win: David got the bridges he needed at the cost of moving them and the state didn’t have to pay to dispose of them.

They are getting replaced now.

For anyone coming down to the Outer Banks for the next month it’s important to know that there is no through traffic on South Dogwood in Southern Shores because the bridge over the canal is closed.