After 23 years in the historic “Old Post Office” building (owned by the County) at the corner of Third Avenue and 220 S. Main St., Lexington, NC, Arts United for Davidson County will vacate the premises and open a new office in the old Belk Building on South Main Street. The economy forced the board of directors of Arts United to make the difficult decision to leave their classrooms, galleries and gift shop space behind and settle for a single office with a small meeting area. The organization will still raise funds and receive Grassroots Arts funding from the North Carolina Arts Council to support local arts groups and projects.

The Arts Council of Davidson County merged with the Davidson County Museum of Art in 2000.  

-submitted by Erik Salzwedel

Artist Mike Helsabeck works in his Lexington gallery; he owns the Mike Helsabeck Collection, a gallery and shop.

This talented musician and 20-year veteran of the radio business had never dabbled in art, so he was as surprised as anyone when people started raving about his work.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission soon requested his paint­ings for its calendar, and North Carolina Ducks Unlimited selected him as Artist of the Year.

“The right folks saw the work, and I guess I never looked back,” he says. “It’s been one lucky break after another.”

Today, Helsabeck owns The Mike Helsabeck Collection, a gallery and shop in Lexington that sells his paint­ings and prints as well as signature items – his own wine collection, coffee, puzzles, furniture, bottled water – that feature his artwork. He also sells work by a variety of other local and regional artists.

“Never in a million years would I have dreamed I would be painting for a living and that people would actually want to buy what I painted,” says Helsabeck, an avid outdoorsman. “That is still amazing to me.”

In addition to being selected for the cover of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s 25th Anniver­sary calendar – his second consecutive appearance on the cover – Helsabeck was chosen again in 2007 as North Carolina’s Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year. His wildlife artwork has helped to raise money for conservation groups such as the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Fund and the National Wild Turkey Federation, and his paintings have been featured by the outdoor retail giant Bass Pro Shops.

Helsabeck is in good company in Davidson County, where nationally rec­ognized galleries have been cropping up all over in recent years.

The venerable gallery of Bob Timberlake – the nationally renowned painter of rural landscapes – is also based in Lexington, and the specialty shop of Dempsey Essick, known as the “hummingbird artist,” can be found in downtown Welcome, N.C.

Other regional galleries include Full Moon Pottery in Reeds, Moose Hollow Pottery in Thomasville, the Stephen Sebastian gallery in Thomasville, Wide West Gallery in Lexington and Southern Spirit Gallery in Denton.

“There’s a long tradition of artists and craftspeople here,” says Erik Salzwedel, executive director of the Arts United for Davidson County, a nonprofit organization that sponsors educational programs in schools and provides grant support to arts organizations throughout the county.

“Out of the tradition of sharing and creating have come several people who have really turned the arts into a business, such as Bob Timberlake, Dempsey Essick, Mike Helsabeck and Stephen Sebastian,” Salzwedel says.

“As their names go out into the world, they enhance the image of Davidson County.”

Toby Hagmaier, owner of Southern Spirit Gallery in Denton, sells handmade items from all over North Carolina, including art and crafts made by more than 25 Davidson County artists – from stained glass and woodwork to pottery and jewelry.

“I think Davidson County is an area that’s definitely gaining recognition,” she says. “There are a huge amount of artists here, and the handmade things that people buy today will be the heirlooms of tomorrow.”

Story by Rebecca Denton
Photo by Todd Bennett

A sponsoring organization for local activities in the performing, literary and visual arts, Arts United also has two galleries, class space, and a gift shop featuring work by local and regional artists. 

It is the mission of Arts United for Davidson County to nurture the development of a thriving literary, visual and performing arts environment for all ages throughout our county.  Our programs enhance, beautify, and animate the vibrant art activities and events that attract residents, businesses, and tourists.  

Arts United’s programs and resources are available for county residents and visitors alike.  

Some of them include:  

• Educational programs include ArtSmart which brings art programs to students in schools across the county, Camp Creativity – a summer art camp and on-going classes offer learning opportunities in a wide variety of media.  
• Gallery Spaces feature changing exhibits of artists from across the South and subjects that range from quilts to photography to framed art    
• Musical Concerts like Sunset Sounds in Thomasville and Music on the Lawn during Uptown Lexington’s Summer Strolls 
• Providing operating support for arts groups, project grants and scholarships for young artists through Projects Pool Grants 
• Gift Shop provides a way for artists to sell their art to residents and visitors 

As a Community Partner Arts United participates in community art and multicultural events like Thomasville’s Everybody’s Day and Spring Daze at the Depot and Lexington’s Multicultural Festival, Christmas Open House and Barbecue Festival. 

We hope you will come visit us to learn more about our programs and services, and how you can become involved in Davidson County’s art community. 

Arts United is supported by the NC Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts which believes that a great nation deserves great art!

October 25th, 2008  8:30am – 6pm 
Uptown Lexington, NC

The Barbecue Festival is a free event featuring artisans, special childrens’ section, 4 music stages and great barbecue pork!

Arts United Activities
The building & grounds of Arts United for Davidson County will be hopping with plenty of “art” activity including artists providing demonstrations. The gift shop will be open all day and the Arts United lawn will again be the location for the Barbecue Festival’s Pig Themed Sand Sculpture. Arts United will host the Davidson County Woodcarvers Association’s annual competition during the festival. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., please plan to stop by Arts United on the corner of Third Ave. and S. Main Street and see all the talented carvers and their beautiful work.

Opening Reception
Jan. 8, 2007
5 – 7 pm
Arts United, 220 S. Main
Lexington, NC  249-2742
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The Oak Tree Boys (the house band)

The Old-Time Square Dance is held on the third Saturday of each month (2nd Sat. in December) in the Denton Civic Center on W. Salisbury St. in Denton. The dance features regional old-time and bluegrass bands, with an experienced caller.  There are opportunities for other dances such as waltzes, two-steps, flatfooting, and clogging, in addition to the called dances.  Those who just want to listen to the music are always welcome. Providing music for the December dance will be local bluegrass band The Oak Tree Boys with dances called by John Blake.

Dean Maines, fiddler for the Oak Tree Boys is originally from Sparta, NC. He grew up listening to and learning the traditional mountain tunes of the area. When he moved to the Piedmont to work in the 1950′s, he brought his musical tradition with him, and has transmitted his love for traditional music to his son, Tim, who plays guitar with the band. Other band members are Matthew Nance, banjo; Scott Arnold, mandolin; and Mike Plummer on the bass.  Noted for their timing and hard driving sound, the band has provided music for church services, homecomings, family gatherings, socials, and dances. They have been the house band for the Old Time Square Dance since it’s beginning in 1996 and for the former Farmer Dance that was held at the old Farmer Grange Hall in Farmer NC, during the late 1980′s and early 1990′s.       

The dance is from 7:00 to 10:00 PM.  Adult admission is $5.00, and children aged 12 and under are admitted free of charge. In order to protect the dance floor and provide good listening for all, dancers are asked not to wear taps on their shoes.  Door prizes will be given and refreshments are available. This is a family-oriented event and no alcohol is permitted. The Denton Civic Center is on W. Salisbury St. in Denton. For information call 336-472-2802 or view the website at \\www.dentondance.net.          

            The Old-Time Square Dance is sponsored in part by the North Carolina Arts Council, with funding from the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art, by the Denton Area Chamber of Commerce, and the following local businesses:  Troutman’s Barbecue, Denton Florist and Crafts, and The Classic Restaurant.

Gallery is free and open to the public Tue – Fri  10 – 4:30pm and Sat 10 – 2pm

 Gift Shop features locally hand-crafted pottery, jewelry, woodworking, etc.

Other Information about Uptown Lexington, NC

Other Information about Davidson County

Other Information about Thomasville, NC