“Rocking Chair Art” can be seen throughout Wilkes County. A tour map highlighting the location of the chairs and each artist is available online at www.explorewilkes.com and can be picked up at the chamber office on Main Street in North Wilkesboro and at each of the sponsoring locations. All rocking chairs will be available for purchase at the Wilkes Art Gallery during a silent auction process. Bidding for the chairs will begin on Thursday, September 9th in chair sponsor locations and final bids will be received on Friday evening, October 1st at a reception to recognize each of the sponsors and participating artists. Bidders are encouraged to attend this reception.
Wilkes Chamber of Commerce’s “Wilkes Rambling Rockers,” a fundraiser for the implementation of the new county tourism brand, Exhale…you’re in wilkes, features the work of local artist completing scenes and themes of Wilkes County on rocking chairs. This fundraiser has three leading sponsors, Tim Harrold’s Empire Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Tar Heel Oil Companyand Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse and is receiving assistance with artists and the silent auction from the Wilkes Art Gallery. Each chair has a contributing business or organization sponsor. These sponsors are: Addison Properties, Inc.; BB&T Wilkesboro; Betty’s Breads and Pastries; Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, Inc.; Brushy Mountain Ruritan Club; Cassie Stone Photography/Black Tie Affair; David’s Car Care; DonLin Counseling Services; Edward Jones Investments/Sydney Collins: Hampton Inn – Wilkesboro; Hardee’s of Wilkesboro; Holiday Inn Express; J. Martin Productions/Frog Hollar Cabin; KEY Training and Technology; Leatherwood Mountains; SouthEast Commercial Real Estate Group; Talia’s Espresso; The Walker Center/MerleFest; Town of North Wilkesboro; Town of Ronda; Town of Wilkesboro; Wilkes County Board of Education; Wilkes Family YMCA; Wilkes Hardware Co.; Wilkes Heritage Museum; Wilkes Telecommunications; Window World of the Foothills; and Yadkin Valley Motor Company.
Featured artists volunteering their talent, time and imagination include: Donna Absher; Brian Barker and the WCC Graphic Arts Class; John Brame; Cindy Breden; Edith Carter; Lily and Emily Church; Kaila Minton Church; Steven Church; Carolina Finley; Beth Horrell; Dale Isom; Linda Joines, Cheryl Kilby; Lea and Renee; Jane Maddocks; Pam McLean, North Wilkes High School Arts 3 Class; Michelle Parsons; Hannah Raines; Randy Reeves; Mary Frances Richardson; Martha Simmons; Lindsey Sutphin; Seth Tharpe; Stoney Triplett; Laura Whitley; Wilkes Art Gallery Art Instructors; and Norma Jean Wood.
Proceeds from the fundraising campaign will be directed to the chamber in support of the brand campaign which includes programs of awareness, education and advocacy. As part of the awareness initiative, a new brand website has been created www.explorewilkes.com, the new print collerateral is in progress, and a marketing/advertising plan in place.
