Art Enthusiast Program

AEP invites art lovers to deepen their connections with visual art, gain practical knowledge, and discover ways to support and preserve creative culture in their homes and communities. Devoted to collecting and displaying art, AEP highlights the joy of living with it. Join our amazing panel of creative professionals who will guide our learning during this interactive discussion.

PANELISTS

Natalie Knox serves as the Gallery Director of FRANK Gallery, a nonprofit contemporary fine-arts gallery and artists’ collective in Carrboro, North Carolina. FRANK showcases local and regional artists while fostering community engagement through exhibitions, events, and arts education.

David Mann, MA began collecting art in 1971 and has since developed deep expertise in Japanese prints and Old Master engravings. While studying at Michigan State University, he focused on 19th-century French art, building a collection of French prints and drawings. His academic work at the University of Iowa further expanded his interests into modern art.

John Bloedorn is the owner and president of Craven Allen Gallery & House of Frames. Known for thoughtfully curated exhibitions and a deep commitment to presenting significant regional talent, Craven Allen Gallery has become a beloved cultural destination. Actively involved in collaborations with artists and institutions, John has made major contributions to notable projects. These include framing the Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke portrait by artist Mario Moore for its permanent installation on the Duke University campus. 

Jared Ledesma is Curator of 20th-Century and Contemporary Art at the North Carolina Museum of Art. While his curatorial work at the museum broadly concerns art created between 1900 and the present, he is especially interested in artwork that addresses the nuances of sexuality and gender, and in artists who have been under-researched or overlooked.

QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION:

Why buy original art?

 Emotional, cultural, and financial value of original art

 Supporting artists and the local creative economy

 Original vs. mass-produced: key differences

 Art Market Trends: pricing, value, and upcoming trends

How to connect with art you love?

 Responding to personal taste, style, size, color, and mood

 Introduction to Art Interpretation: basic tools for seeing meaning

 What constitutes a “collection”?

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Durham Art Guild