Comprehensive chronological list of all events and classes at ClearWater Artist Studios in Concord, NC. [As opposed to sorted lists by category on main Navigation pages]
For an at-a-glance look at ALL events (including Classes), see Calendar view.
Free & Open to the Public - Opening Reception for this Regional Entry Show run by Cabarrus Art Guild.
Update: RESCHEDULED We are pivoting for the snow, Jan. 30-31 and will postpone the Opening Reception originally scheduled for Jan. 31st, to Saturday Feb. 21, 2026. Hope to see you then!
Join Charlotte Artist, Jonathan Grauel for the Opening Reception (Now Reception/ Artist Talk) of his first Solo Show in ClearWater’s Gallery! Grauel will talk about his work and collaboration with ClearWater. Be the first to see this collection of his latest work!
In 2024-25 Jonathan completed his 98-foot mural on the exterior wall of our Original Clearwell building (which is next up for Renovation) - a project funded by a grant from Republic Services Foundation’s “Neighborhood Promises” grant program and administered by Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte. Grauel was inspired by many local landmarks and community members as he explored the area. He populated the mural with several of them, and continues the theme of communities cultivating concord, in this solo exhibition of paintings and 3-D works.
Join us! FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - Ne registration required
Saturday, FEB 21, 2026 (New Date)
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
ClearWater Main Gallery at 223 Crowell Dr. NW, Concord, NC 28025
Call with any questions: (704) 920-6600
NEW! Don’t Miss our POP-UP Family Workshop - FREE on Saturday March 14th! With Artist Jonathan Grauel! Click —>
THE EXHIBIT: WHIMSICAL HARMONIES On View through March 21, 2026 at ClearWater Arts Main Gallery — Photos Below From the Opening Reception on 2/21/26:
Don’t miss the whimsical works of local artist, Jonathan Grauel in his first Solo Show in ClearWater’s Main Gallery! Visit ClearWater during our posted Open Hours OR call to make an appointment. Staff is available M-F.
Open Hours for drop-in visits, in the Main Building, are:
Weds-Fri, 12:0-0 Noon - 5:00 p.m. OR Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Whimsical Harmony: THE MURAL
In 2024-25 Jonathan completed his 98-foot mural, “Whimsical Harmony” on the exterior wall of our Original Clearwell building (which is next up, for Renovation!) - a project funded by a grant from Republic Services Foundation’s “Neighborhood Promises” grant program and administered by Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte. Grauel was inspired by many local landmarks and community members as he explored the area. He populated the mural with several of them, and continues the theme of communities cultivating concord, in this solo exhibition of paintings and 3-D works.
Join us at the (Rescheduled) Reception / Artist Talk Event!
Saturday, FEB 21, 2026
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
ClearWater Main Gallery at 223 Crowell Dr. NW, Concord, NC 28025
Call with any questions: (704) 920-6600
Join Us Sunday 10/5/25, at 2:00 p.m. for the Opening Reception of this year’s Fall Judged Show!
Coordinated & Hosted by the Cabarrus Art Guild (Studio LL-102)
You are invited to the Opening Reception in the Main Gallery at ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, Sunday Oct. 5, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Winners will be announced and light refreshments will be served. Meet local artists, and join us in celebrating their artwork. Don’t miss a moment of this special annual event!
Event concludes by 4:00 p.m.
Enter at Main Entrance, at 223 Crowell Drive NW, Concord NC 28025. Free Parking in three lots around the campus. This event is free and open to the public.
No pre-registration is required.
Free event.
The Cabarrus Art Guild (CAG) will once again accept regional entries for, and exhibit their Fall Art Show in ClearWater’s Main Gallery! Judge To Be Announced.
You are invited to the Opening Reception on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 at 2pm, in the Main Gallery at ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, 223 Crowell Drive NW, Concord (Enter at main entrance on Crowell Drive NW). Winners will be announced and light refreshments will be served. Come and meet local artists and join us in celebrating their artwork. This is always a terrific event. Don't miss a moment!
No pre-registration is required.
Free event.
Artists interested in entering artwork in the show, see the CAG’s website at www.cabarrusartguild.org for entry instructions.
The Cabarrus Art Guild (CAG), a tenant organization at ClearWater Arts, is happy to announce their Annual Spring Judged Art Show 2025 . This is an Open Call to regional artists, who may enter an artwork for a nominal entry fee. Fees are used for prize awards, and to hire a local artist as Judge.
Come join us for the Opening Reception!
Opening Reception for this year’s Spring Judged Show is open to the public:
Sunday, May 04 at 2pm
Main Gallery
ClearWater Arts Center & Studios
223 Crowell Street NW, Concord.
Winners will be announced, and light refreshments will be served.
Come and meet local artists and join us in celebrating their artwork.
No pre-registration is required.
Free event.
Opening Reception of a past CAG Judged Show
Come check out the stunning works that were submitted by 100% local artisans!
No pre-registration is required.
Free event.
Opening Reception of a past CAG Judged Show
You are invited to the Guild’s Opening Reception on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 at 2pm ,in the Main Gallery at ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, 223 Crowell Drive NW, Concord (Enter at main entrance on Crowell Drive NW). Winners will be announced and light refreshments will be served. Come and meet local artists and join us in celebrating their artwork. This is always a terrific event. Don't miss a moment!
No pre-registration is required.
Free event.
Opening Reception of a past CAG Judged Show
You are invited to the Guild’s Opening Reception on Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 2pm at ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, 223 Crowell Drive NW, Concord (Enter at main entrance on Crowell Drive NW). Winners will be announced and light refreshments will be served. Come and meet local artists and join us in celebrating their artwork. This is always a terrific event. Don't miss a moment!
No pre-registration is required.
Free event.
The exhibit will be on view in the ClearWater Main Gallery from Saturday, April 6 through Thursday, May 2, 2024.
Join us for the opening reception April 12th!
See our Facebook Event Page or our Website Event Page for the Opening to see ongoing photos, comments and updates!
This marks Year Eight (8) of this collaboration between the City of Concord's ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, and the Fine & Applied Arts Department at RCCC. RCCC has art classes on both its Salisbury and its Concord campuses.
Opening Reception on Friday, April 12, 2024 will be from 5:00 pm until 7pm in the ClearWater Main Gallery. Open to the public with light refreshments provided by students and sponsors.
This event is free and open to the public.
Opening Reception of a past CAG Judged Show
You are invited to the Guild’s Opening Reception on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 2pm at ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, 223 Crowell Drive NW, Concord (Enter at main entrance on Crowell Drive NW). Winners will be announced and light refreshments will be served. Come and meet local artists and join us in celebrating their artwork. This is always a terrific event. Don't miss a moment!
No pre-registration required.
Free event.
Date: May 7 - July 14, 2023
Opening Reception: 2-3:30 pm Sunday, May 7
*Exhibit is open during our public hours: Noon-5pm Weds-Fri and Saturdays 10am-2pm
Where: ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, Main Gallery;
223 Crowell Street Concord (main entrance on Crowell Drive NW).
Come help us celebrate and admire the work of local artists!
Open to the public, a FREE exhibit. Coordinated by the Cabarrus Art Guild
Date: May 7, 2023
Time: 2pm
Where: ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, Main Gallery;
223 Crowell Street Concord (main entrance on Crowell Drive NW).
Come help us celebrate local artists and announce the ribbon winners for the event.
Some light snacks and beverages will be served.
Open to the public, a FREE event.
Artists interested in entering this show- please see the Intake form and fee instructions, on the Cabarrus Art Guild’s website: www.cabarrusartguild.org; Home page / follow links, or the ‘Information and Forms’ page. Art Intake/ Entry Payment dates are Friday 5/5/23 or Saturday 5/6/23.
The exhibit will be on view in the ClearWater Main Gallery from Friday, March 31 through Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
Join us for the opening reception March 31st!
See our FaceBook Event Page or our Website Event Page for the Opening to see ongoing photos, comments and updates!
After a 2 year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, this marks Year Seven (7) of this collaboration between the City of Concord's ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, and the Fine & Applied Arts Department at RCCC. RCCC has art classes on both its Salisbury and its Concord campuses.
Opening Reception on Friday, March 31, 2023 will be from 5:00 pm until 7pm. Open to the public with light refreshments provided by students and sponsors.
This event is free and open to the public.
The Cabarrus Art Guild invites you to attend our Annual Fall Judged Art Show Reception.
All are welcome… Come join us!
What: Opening Reception
When: Sunday November 13, 2022 at 2pm
Where: ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, 223 Crowell Street Concord (enter via Main entrance on Crowell Street).
Details: Free to the public, no registration necessary
Come join us in celebrating our local artists and their submitted work for our annual show. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded at this event. Come meet and mingle with artists and those that appreciate art. Light snacks will be served.
For more info, go to http://www.cabarrusartguild.org/news--events.html
Pouring molten metal into scratch molds, 2018
The 2021 TSS (Tri State Sculptors) Conference is happening IN PERSON here at ClearWater Arts Center and Studios in Concord, NC! This is our first time hosting this annual event of this 43-year old association of Sculptors from NC, SC and VA. Registration is live, through the Tri State Sculptors Website; Single-day, Scratch Mold Workshop, or All-Weekend registrations /passes are available as well as Student Discounts.
DETAILED SCHEDULE PDF HERE! Also Online at the Tri State Sculptors page. Session Descriptions forthcoming… Some wonderful presentations, demonstrations and hands-on workshops have been proposed by members! UNC-Charlotte’s Sculpture and Ceramics departments are participating with a day of tours, demonstrations (a bronze pour, 3-D Printing, ceramic handwork…), talks and panel discussions on their campus on Friday, while concurrent sessions are ongoing at ClearWater!
The Iron Pour, on Friday evening will be open to the public for free viewing, you can do the Thursday all-day Scratch Mold workshop, with no registration necessary and just a small charge for the scratch mold; and it’s outdoors. To make a scratch mold to have a cast-iron piece of your own, simply buy a scratch mold block ($20 or $40) and use the tools provided to carve your own design at the outdoor work tables. The Iron Pour and Scratch Mold Workshops will be run by artist and blacksmith, Phillip Harrison of Penumbra Design Studio, assisted by Joe Bigley of the Western NC Sculpture Center, Marek Ranis, head of the Sculpture Dept. at UNC-Charlotte, and other foundry experts.. Some of the students he’s working with on his Global Diaspora Project may bring molds of their sculptures to be cast for that project, making the Pour more fun to watch!
NOTE: in order to register for the conference, whether the full 3-days or a single day, one must FIRST sign up for membership with Tri State Sculptors. The registration button (on Tri State’s Conference page) should cue this, automatically when it asks for your email address. Then, be sure to use the same email address to register as you used to become a member. If there’s any confusion, please email the Tri State President, Andi Steele at tssculptors@gmail.com; or just walk on at site, and we can register you there.
We are looking forward to a great in-person experience; reunion with friends, gathering again to share, learn, and celebrate all things sculpture. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we’ll have measures in place to help protect, for the enjoyment of everyone. Meals will be handled with Food Trucks or offsite; Tri State will require masks for all indoor activities. If the weather is nice, ClearWater will have doors propped open.
Not a sculptor? Come anyway!
We invite the Concord/ Kannapolis, Charlotte and surrounding communities to come see what a bunch of Professional, Educating, and Amateur Sculptors can get up to (and have some fun observing/ making/ mingling)! The Public, artists from the area, and especially sculpture students are invited to attend and participate in sessions, presentations, workshops…
Award-winning Professional Artist, Duke University Professor, Stephen Hayes (2021 Keynote Speaker)
…and our Keynote Address by this year’s Keynote Speaker, NC Artist and Duke University Professor, Stephen Hayes!
We wrote about Stephen in our last E-Newsletter which you can see HERE.
Stephen will be presenting an engaging slideshow about his work and experiences, Saturday evening after the Member & Student Show Reception in ClearWater’s Main Gallery. There will be time for Q&A and talking with the artist.
And then, maybe an after-gathering at one of the breweries down the road at nearby Gibson Mill!
Our 2021 Annual Conference T-Shirt Design is done! Order one of these babies when you do conference registration and it will be waiting for you!
T-Shirt Design by Adam Adcock with help from Graphic Design students - Appalachian State University
Some pics from prior conferences…
Forging Demo, 2018
Tri State Member & Professor Austin Shephard with his sculpture, 2018
Forging demo/ workshop
Member artist demonstrating
Artist Talk / latest work & public art
Scratch molds made by attendees, waiting for metal pour (2016)
Come view Rowan Cabarrus Community College Students’ Art & Design work. April 3 - May 3. In the ClearWater Main Gallery (Main floor, Operations Building)
Opening Reception will be April 3, 5-7 p.m. Event is free and open to the public. Students get a chance to experience seeing their artworks in a lighted gallery setting and being the center of attention of the crowd. Help them feel amazing! Light Refreshments..
See our pop-up site plan on our ClearWater website homepage for parking areas and Main Entry locations. Parking is free.
Courtesy of the Art & Design Department at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury & Concord campuses.
Held in the Main Gallery of the ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, this opening reception will be displaying the Cabarrus Art Guild's Spring Judged Show entries and celebrating with an awards ceremony of the ribbon winners. Come and experience the outstanding art submitted by local artists. FREE event, open to the public! 2-4p.m., Sunday Feb. 9, 2020.
The exhibit will be on view in the ClearWater Main Gallery from Friday, April 5 through Thursday, May 2, 2019.
See our FaceBook Event Page or our Website Event Page for the Opening to see ongoing photos, comments and updates!
This marks Year Six (6) of this collaboration between the City of Concord's ClearWater Artist Studios, and the Fine & Applied Arts Department at RCCC, which has art classes on both its Salisbury and its Concord campuses.
Opening Reception on Friday, April 5, 2019 will be from 5:00 pm until 7pm. Open to the public with light refreshments provided by students and sponsors.
CONCORD, NC - The tenant artists of ClearWater Artist Studios will gather to welcome the public and discuss their latest work and experiences as working artists, this Friday, March 22, 2019. Some works in the show, ‘Tenant Artists Show V,’ mark key recent developments in the evolution of certain artists’ style, choices and career path; while others exhibit the mastery of techniques and subject matter honed over years.
Spectacular Raptor Portraits, vibrant children’s book illustrations, large and affecting abstract expressionist pieces, and softly-hued, lovely landscapes are just some of the works on display- not to mention a range of turned-wood and glass pieces.
ClearWater Artist Studios houses the working studios of 12 artists as well as the Southern Piedmont Woodturners’ Association (a Club). All artists leasing individual studios are juried-in using a range of criteria (currently, the waiting list stands at 14).
The Artists will form a Panel Discussion in the middle of the Gallery starting at 7:00 p.m. during the Opening Reception. Guests are welcome to enter after this time, we just ask consideration for those speaking and listening.
Free; free parking; refreshments.
Artists in the show:
Barbara Ellis
Barbara Ellis & Mikel Frank (one Collaborative Painting)
Walter Stanford
Gordon C. James
Julia Lawing
Kev Harris
Paul Keysar
Louise Farley
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ClearWater Artist Studios is located in Gibson Village, less than a mile from Downtown Concord, 223 Crowell Drive NW. Working artists lease 12 studios and the Southern Piedmont Woodturners chapter is housed here. Our Gallery is open to the public most weekdays, Noon-5pm; every 2nd Saturday10am-4pm; and/or by appointment. The Gallery, outdoor Green, and open-air covered Market are available to rent for private events. For details, see clearwaterartists.com; or call 704-784-9535.
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Albemarle Artists Andell McCoy and Erin Allen present their artists’ journey and discuss their work at the Opening Reception for their joint show, ‘Dream in Color’
Front of Postcard; 'See Back' refers to list of events shown below. Artist Credit:
BG Artwork, ‘Palimpsest,’ by GAP members Robert Reed w’ fragments from Gregory Rose
Links to Co-Curators' websites: Mikel Frank and
FaceBook 'Gallery' page for the Exhibition is here.
Featuring Collaborative Works by:
The Global Art Project (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalartproject; FaceBook, https://www.facebook.com/globalartproject2017/)
The Visual Passion Duo (Mikel Frank & Gerard Amsellem; www.visualpassion.net)
...And YOU! ...created during Related Events at ClearWater, listed below.
Resumes/ Bio PDF's of the Co-Curators: Mikel Frank - Carl Heyward
______________________________________________
This upcoming Guest exhibit / set of events, "Visual Strategies: A Collaborative Project" at ClearWater Artist Studios, is being organized by two collaborators: local artist/ curator, Mikel Frank, who recently moved to Concord from NYC and a 29-year career at the Met Museum of Art (2 years ago), and is now an adjunct art instructor at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College; and collaborating curator & artist, Carl Heyward, founder of the Global Art Project, who is out on the West Coast.
Participating artists from the Global Art Project (GAP) are shipping their jointly-made works in from all over the world for the exhibit, and there will be three live-collaborative-painting events, including one that's for YOU (or anyone) to participate in, on Saturday August 11!
The local artist Mikel Frank is working to invite more local artists familiar with collaborative art-making, to participate also.
Mikel and longtime collaborative painting partner Gerard Amsellem, who both form the Visual Passion Duo, will present a 5-hour live painting collaboration to live music by local musician, Noel Freidline. This is in conjunction with our monthly 2nd Saturday Open Studios on Saturday, July 14th, from 11:00am to 4:00pm (doors open at 10am).
Sunday, July 1, 2018 - 3:00 - 5:30 pm
Selected Collaborators / Paint Performance
FaceBook Event pages for this Opening: Visual Strategies Exhibition; Visual Strategies; and VISUAL STRATEGIES EXHIBITION
Saturday, July 14, 2018 - 11am - 4pm
Featuring the Visual Passion Duo Performing
(Mikel Frank & Gerard Amsellem)
(FaceBook Event Page here)
(Eventbrite event page here)
[Event page coming soon!]
Saturday, August 11, 2018 - 11am and 2pm
Community is Invited to come paint a large work togeher that will then be added to the Exhibition!
--Facilitated by curator/ artist Mikel Frank—
Opening with live painting event!
Annual Spring Student Art Show, 'Impulse,' of artworks by students at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College!
Opening Reception for the Annual RCCC Student Art Show, up in the ClearWater Gallery April 12-May 4, 2018.
Celebrate Rowan-Cabarrus Faculty of the Fine & Applied Arts Department, at the Opening Reception of this, the 2nd Annual Faculty show! Nine Adjunct and Full-Time Faculty are participating, showing recent works in ClearWater Artist Studios Gallery. Come see what those on the front lines of art education, in Salisbury-Concord, are creating in their studios.
All Welcome - light refreshments will be served and faculty members will be present.
See the FaceBook Event page for this Opening!
(Click link on 'Exhibit' above for the Exhibit event listing, with more details on the artists)
Scroll down to see original invite (with original exhibition dates-- now extended)
Opening Reception for a solo exhibition of ClearWater tenant artist, Barbara Ellis' (BEllisArts) abstract expressionist works, which have evolved over the year 2016-17 as she delves deeper into how Spirit moves her artistic practice.
Barbara's Artist Talk will be the same night (10/7), 7-8pm.
Light refreshments will be served.
This event is also posted on our FaceBook Event Page! Look there for updates and discussion.
The exhibit will be on view Oct. 7- Dec. 1, 2017
Parking is free and plentiful on site in three lots, all well-lit.
First group show of new works by resident ClearWater artists in over a year!
2nd Saturday Open Studios - meet and greet the artists, see Woodturning demo's and more!
Opening of the 2017 show of selected Student Art Works by current Rowan-Cabarrus Community College students. Open to the public and the Media, with refreshments. Exhibit runs thru April 28.
January 7 - February 3, 2017 ~ New Works by Regina Burchett, Deb Rasberry, Carmella Jarvi and Chris Craft in oils, pastels, glass and encaustic!
In addition to providing the Gallery space (and, soon, the Banquet/ Multipurpose Room downstairs) for event Rentals, ClearWater Artist Studios also produces a growing variety of events. The 2nd Saturday Open Studios day, an open-house allowing access to artists working in their studios and anything else programmed that day, occurs monthly.
For an at-a-glance look at all events including classes, see Calendar view.
Seminars, and other events which may contain instructional presentation will be listed under Classes.
Past event pages, may hold photos of that event.
ClearWater is becoming; It is a place where...
Artists find community with other artists;
The Community finds artists and access to art;
Artists, and the Community find ways to interact, discuss, and be inspired to new (creative) ways of thinking.
CLEARWATER Arts Center & Studios lies in the Gibson Village Neighborhood, less than a mile from Historic Downtown Concord, NC.
223 Crowell Drive NW
Concord, NC 28025
FOR MAIN BUILDING STAFF:
Sarah Gay - ClearWater Coordinator
gays@concordnc.gov
Main Building General Line: (704) 920-6600
FOR CERAMICS STAFF:
Dave Buskey- Park and Recreation Supervisor
Ceramics Center Phone Number:
704.920-6604
Home - About - Our Space - Artists - Events - Classes - Get Involved - Contact
704.920-6600 | ClearWater Arts Official Address: 223 Crowell DR NW | Concord, NC 28025 | gays@concordnc.gov
MAIN BUILDING & GALLERIES Hours Open for Drop-In Visits: W-Fri., 12 Noon - 5:00 p.m.. & Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
CERAMICS CENTER HOURS - Monday - Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 8 pm; Friday and Saturday 10:00am -3:30pm Additional access for enrolled students at Class Times / Ceramics Office; (704) 920-6604
