Artist Audrey Young to present Carter Fold painting at Carter Fold

Accomplished regional artist Audrey Young of Roan Mountain, Tennessee, will present a beautiful original acrylic painting depicting the Carter Family Fold, to the Carter family at the The Carter Family Fold, located in Maces Springs (Hiltons), Virginia, on Saturday, July 24. The musical program begins at 7:30 pm. Admission is $5.00 adults/$1.00 children/under 6 years old -- free. Music for the evening's program will be provided by Linda Lay & Springfield Exit.

The painting will be presented to Janette Carter, who founded the Carter Family Memorial Music Centerr and the Carter Fold along with her brother, Joe, in 1974, on behalf of the entire Carter Family. This year will mark the thirtieth anniversary of performances at the Carter Fold, and will be celebrated at the Carter Family Memorial Festival and Craft Show held on August 6th & 7th.

The painting was publicly unveiled at the BCMA Pickin’ Porch on Thursday, July 22.

The painting has been beautifully reproduced using a state-of-the-art digital process on canvas as a limited edition of 500 copies. The reproduction process forces the ink into and below the surface of the canvas resulting in a fade-proof copy that has all the appearance and texture of the original painting. Each is signed and numbered by the artist and comes with a certificate of authenticity. The framed canvas prints are available from the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Gift Shop, and from the souvenir concession at the Carter Fold. An open edition of paper prints produced with the same process is also available, as are note cards and postcards.

As a noted artist, Audrey Young of Roan Mountain, Tennessee, strives to capture the beauty and spirit of the Southern Appalachians. Her sensitive rendering of the subtle contrast of light and shadow transports a viewer to the very time and place of Young's artistic focus. Cold craggy mountain ridges anchored in dark thickets of native balsams and twisted ivy become tactile reality through her paintings. She recreates an old home place so vividly that people comment that one can almost smell wood smoke coming from the chimney. Her work will surprise you by showing beauty in the most unexpected places: overgrown, dilapidated barns that were once the cornerstone of productive fields; the solemn stateliness of an ancient church; or the practical simplicity of an abandoned outhouse. A quiet, contemplative serenity characterizes the artist's work, inviting you to "Be still and know….."

Painting for more than two decades -- formerly under the name of Audrey S. Curtis -- the artist feels her talent is a gift of God that she thoroughly enjoys sharing with everyone. "I cherish and nurture my gift, setting aside extensive time every day to paint," Young says. "My realistic style is said to be one of careful understatement, letting my subject, rather than my method, move the viewer. My artistic vision is far ranging, but one of my favorite types of scenes to paint is a snow-covered landscape. Snow scenes are beautiful and inspiring to me."

"Snow," she explains, "one of God's creations, will cover the untidiness and uncleanliness humankind so often creates. My goal is to capture on canvas that moment that only God can create…that perfect peaceful moment when the world stops and holds its breath as the snow stops falling."

Audrey Young's paintings have been featured in shows around the region and have been exhibited in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. More specifically, her art was featured with the J. Hilary Worthington Shows all throughout the South; and exhibited at the Cameo Art Gallery in Columbia, SC; the Coffey and Thompson Gallery in Charlotte, NC; the Blue Mountain Art Gallery in Boone, NC, Graylight Gallery in Newland, NC as well as The Depot Artists Association in Abingdon, VA and GlaMar Gallery in Bristol, VA. Young has been the "Featured Artist" of the Caldwell Arts League in Lenoir, NC and Graylight Gallery, Newland, NC.

Young participated in the Virginia Highlands Show in 2003 exhibiting works featuring twelve churches in the surrounding area. Her work has been purchased for display throughout the southeast as well as in California, New York, Florida and countries in Europe; and she has painted works commissioned by individuals, private organizations, and governmental agencies.

Audrey Young is a prolific artist and has produced scores of paintings. Various writers have reviewed her work including columnist Martha Beaver of Columbia, South Carolina. Ms. Beaver states about her, "There is a clean and refreshing atmosphere about her work that is pleasing". A number of Ms. Young's works have been reproduced as signed, limited edition prints, with approximately twelve currently available. She has also released very successful lines of note cards as well as postcards, and her art is also featured as a calendar each year.

Audrey Young is active in professional organizations that support the creations of other artists. She is a past or present member of the Caldwell Arts League, the Wilkes County Art League, the Watauga County Art League, the Avery Arts Council and The Depot Artists Association, serving in some cases as an officer.

If you wish to see more of Audrey Young's work, please visit her at Booth #33 in the large tent in front of the Barter Stage II at the Virginia Highlands Festival held July 31 through August 4. The artist will also have a booth at the Carter Family Memorial Festival & Craft Show at the Carter Fold, August 6th & 7th. She may also be reached by telephone at 423-772-0155 or 828-387-0406.

More information may be found at www.carterfamilyfold.org.