Finally Fridays at the Gallery

During Finally Fridays on July 19th, 2024 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm, artist Jody Nash will be in the gallery to demonstrate the art of coiling pine needles. And Michael Bartos, Jody’s husband, will be tickling the keyboards with his favorite jazz standards during the evening.

Come join the Finally Friday crowd and spend a relaxing evening perusing the extensive variety and downright gorgeous art in the Pittsboro Gallery of Arts!

Jody has been coiling pine needles into baskets for more than 12 years. 

Basketmaking in all its variations, including coiling and weaving styles, is an ancient craft in nearly all cultures around the world. It is an intricate and profoundly therapeutic process that results in gorgeous and functional baskets; an artform that will last many lifetimes. 

Jody uses primarily long leaf pine needles obtained from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. Other materials like Carolina Jessamine, Sweet Grass, and Juncus Rushes, she gathers from her garden. Synthetic sinew serves in place of deer sinew to bind the coils together. Though many of her baskets are straightforward without much adornment, Jody prefers to bring in the element of color by wrapping the coils with cotton embroidery thread and adding beads and charms. She often starts the baskets with a ceramic or glass center or cabochon, or even a wood bowl designed for that purpose. 

Michael Bartos, Jody’s husband, will be tickling the keyboards with his favorite jazz standards during the evening. He is a retired psychiatrist and author. His two novels are “Bash: Love, Madness, and Murder”, and “Finding Lorena” Both take place, at least partially, in the Carolinas. Give him a “Hello” and ask him to play Georgia for you. You won’t be sorry.