CONTRIBUTED

The works of potter Linda Dalton and the artists of the Hollyhocks Art Gallery, Jane Casnellie, Diane Kraudelt, Irene McFarland, and Paula Montgomery, are featured at the Campbell House Galleries in September.

"Through Women's Eyes" opens from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, with a reception to meet the artists. The exhibit is on display through Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays, and from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21. The Campbell House Galleries are located at 482 East Connecticut Avenue, Southern Pines.

Linda Dalton, of Linda Dalton Pottery, is a native North Carolinian who studied ceramics at CPCC-Charlotte and attended workshops with such internationally known artists as Robin Hopper, Paul Soldner, Tom Coleman, Cynthia Bringle, and Nick Joerling. She is a member of Piedmont Craftsman and Carolina Designer Craftsman.

When Dalton and her husband, Jim, moved to rural Moore County from Charlotte, they found an abundance of wildflowers and native ferns. Dalton had already experimented with saggar firing, but the ready availability of local flora stimulated her creativity and inspired the use of the flora in a variety of ways.

Dalton's most recent body of work is saggar fired in a raku kiln. The orbs, vases, platters, and an expanding line of wall pieces (handmade tiles mounted on precision crafted hardwood frames made by Dalton's husband) are often enhanced with carbon images of plant material.

"Before firing, I place the piece, plant material, and a variety of chemicals in the saggar, which is a closed vessel used inside the kiln to control the atmosphere," says Dalton. "Based on a variety of experiences, I have been able to adapt saggar techniques to create one-of-a-kind pieces."

The saggar works augment and complement the horsehair-fired techniques that Dalton has been doing for several years. Both techniques result in pottery that is intended for decorative purposes only.

Dalton's work is exhibited at Piedmont Craftsmen's Gallery in Winston-Salem; Blue Moon Gallery in Seagrove; North State Pottery in Sanford; Stewart's Village Gallery in Waxhaw; and the North Carolina Museum of Natural History in Raleigh. Most recently, Dalton was invited to show her work at the inaugural Inspire! Ballentyne Art Fair in Charlotte, where her work was awarded Best of Show.

Dalton's pottery exhibit at the Campbell House Galleries will be complemented by paintings from the artists of Hollyhocks Art Gallery on Linden Road in Pinehurst.

Jane Casnellie is no stranger to the local art scene. Her colorful and vibrant, award-winning work has been featured in numerous shows in and around the Sandhills. As her client base grew, Casnellie opened Hollyhocks Art Gallery, located next to Elliott's on Linden at the shops of Pinehurst Place. It is here that visitors can view the passions of Casnellie's artistic renderings -- Tuscan vistas, Provencal fields of lavender, expressive florals, and unusual still life.

Her affinity for and love of animals affords her the insight required to capture the animals' inner spirits. As a result, pet portraits have also become an important part of Casnellie's portfolio.

"As a self-taught artist, the creative process has always played an important part in my life," says Casnellie. "However, it wasn't until I retired from the corporate world and moved to Pinehurst with my husband, Gene, that I began to devote time to oil painting. I love nature and am often inspired by the simple but elegant beauty of the world around me."

Diane Kraudelt's foray into the art world began at an early age when she was selected to study commercial art at the prestigious Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Mich. After graduation, she continued her studies in oil painting at several universities and exhibited in local and regional shows, winning the first of many awards.

Kraudelt is a contemporary painter working primarily in oil. She especially enjoys using people in her work to tell a story. In 2008, Kraudelt's work has been juried into the following national shows: Hilton Head Art League's 2008 National Juried Art Exhibition; the 18th Annual Mid-Atlantic Art Show for her unusual painting, "At the Carnival"; and Smithtown Township Long Island Art League's 2008 exhibit, "Circling the Globe Through Women's Lives," for her imaginative oil painting, "39 Reflections."

In addition to the Hollyhocks Art Gallery, Kraudelt also exhibits her work at the Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, Va., and the Moring Fine Crafts and Gallery in Asheboro.

Irene McFarland has pursued her painting passion for over 40 years. She has exhibited in shows and galleries throughout the Eastern Seaboard. Her work has hung in prestigious galleries such as the William Reis Gallery in Camp Hill, Pa., and won numerous awards, including Best in Show, at many juried art shows.

Luminous landscapes, engaging floral designs, and tranquil seascapes are the focus of McFarland's original paintings rendered in acrylic. She is known for her flair, rich colors, and strong composition.

Today, McFarland's paintings can be found in the Stone Harbor, N.J., Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Congressional offices, and the Hollyhocks Art Gallery.

Paula Montgomery began painting at the age of 9 and has never lost interest in creating art. She has pursued a self-directed education in art by enrolling in classes and workshops, visiting museums, reading books by artists whose styles she likes, and most importantly, by painting a lot.

Montgomery's work is impressionistic and colorful. She prefers to work in oil but also uses acrylics for richly textured florals and pastels for children's portraits. This is her third show at the Campbell House, where she also works for the Arts Council as their financial manager and set-up person for the monthly shows.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of the Arts Council and to work in the historic Campbell House," says Montgomery. "Many of my paintings in the September exhibit have been inspired by scenes in and around the Campbell House complex."

For more information about the September exhibit, call 692-4356 or visit the Web site at www.artscouncil-moore.org.