Where Art Lives

DADA and DADA Members in the News

10 Things You're Missing if you Haven't Been to Winston-Salem
  By Valerie Luesse Southern Living Magazine Updated December 17, 2021

Explore the artsy, entrepreneurial North Carolina burg that gave us the country's first Arts Council—and Krispy Kreme doughnuts. (You're welcome.)

This eclectic city in northwestern North Carolina has the Smokies and the Blue Ridge to the west and the Outer Banks to the east. Its famed hyphen comes from the merger of two cities in 1913. Salem was settled in 1766 by serious-minded, Eastern European Moravians known for arts and culture. Upstart Winston, established in 1851, attracted entrepreneurs like tobacco titan R.J. Reynolds. Put the two together, and you have a city with a thriving arts community—it's home to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the National Black Theatre Festival, and much more—and an inventive spirit. Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Texas Pete hot sauce were born here.

Humans and all types of critters are featured in local artist’s paintings
  By Fran Daniel Winston Salem Journal - August 21,2021

Crows tend to show up in many of artist Melanie Troutman-Williams’ paintings.

Her love for them started at a very early age. Years ago, when she was a child growing up in Greensboro, a friendly crow visited her backyard.

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Troutman-Williams said her mother sent her outside to the backyard and told her she would be there in a minute.

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“She was going to bring like sunscreen and probably Kool-Aid or something like that,” Troutman-Williams said. When she went outside, she noticed a crow sitting in the backyard.

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“I walk up to it slowly and it just sits there and stares at me,” Troutman-Williams said. “I pet its little head and sit there for a little bit. ... I was able to pet it, and it was comfortable around me. It was sitting there like no fear and no anything.”

 Downtown Arts District Association coming of age with a song and celebration 
   By Lynn Felder Winston-Salem Journal - August 26, 2018
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Art is boundless. It can’t be contained. It can’t be kept still or quiet.
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Just look over on Trade Street — and beyond — where the Downtown Arts District has been growing, first by baby steps, then by leaps and bounds since the early 1980s.
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On Thursday afternoon, wind chimes tinkled from Fifth up to Seventh streets, while late lunchers ambled out of and early drinkers rambled into Finnigan’s Wake Irish Pub and Kitchen.
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Baskets of trailing flowers hung from the lamp posts. Outdoor murals and sculptures express creativity — sometimes spontaneously, sometimes planned and commissioned.
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From 'Say Cheese' to dreamscapes, photographer finds outlet in digital art

By Lisa O’Donnell Winston-Salem Journal - Feb 21, 2018

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In her day job, Allison Hutchins encourages school-aged kids to smile big for the camera.

In her free time, Hutchins, 38, uses her camera to create dreamscapes, finding inspiration in the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Lewis Carroll.

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“What I enjoy is that it’s not so cookie-cutter, not so cut and dried,” Hutchins said.

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Hutchins, of Lewisville, is the featured artist for the Downtown Arts District Association for March. Her work will be at the March 2 First Friday Gallery Hop at DADA’s office, 604-A Trade St.

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Hutchins had always enjoyed painting and picked up a camera four years ago.

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“The more I got into looking at photography, the more I loved it,” she said.

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Hutchins, the mother of two boys, started with landscape photography then began experimenting with digital art a few years ago. She uses stock photos or her own photos to create dreamy, vivid scenes.

In retirement, artist finds joy in watercolors

By Lisa O’Donnell Winston-Salem Journal - Jan 10, 2018

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Rick Jones has been making art for so long that he struggled to answer how he got started.

As Jones stammered, his friend Marilyn Ingram stepped in for the save.

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“He is the true flaky artist,” she said with a laugh. “He has no idea why he is so good. He’s the real deal.”

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Jones, 67, is a Clemmons resident specializing in watercolors of landscapes, including notable North Carolina landmarks such as the lighthouses of the Outer Banks and some of the historic buildings in Old Salem.

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He grew up in the Ardmore neighborhood of Winston-Salem. When he was a teenager someone gave him a set of watercolors.

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“I was set for years,” he said.

Jones worked with his hands for most of his life, making aircraft seats for Fairchild and repairing large printers for IBM.

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He retired two years ago at the age of 65. Since then, Jones has been devoting more of his time painting.

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