Gallery Talk with the Pros – Living with Original Art

🖼️ Festival Lecture – Living with Original Art

Event: Daily Lecture Panel
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Location: New Bern, North Carolina
Venue: Festival Hub (Farmers Market area near Tryon Palace)

Speakers:

• Cindy & James Polo
• Annette & Joe Hunt
• Janis & Stephen Dunn
• Annalee  & Lydia Ash
• Ginny & George Howard
• Ed Koffenberger

Lecture Theme

“Can you buy happiness? Try living with original art.”

What this panel explores

This unique panel features those that have purchased original art in previous years sharing personal stories about what it’s really like to live with original artwork.

Highlights:

• 🖼️ The emotional connection to original art
• 📍 Stories behind each piece — when, where, and why it was purchased
• ❤️ How artwork shapes daily life and mood
• 🧠 Why original art creates lasting memories
• 🏠 The difference between décor and meaningful collecting

💬 Why attend

Ask almost anyone who owns original art, and they’ll remember exactly where they were when they found it—and how it still makes them feel every time they see it.

This session brings those stories to life, offering insight, inspiration, and maybe even a new way to think about bringing art into your own home.

Expore the other lectures in the Series:

This is your chance to ask questions to last year’s top award winners and jurors:

• How are artists chosen?
• What criteria are considered by the selection jurors in reviewing applications?
• What award selection criteria does the award judge use?
• How does the organization decide on the featured artists for their selection process?
• How do award winners prepare themselves for competitions?
• What do artists look for when they first visit the communities they’re going to paint?
• What personal obstacles do artists overcome to produce their best work within the event guidelines?
• What do artists look for when choosing three competition paintings?
• What should people consider when building their own collections?
• How does an artist decide what they want to paint?

NC Plein Air Team Leaders and past award winners will be answering these and other questions daily from noon to 1 p.m. at the Exhibition Gallery.