CONTENTS 8 Beary Merry Christmas

10 This Month in New Bern History

14 Craven freedmen as spies, soldiers

20 Caring for Statues at Tryon Palace

24 Cocktail of the Month

28 Music Events

32 Map

32 Advertiser Directory

40 Artisan Square

42 An Interview with Michaele Rose Watson

46 Art Events

50 More Events

62 Oriental

New Bern VOL. 7 • NO. 1 • NOVEMBER 2020 EDITORIAL DEADLINE for the DECEMBER 2020 issue is November 10th. Email articles, events & photos to [email protected]

TO ADVERTISE Christine Farver • 252.626.5812 [email protected] or Matt Farver • 252.626.7870 [email protected] New Bern Magazine is a free publication distributed at select locations in Craven and Pamlico counties. Entire contents, maps, advertisements and graphic design elements copyright 2020 Inspired Publishing. Reproduction is strictly prohibited without the publisher’s consent.

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4 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 5 6 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 7 8 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 9 This Month in New Bern History By Claudia Houston, New Bern Historical Society

Winslow Homer “Thanksgiving Day in the Army – After Dinner: The Wish-Bone” (from Harper’s Weekly, Vol. VIII), courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art website

During November our thoughts often turn to family, food and home in preparation for Thanksgiving. Although we deeply associate the story of the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving with this celebration, Thanksgiving has strong roots in the Civil War. Through the years, many of our leaders have asked that a day be set aside to express our thankfulness. The Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War asked that days be dedicated to give thanks, and in 1789 George Washington issued a proclamation of thanks during the first year of his presidency. Presidents John Adams and James Madison issued proclamations as well. During the Civil War, the Thanksgiving holiday was a cultural tradition celebrated locally by communities in different regions of the United States. Both the Union and the Confederate Armies held periodic and separate days of thanksgiving in response to military victories. Confederate President Jefferson Davis called for a “day of fasting, humiliation and prayer” to take place on November 15, 1861. Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of a popular women’s magazine, lobbied President Abraham Lincoln to establish a national day of Thanksgiving as an attempt to unify a nation that was strongly divided Continued on page 12.

511 Broad St. • 252.638.8558 newbernhistorical.org

10 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 11 This Month in New Bern History Continued from page 10. along many lines. On October 3, 1863 Lincoln issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation that was written by Secretary of State William Seward which offered a hopeful message. On November 26, 1863, President Lincoln held the first official Thanksgiving Day celebration. How did the troops Winslow Homer, “Thanksgiving in Camp” celebrate during (from Harper’s Weekly, Vol. VII), courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art website the war? For many southerners, this day was a day like all the rest. Many refused to celebrate as they viewed Thanksgiving as a New England abolitionist holiday. For the Union troops the response was a bit different. Many remembered past Thanksgivings surrounded by family and loved ones. In 1862, Edward J. Bartlett of Concord, Massachusetts, age 19, enlisted in the 44th Massachusetts Infantry, Co F and was stationed at New Bern. He wrote letters home in 1862 describing his first Thanksgiving as a soldier. There were elaborate preparations, decorations, and food: “First we had oysters then turkey and chicken pie then plum pudding then apple raisin & coffee with plenty of good soft bread & butter. After we had all eaten a little too much, people usualy [sic] do on Thanksgiving days and we who had lived so long on hard tack did our best[,] we had a fine sing.” (Massachusetts Historical Society) The next year he wrote on 15 November 1863 from Nashville, Tennessee, stating: “Our company Thanksgiving in the barracks last year is a day that I can never forget. Six of those boys are now dead. Poor Hopkinson, the president, in his address, [said] ‘that he hoped the next year would see us all at our own family tables.’ He died two months after.” Bartlett spent Thanksgiving 1864 stationed at Point Lookout, Maryland, guarding Confederate prisoners-of-war. He wrote to his sister Martha about his homesickness on the evening before the holiday: “Thanksgiving eve. I sat over the fire, thinking of what you were doing at home, and what I had done on all the Thanksgiving eve’s, that I could remember.” In the darkest days of our history, with thousands of men dying on battlefields far from home, during wartime or peace, Americans still paused and give thanks for what we have. May we honor them by continuing to do so. Happy Thanksgiving.

12 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 13 Craven freedmen as spies, soldiers by Edward Ellis, Special Correspondent

Vincent Colyer was a busy man. His official title – Superintendent of the Poor – barely described the myriad services he was overseeing in dealing with thousands of recently freed slaves and impoverished white people uprooted by the war. Charged by Union General Ambrose Burnside in early 1862 with providing food, clothing, shelter and spiritual sustenance to the astonishing number of men, women and children refugeed at New Bern, Colyer was also using freedmen labor to build the colossal Fort Totten to protect the city’s western edge. Women were organized to deal with livestock, prepare and cook food, wash and repair clothes, and care for children. Some served as nurses; some as teachers. Colyer’s male freedman crews were unloading vessels on the waterfront and rebuilding the railroad bridge across the Trent River that had been lost to FURNEY BRYANT fire on the day of the battle for New Bern. His men The refugee were carpenters, blacksmith and coopers. They worked effectively as wheelwrights and ship joiners, and in building everything from houses to wooded cots for the hospital. In addition to all the rest, Colyer was running a spy network. “One morning,” he wrote in his 1864 book, Report of the Services Rendered by the Freed People, “the provost Guard in front of my door told me that two negro spies sent by the rebels into our lines, had been caught by our pickets.” “I had sent two men to [Confederate-held] Kinston, with instructions that they should report only to me; on their return they were examined by the pickets and officers of the outposts, who, ignorant of our doings in this way, and completely mystified by the negroes, sent the two men under strong guard to General Foster.” “The General himself, not having been told SERGEANT FURNEY BRYANT Continued on page 16. 1st N. C. Colored Troops

Eddie Ellis is the author of New Bern History 101 and other works about Bear Talk Craven County’s rich heritage. He can be reached at [email protected]. 14 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 15 Craven freedmen as spies, soldiers Continued from page 14. by General Burnside of the authority which had been given to me, of sending out men on these expeditions, was going by my door at the time the guard were passing with these men. For convenience he brought them into my office; when, to my astonishment I found that the noted negro prisoners, of whom I had heard early in the morning were my two men. So faithful were they to my order, that though subjected to suspicion and indignity all the morning, from their own friends, they had not betrayed their trust.” “The name of one of these two faithful men who thus opened the way for the carrying on of this important Vincent Colyer service was Furney Bryant. At that time now two years ago, he did not know a letter of the alphabet, and he came within our lines dressed in the rags of the plantation.” “He attended my schools,” Colyer wrote, “and after I left Newbern, on the formation of the 1st North Carolina Colored Reg’t, he enlisted, and with his regiment was ordered for duty with General Gilmore off Charleston; where his gallantry and intelligence caused him to receive the appointment of 1st Sergeant, and a leave of absence of thirty days. On his way home to Newbern he came to New York City and called on me. The contrast in his personal appearance, in his new suit of Army blue, was … remarkable.” Colyer concluded: “Let no one say that freedom is not better than slavery, with such examples before them. In company with three other soldiers of his regiment, he arrived in Newbern in time to participate in the defense of that place against the recent desperate attack of the rebels in February, 1864. The engraving represents him, in company with Corporal Owen Jones heroically defending his native town, and the government which had set him free, against the secessionists.”

“Sgt. Bryant and Cpl. Jones defending Newbern February 1864” as drawn by Vincent Colyer.

16 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 17 18 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 19 Caring for Statues By Richard Baker, Tryon Palace Conservator

When visitors think of the artifacts that are on view at Tryon Palace, they often think of the physical furnishings located inside the buildings. But the statues and architectural features outdoors are also part of the Collection on view to the public. Conservator Richard Baker regularly checks, cleans, and maintains the many sculptures and outdoor objects at the Palace and historic house gardens, North Carolina History Center, New Bern Academy, and at the burial site of Governor Richard Dobbs Spaight in Brice’s Creek. Around the grounds there are forty-eight statues and stone benches and many individual objects and architectural features. Objects and architectural features include ironwork, fountains, outdoor plaques, a cannon, flood marker, and many other items. All these surfaces require monitoring and some degree of preservation. The statues on view are made from different materials including marble, Portland stone, limestone, granite, sandstone, terra cotta and concrete. Outdoor objects can be made of stone, brick, concrete, wood, metal, plastics, and modern materials. The statues are cleaned on a scheduled rotation that is based on the fragile nature of their materials. When cleaning is performed, the surfaces of the statues are wetted with water and then a biodegradable liquid solution is applied. This solution does not include acids, chlorine or salts and is pH neutral. It will remove stains from mold, lichens, air pollutants, algae, and mildew. It is generally applied wet and scrubbed onto the surface with a soft brush and then left to sit for several weeks or months allowing natural weather conditions to clean the surface. Check out videos concerning cleaning statues and the preservation of the Governor Spaight burial site on the Tryon Palace YouTube channel.

529 South Front Street • New Bern, NC 28562 252-639-3500 • www.tryonpalace.org

20 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 21 22 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 23 237 Craven St. • Downtown New Bern • 252.649.1838 www.prohibitionnewbern.com • Open 3pm-2am

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

Royal Berry Mule By Natasha Stalnaker

1 3/4 Ounces Crown Royal Vanilla Muddle the fresh cranberries, orange and lemon slices together in the simple 1/4 Ounce Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey syrup, dash of aromatic bitters and a 1/4 Ounce Frangelico Liqueur dash of fresh ground cinnamon in the 4-5 Whole Fresh Cranberries bottom of a pint glass. Top this with ice, Crown Royal Vanilla, Fireball Whiskey 1 Slice of Orange and Frangelico Liqueur. Shake vigorously 2 Slices of Lemon and roll over into a copper mug, Add additional ice so that it reaches the top Dash Aromatic Bitters of the mug and fill remainder of cocktail Pinch of Ground Cinnamon with Barritt’s Ginger Beer. Splash of Simple Syrup Barritt’s Ginger Beer

24 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 25 26 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 27 MUSIC

Live Music at Persimmons November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 • 5:30-7:30pm Nannette Garrett Persimmons • 100 Pollock St. November 6 • 7:30pm Enjoy live music on the deck at Persimmons Tap That • 901 Pollock St every Sunday evening. Make a reservation as Nannette is a ‘18 & ‘19 Carolina space is limited on the deck. Music Awards Nominee Best Rock For information, 252.514.0033 or www.persimmonsrestaurant.net. Female Vocal. Don’t miss her performance at Tap That. For information, 252.288.5853. Open Mic Night November 3, 10, 17, 24 • 7-9pm Tap That • 901 Pollock St. Come out and sing, dance, drum, read or entertain. For information, 252.288.5853.

Karaoke at Tap That November 5, 12, 19, 26 • 7pm Tap That • 901 Pollock St Join us for karaoke every Thursday night with Big Sam & Company. For information, 252.288.5853.

RT Johnson Band November 6 • 7:30-11pm Blackbeard’s • 415 S Front St. R.T. Johnson is from a little town in eastern NC named Askewville. He got his start singing in church growing up, and then his love for country music growed and started playing in Bars and Honky Tonks. It has been one wild and crazy ride that has lead from him opening shows for David Allen Coe, Trick Pony, Black Hawk, Aaron Big Jim Kohler Live Tippin, John Micheal Montgomery, Muscadine Bloodline, Jawga Boys, November 5, 12, 19, 26 • 7-9pm Parmalee, Confederate Railroad, Prohibition • 243 Craven St. and Emerson Drive and a few more. Join us upstairs EVERY Thursday in the newly For information, renovated Whiskey Bar for drinks, pool, food www.blackbeardstripleplay.com. and music from local favorite Jim Kohler! For information, 252.649.1838 or www.prohibitionnewbern.com.

28 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 29 MUSIC

Live Music With Roos In The Attic November 7 • 7-10pm The Garage • 1209 Hwy 70 E. Roos In The Attic pack a phenomenal show with a tribute to all your favorite 90’s rock/ alternative songs. For information, 252.288.5585 or www.TheGarageNC.com.

Ryan Cain Band November 7 • 7:30pm Ravens Bru Tap That • 901 Pollock St. November 13 • 7:30-11pm Ryan is a country music singer, but plays a Blackbeard’s • 415 S. Front St. variety of styles of music. Ravenz Bru is an exciting new For information, 252.288.5853. Eastern North Carolina band playing new rock, classic favorites, dance, country, beach - a great mix of music for all. For information, www.blackbeardstripleplay.com.

Steel County Express November 14 • 7:30-11pm Blackbeard’s • 415 S. Front St. Bad Decisions Steel County Express are a modern November 7 • 7:30-11pm country and rock party band based Blackbeard’s • 415 S Front St. in Eastern NC and they deliver a Bad Decisions Band playing a mix of your high energy show from the first favorite country and rock music. song to the last. For information, www.blackbeardstripleplay.com. For information, www.blackbeardstripleplay.com.

The Joe Baes Project November 14 • 7:30pm Tap That • 901 Pollock St. The Joe Baes Project is the perfect mix of classic and fresh! Whether with the band, or a solo show, you will feel the music. Playing classic Wicked Shimmies rock, blues, instrumentals, a little November 13 • 7:30pm country and even throw some new Tap That • 901 Pollock St. music into the mix. For information, 252.288.5853. Join us for live music by The Wicked Shimmies. For information, 252.288.5853.

30 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 31 Broad St

The Brown E Front St Pelican New Bern Historicay Society Corners of Eden The Country Biscuit Artisan Square Broad St

George St Audra Style Brewery 99 Cow Cafe

Bern St CFoy Tonsorial Parlor Living Well New Bern New Bern Community Freshwater Tours Civic Theatre Artists Gallery Beer Nautilus Wealth Management Pollock St Pollock St The Jarvis NEUSE RIVER Pollock St at 220 Michael’s Pub & Patio Persimmons Four C’s Carolina Pollock St Waterfront Creations Bern Bear Gis Restaurant Tap That Black Cat Tildy Floral Tom’s Coins Hollis’ Haven Prohibition Fleet St Thornbury Brides Boutique Lula Balou The Grill Beartowne Juliette’s Magnolia Jane Salon Eden St Escape Room Hancock St Boutique Bear City Fudge Liberty St Metcalf St

Blue Magnolia Surf, Wind & Fire Accidental Middle St. Antiques Mike’s Jewelers Tryon Palace Cypress Hall Artist The Boathouse Twice As Nice Midtown Olive Oil Ballantyne Framing Mitchell Nauti Paws Hardware Franklin’s Antique Mall

E Front St

Middle St S Front St Next Chapter S Front St Books Lloyd Daw Blackbeard’s Craven St Farmers Pirate’s Triple Play Nautical Guaranteed Rate North Carolina Market Cove Wheelers History Center S Front St

Coldwell Banker Willis-Smith ntennial Park Bice New Bern Riverfront Convention Center

TRENT RIVER Union Point Park

DOWNTOWN NEW BERN ADVERTISER DIRECTORY Carpet One Floor & Home...... 60 Freshwater Beer...... 26 Accidental Artist...... 47 Century 21 - Sail/Loft Realty...... 63 The Garage...... 29 Arturo’s Mexican Restaurant...... 60 C. Foy Tonsorial Parlor...... 9 Ghosts of New Bern...... 59 Audra Style...... 37 Coldwell Banker...... 57 GO Architectural Design PLLC...... 43 Ballantyne Framing & Art...... 37 Community Artists Gallery & Studio...47 The Grill at Prohibition...... 25 Bear City Fudge...... 49 Corners of Eden, Inc...... 40 Graybear Painting...... 49 Beartowne Escape Room...... 53 The Country Biscuit...... 31 Guaranteed Rate - Lloyd Daw...... 59 Bern Bear Gifts...... 57 Cow Cafe...... 9 Habitat for Humanity ReStore...... 26 Blackbeard’s Triple Play...... 38 Creekside Cabinets...... 11 Harbor Point Contracting, Inc...... 51 The Black Cat Shoppe...... 37 Cypress Hall...... 35 Hearne’s Fine Jewelry...... 45 Blue Magnolia...... 31 Dream Vacations...... 55 Hollis’ Haven Boutique...... 36 The Boathouse...... 43 Edward Barnes Ellis, Jr. - Author...... 15 The Jarvis at 220...... 18 Brewery 99...... 41 Forsythe Designs...... 41 Jill’s Pet Gallery...... 23 Brown Pelican...... 41 The Four C’s...... 37 JL Kirkman’s Antique Mall...... 60 Carolina Creations...... 47 Franklin’s Antique Mall...... 6 Juliette’s Boutique...... 48

32 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 Broad St

The Brown E Front St Pelican New Bern Historicay Society Corners of Eden The Country Biscuit Artisan Square Broad St

George St Audra Style Brewery 99 Cow Cafe

E Front St

Coldwell Banker Willis-Smith ntennial Park Bice New Bern Riverfront Convention Center

TRENT RIVER Union Point Park

Lisa Graber, Trent River Realty...... 49 Next Chapter Books & Art...... 4 Twice As Nice...... 15 Living Well...... 36 Persimmons Restaurant...... 49 Uptown Gallery...... 47 Lula Balou...... 5 Pirate’s Cove...... 39 Village Travel Shop...... 6 Magnolia Jane Salon...... 53 Prohibition Drinks & Desserts...... 24 You’ve Got Maids...... 59 Marsha’s Cottage...... 62 The Sideshow...... 41 Michael’s Pub & Patio...... 7 Sound Fitness...... 17 EVENT DIRECTORY Middle Street Antiques...... 9 Surf, Wind & Fire...... 9 A Christmas Carol...... 22 Midtown Olive Oil...... 31 Tab Premium Built Homes....Back Cover Beary Merry Christmas...... 8 Mike’s Downtown Jewelers...... 18 Tap That...... 27 Breakfast with Santa...... 50 Mitchell Hardware...... 55 Thornbury Brides...... 19 Nauti Paws...... 55 Tidewater Appliance & Mattress...... 13 Pancakes for PIE...... 3 Nautical Wheelers...... 53 & 62 Tildy Floral Designs...... 4 Nautilus Wealth Management...... 57 Tom’s Coins and Antiques...... 15 New Bern Tours...... 6 Trent River Realty...... 2 New Berne Antiques & Collectibles... 61 Tryon Palace...... 21

NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 33 MUSIC

Head on Collision Ravens Bru November 14 • 8pm November 21 • 7:30pm The Garage • 1209 Hwy 70 E. Tap That • 901 Pollock St. Head on Collision is an Eastern NC band with its roots deep in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Ravenz Bru is an exciting new For information, 252.288.5585 or www.TheGarageNC.com. Eastern North Carolina band playing new rock, classic favorites, dance, country, beach - a great mix of music for all. For information, 252.288.5853.

The Spread November 20 • 7:30pm Tap That • 901 Pollock St. The Spread is a jam band from Morehead City BiPolar Express NC that creates a funky mix of genres and November 21 • 7:30-11pm styles that undoubtedly will make you dance. Blackbeard’s • 415 S Front St. For information, 252.288.5853. The BiPolar express is a high energy party band that specializes in 80s rock. We play hits from Van Halen, Poison, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Billy Idol, and many more. We throw in enough pop and funk to keep a dance floor moving. We hava a great sound and lights system and put on an unbelievable show. For information www.blackbeardstripleplay.com.

Mickele Buck Rubich’s Cube Band November 20 • 7:30-11pm November 27 • 7:30pm Blackbeard’s • 415 S Front St. Tap That • 901 Pollock St. The Voice 2018 contestant, Mikele Buck, Come hear great music from established his first band near Greenville NC. Rubich’s Cube. They have opened up for major acts such as For information, 252.288.5853. Jason Aldean and Joe Nichols. For information, www.blackbeardstripleplay.com.

34 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 35 MUSIC

Spare Change November 27 • 7:30-11pm Blackbeard’s • 415 S Front St. Spare Change is a regional band that is based out of NC. They play a wide variety of music and keep the crowd energized throughout the evening. For information, www.blackbeardstripleplay.com.

Due East November 28 • 7:30-11pm Blackbeard’s • 415 S Front St. Mad Fiddler Addams Due east is a classic rock cover band, with thunderous vocals and impeccable November 28 • 7:30pm musicianship. Tap That • 901 Pollock St For information, www.blackbeardstripleplay.com. Join us for the fun filled unique sound of the Mad Fiddler. For information, 252.288.5853.

36 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 37 38 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 39 SQUARE ArtisanArtisan Square is the common back parking lot to several downtown businesses located in the center of downtown New Bern and can be accessed by Hancock Street. (Behind the Brown Pelican). These businesses come together every Sunday to celebrate their community by inviting musicians, artists, and visionaries and giving them a safe place to gather to share their skills, talents, and ideas. Come join us in Artisan Square!

Sunday Sessions A Homegrown Forage into Fungiculture November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 • 1-6pm November 3 • 6-8pm Brown Pelican will be open from 1-6pm Join us in an exploration of Fungiculture every Sunday. Bring food and chairs and and Mycology! Tank Wethington, owner we’ll have drinks and the music! of Fruits of the FAE and executive chef at For information, visit The Brown Pelican on Facebook. Harborpointe Bar and Grille in Fairfield Harbor, takes you through the ins and outs of mushroom production. Covering everything Corners of Eden: Flowers After Hours from substrates, proper sanitation, strains, November 11 & 25 • 7-9pm medicinal value, inoculation techniques Flowers After Hours: Porch Step Pot and so much more. The workshop is super O’Plenty Workshop. informative and perfect for the whole family. Cost: $35. For information, 252.571.7678 or Cost: $35. For information, 252.571.7678 or www.cornersofeden.com. www.fruitsofthefae.com.

40 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 SQUARE

NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 41 ART An Interview with Michaele Rose Watson By Jonathan Burger, Craven Arts Council & Gallery, Inc.

Where are you from, and how did you get into making art? I was born in Denver, Colorado moved to Jupiter, Florida where I met Al Chalmers Beck a retired master stained glass artist. I had worked in Health Food stores for several year and knew I needed to figure out a way to make a living with my hands doing something creative as working in an office would never have worked for me. I became mesmerized watching Mr. Chalmers work with glass and convinced him I would be an asset to his studio. I cleaned, answered the phone, etc., in exchange Mr. Chalmers took me in as an apprentice for 3 years. I learned how to run a business, how to work with clients/ patrons/contractors until I could afford to open my own studio In 1981 and was successful working in this industry for another 19 years. In 2000 I decided I wanted to study art and began pursuing a degree eventually earning my BFA in Ceramics. I loved learning about other art forms and am glad I took that side road to stretch my imagination. In the end, I missed working with glass.

Is there a theme to your work, or several themes? In the beginning I had no theme. I was classically trained in architectural restoration and stained glass repair. My goal was to learn the process in preserving historical stained glass panels and also making custom stained glass panels for commercial, residential and ecclesiastical patrons. In 2000, I wanted to go back to school and learn about other art forms as I did not have that opportunity out of high school. After receiving my BFA in Ceramics I wanted to reinvent myself as a conceptual based Sculptor working with clay and other media. So today I do have a theme mostly based on the observations of Nature and the Human Condition.

You’re known for both stained glass and clay, do you see a relationship between these mediums, or do you consider the works separate? At the moment they are separate. As I was missing working with glass I also find I cannot give up working with clay. My future goal is to incorporate both mediums in more harmonious forms. I love a challenge and I love the creative process. It is only a matter of time before I find ways to connect both mediums.

Speaking of stained glass and clay, are there other mediums you like to work in, or a medium you’d like to try still? That is a good question. When I went back to school to Continued on page 44. 42 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 43 An Interview with Michaele Rose Watson Continued from page 42. complete my education, I explored as many concentrations of the art disciplines as possible at ECU, printmaking, textiles, drawing, metals & clay. As much as I enjoyed learning about all of them, Clay held my attention the most and I began thinking about how to continue working with this material after I graduated in 2005.

Is there another artist in your field or any other that inspires you? Oh my yes, Antoinette Bandenhorst, Jennifer McCurdy, to name two of my favorite clay artists. As for the stained glass field I can only look to the 1000+ history of the church along with Louis Comfort Tiffany who successfully brought colored glass panels out of the church and made that art form popular in the home during the Victorian era. And who does not love the one-eyed glass blower Dale Chihuly? Today, colored glass can be contemporary as well as traditional. With the invention of electricity in the 1930s, it is now affordable for the average artist to own their own kiln, melt glass or clay and to create brand new forms as never before. In my philosophy Class at ECU and the on going discussion, ‘Is Art Dead?’ I can assure you Art Glass is just getting started and truly Not Dead nor dying.

Is there any award, exhibition, or specific piece that you’re particularly proud of, and why? 1000 Possibilities Installation that was held at Fine Art at Baxter’s Gallery in 2012 . That show represented all the possibilities that are possible in our world. I made 1000 eggs in different sizes using different clay bodies and a variety of glazes to represent the colors of our Earthly forests. They were arranged in a spiral form to represent our galaxy, spinning & moving with the promise of more possibilities. I certainly have other favorites, but this was my most significant work (so far) in my career.

Do you have any advice for other artists about their artwork, career, or anything else? Wow, giving advice is a slippery slope. Know your self and stay focused.

Besides art, what other hobbies and things do you like to do? Space Exploration! Yes, I wanted to be an astronaut but have no head for numbers. I follow the launches of Nasa and Space X. Viewing the newest images from the Hubble, the International Space Station & amateur astronomy clubs. We lived on our boat for 10 years, now we just have a dingy and explore the Neuse & Trent Rivers. I love the water. I love gardening. Plants in pots as I find myself living in places were I have no direct access to the earth and dirt. I like following the seasonal migratory routes of birds & butterflies and attracting them to my garden.

I know you’ve got the studio at 217 Middle St., where else can people find your work? My website: www.michaelerose.com • fb: Michaele Rose Artist Studio Instagram: Michaele Rose Watson Some of my Stained Glass Installations on Middle St. 300 Blk of Middle St: Bella’s Cafe, Cow Cafe & The Kress Bldg. 200 Blk of Middle St: Mike’s Jewelers front entrance door, transoms & windows, Folks Foundation Transom and future home of a fully restored circa. 1910 Victorian 9ft panel soon to be installed in their second floor Tonic Bar and the entire front entrance at Michaelé @ Studio M. 44 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 45 ART

ArtWalk November 13 • 5-8pm • Downtown New Bern ArtWalk is a fun, casual celebration of art and community in downtown New Bern, held every second Friday of each month. You’re invited to stroll along the sidewalks and enjoy everything Downtown New Bern has to offer; unique galleries, quaint shops and boutiques, and great pubs and restaurants. For information, 252.638.2577 or www.cravenarts.com.

Critters Opening Reception: November 13 • 5-8pm Exhibit on Display: November 5–January 2, 2021 Bank of the Arts • 317 Middle St. The “Critters” features local artists and will display artwork where the subject is animals of all types. Now an annual tradition, Critters gives the community a chance to view and purchase art about the creatures we love and cherish. “Critters” celebrates all creatures that walk, wiggle, fly, swim or slither. The exhibition highlights local artists’ depictions of animals of all sorts, in mediums ranging from photography to painting, and sculpture to ceramics. Artists include Michaele Artwork by Susan Lovett. Rose Watson, Susan Lovett, Steve Zawistowski, and Laura Gammons. All work displayed in the exhibition will be for sale. For information, 252.638.2577 or www.cravenarts.org.

Michael Dorsey Opening Reception: November 13 • 5-8pm Exhibit on Display: November 1–30 Bank of the Arts • 317 Middle St. Michael Dorsey is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Art and Design at East Carolina University. He was Dean of that School from 1991 to 2003. Dorsey is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and the first President and founding member of the Mississippi Watercolor Society. He has exhibited in more than 400 exhibitions and has works in public and private collections in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan and New Zealand. The artwork in this show are monochrome drawings, achromatic studies and paintings of limited color. Michael Dorsey stated “I felt it important to limit my Artwork by Michael Dorsey. color in this series of wash studies to evoke a primal impression for the viewer. I believe in these pieces and respect their commitment to our current situation. They were created with a desire to be as direct as possible.” For information, 252.638.2577 or www.cravenarts.org.

46 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 47 ART Community Artists Gallery ArtWalk: November 13 • 5-8 pm • 309 Middle St. Community Artists Gallery will feature “Winter Wonderland” for our theme. Our artists for the month are painters; Eleanor McArver and Karen Rawson. Linda Sura displays her fiber baskets. We will have live music by the “Brandt Island Strings”, and refreshments. Visit our upstairs Annex to meet local artists Belinda Scheber, Joyce Straton, Susan Cheatham, Heidi Lock and Brenda Gear. Eleanor McArver is a colorist, she has studied with Susan Sarback, Mary Gilkerson, John Ebersberger, Peggi Roberts and many other inspiring artists. She is most influenced by the Hawthorne-Hensche principle, an approach of seeing and painting color and light in an impressionistic way. Eleanor is a member of the Coastal Carolina Plein Air Painters. Karen Rawson has been studing art for most of her life. She studied at the Art Institute of Chicago at the age of 13. She has studied with Ed Mcomber, Richard Christian Nelson, Dan Nelson and John Ebersberger. Oil is her preferred medium, painting realism and abstract. She was awarded 1st prize in 2015 at the Twin River Art Association annual show. She is a member of Coastal Carolina Plein Air Painters. Linda Sura started weaving in 1985 with traditional basket techniques and expanded to more contemporay baskets. She also does felting, paints watercolor and beading. Many of our members are donating a piece of art to “ True Justice Group” auction during Freedom Ball. They promote the restoration of humanity for victims of sex trafficking. We are having a “Customer Appreciation Weekend” on 11/13 & 11/14. Many Art pieces will be on sale for this event. Community artists is non-profit and cooperative, staffed by the participating artists. For information, 252.633.3715 or www.communityartistsgallery.org.

Craven Arts Council & Gallery Accepting Applications for North Carolina Cares for Arts Grants Arts and cultural organizations, arts nonprofits, and individual artists are eligible to apply to for a North Carolina CARES for Arts grant to offset business disruption and/or expenses incurred due to COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2020. For questions or more information, contact Jonathan Burger at 252.638.2577 or email [email protected].

48 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 49 50 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 51 MORE Cornhole Tournament November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 • 4pm Tap That • 901 Pollock St. Pick your partner and random draw partner. Registration: $5 per person or $10 per team. Registration at 3pm. For information, 252.288.5853. Behind the Scenes: Gardens Pub Run November 3 • 2-3pm November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • 6:30-7:30pm Tryon Palace • 529 S. Front St. Starts & ends at The Bruin Tryon Palace Greenhouse and Gardens 224 Middle St. Manager, Hadley Cheris will meet guests Join us on Monday evenings for a 2, 3, or at the Waystation to discover what is 4 mile run. All paces are welcome. Hosted popping up in the 16 acres of Tryon by Coastal Sole. Palace Gardens. (Tour cancelled only in For information, 252.631.5187. the event of thunder and lightning.) Tickets: $6 adults, $3 youth, Free for Foundation Members. 30 Second Rocks For information, 252.639.3500 or www.tryonpalace.org. November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • 7-9pm Team Feud Trivia Tap That • 901 Pollock St. Think you know music? Come prove it with November 3, 10, 17, 24 • 8pm our take on a traditional game! We play 30 Blackbeard’s • 415 S. Front St. seconds of a song, you mark the song title Lovers of Family Feud and participants of off on your game sheet! First three rounds, all skill levels will enjoy this game, as you the first person to come up with a winning are asked to respond to survey questions, sheet wins a prize from the venue. much like the televised game show. It For information, 252.288.5853. is completely free to play, and there are prizes for the top three scoring teams. Yoga at the Gallery For information, www.blackbeardstripleplay.com. November 3, 10, 17, 24 • 8:30am Novembr 5, 12, 19, 26 • 5:30pm Bank of the Arts • 317 Middle St. Dara Morgan is a NC saltwater cured Yoga Alliance Certified RYT 200 teacher. She typically teaches a gentle Hatha yoga class pulling from elements of various styles of yoga, including Vinyasa Flow. You will find your personal flow, at your level, and leave feeling renewed and re-energized ready to take on the week. Stogies & Studs (and Studettes) Classes are $11 per session. Please bring your own mat, November 5, 12, 19, 26 • 5-9pm water, and any yoga props you need. Classes are limited to nine participants to allow for social distancing guide- The Garage • 1209 Hwy 70 E. lines and indoor gathering requirements. You can reserve Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em. We have your spot by filling out the form on www.cravenarts.org, stogies too! Check them out. visiting us in person, or calling us at 252.638.2577. For information, 252.288.5585 or www.TheGarageNC.com.

52 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 53 MORE 30 Second Rocks November 7, 14, 21, 28 • 9-11pm 30 Second Rocks Blackbeard’s • 415 S. Front St. November 5, 12, 19, 26 • 6:30-8:30pm Think you know music? Come prove BrÜtopia • 1201 Hwy 70 E. it with our take on a traditional Think you know music? Come prove it with our game. We play 30 seconds of a take on a traditional game! We play 30 seconds song, you mark the song title off on of a song, you mark the song title off on your your game sheet. game sheet. For information, www.blackbeardstripleplay.com. For information, 252.631.5142 or www.brutopiabeer.com.

Movie Night November 5, 12, 19, 26 • 8:30pm Blackbeard’s • 415 S Front St. Join us on Thursday nights for a movie out back on the big screen. For information, www.blackbeardstripleplay.com.

Behind the Scenes: Costume Shop November 10 • 2-3pm Tryon Palace • 529 S. Front St. Tryon Palace historic clothing interpreter Leslie Lambrecht will lead a tour of the historic Jones First Annual Garage Beer Olympics House with a brief description of the house and then through the Tryon November 7 • 1-5pm Palace Costume Shop on the first The Garage • 1209 Hwy 70 E. floor of the house. The costumer will Gather up your team of 4-6 people and discuss historical clothing research, compete in games to include Flip Cup, Beer the sewing techniques used in Pong, Balloon Bust, Pantyhose & Socks, Ladder the past, and current projects for Golf, Cornhole, Dizzy Bat and more. upcoming events. For information, 252.288.5585 or www.TheGarageNC.com. Tickets: $6 adults, $3 youth, Free for Foundation Members. For information, 252.639.3500 or www.tryonpalace.org. Bingo Night November 7 • 6-9pm Craven County Fairgrounds • 3700 Hwy 70 E. Friendsgiving Bingo night! Come have some fun with us - meet new people and win some prizes. November 15 • 12-3pm The Garage • 1209 Hwy 70 E. We play 15 games per night, and 2 big prize Grab your favorite recipe and bring games. The first pack of cards costs $12 (that’s it to The Garage for Friendsgiving 15 cards, one for each game) and additional Potluck. packs are $8 each. Big prize game cards are $2 For information, 252.288.5585 or and bigger prize games are $5 each. www.TheGarageNC.com. State law requires players to be at least 18 years old. For information, www.cravencountyjaycees.org.

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Discovering Tryon Palace: Outlander in the Governor’s Palace November 21 • 3:15-4:30pm Tryon Palace • 529 S. Front St. Fans of Outlander series may now Home & Outdoor Living Expo travel in Claire Fraser’s literary November 20 & 21 • 10am-4pm footsteps in the Governor’s Palace, located in New Bern, the first New Bern Riverfront Convention Center permanent capital city of North 203 S. Front St. Carolina. Meet with the servants The best home and outdoor living event who can offer enlightenment as to is coming back to downtown New Bern. the facts regarding Claire’s place Everything you need for home improvement, within the household, and other 18th decorating and outdoor living ideas is under century news. one roof, plus pet adoption events, show Tickets: $15. Ticket quantities are extremely limited. specials, and a scavenger hunt with $4000 in Tour will begin at the Palace Gates at 4:15 pm. prizes And don’t forget about the RV, Auto & Tickets do not include additional tours or access to the Tryon Palace Grounds. For information, Sports Show at the adjacent Union Park. 252.639.3524 or www.tryonpalace.org. Admission: Free. For information, encmedialive.com.

Discovering Tryon Palace: The Spark of the Rebellion November 21 • 9-10:30am Tryon Palace • 529 S. Front St. As Royal Governor Tryon, his family and servants settled into the new completed government house in New Bern, North Carolina in June 1770, there were whispers of rebellion in the colony. Discover the facts versus the fictions of the North Carolina Regulator Movement. Jamie and Claire Fraser’s version of the events which occurred in this colony during 1770 – 1771 have been presented. Tryon Palace invites you to hear the Crown’s side of the story. The royal perspective of the actions of the Citizens of North Carolina and the Thirteen Colonies taken from Governor William Tryon’s own words. Did all in government agree with Governor Tryon’s actions? Were there others treading carefully between lines of the Royal Governor and the Regulators, as James Frazer did? More importantly, should it come to choosing sides, are you a Loyalist, or will you choose to redefine what it means to be a Patriot in America? Your visit will include a stop to discuss: Cooking meals and holidays at the Palace Medical treatments of the times and common illnesses and cures. Traveling Onward in History – Which path will Claire & Jamie choose? Loyalty or Liberty? Tickets: $15. For information, 252.639.3524 or www.tryonpalace.org.

56 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 57 MORE Porch Step Pot O’Plenty Workshop November 22 • 12-2pm The Garage • 1209 Hwy 70 E. Corners of Eden will be hosting their Porch Step Pot O’Plenty Workshop at The Garage. Cost: $35. For information, 252.571.7678 or www.cornersofeden.com.

Behind the Scenes: Conservation Lab Discovering Tryon Palace: November 24 • 2-3pm Holiday Décor Tryon Palace • 529 S. Front St. November 25 • 9:15-10:30am Learn about the conservation work that Tryon Palace • 529 S. Front St. is done to the artifacts on exhibit in the Join us on a tour of the Governor’s Governor’s Palace, North Carolina History Palace and focus on the decorations Center and our historic house museums for the upcoming “Holiday Cheer” around Tryon Palace. celebration. Hadley Cheris, Tryon Palace Gardens and Greenhouse Observe the techniques and tools the Manager, will lead a tour of the first floor conservation staff uses to preserve items from of the Governor’s Palace, describing the the past to be showcased in the present and special items used in the decorations, for future generations. Also, guests can learn designing tips and the pieces’ theming about techniques they can use to care for for this year’s holiday decor. their own treasures at home. Tickets: $10. For information, 252.639.3500 or Tickets: $6 adults, $3 youth, Free for Foundation Members. www.tryonpalace.org. For information, 252.639.3500 or www.tryonpalace.org.

4th Annual Gingerbread House Contest Goes Virtual The New Bern Historical Society’s Gingerbread House Contest is going virtual. That means all of the amazing creations will be displayed on the Historical Society’s Facebook page. Like many events in 2020, due to Covid 19, the Gingerbread House Contest will be different. It will be simpler, and it will be online. But the most important part, working together with friends and family, enjoying the season, THAT will be exactly the same! Image from last year’s contest. There are no fees, no forms, no categories. Just the desire to be creative and delight in the season. All contestants will be asked construct their own imaginative piece, and to send photos of themselves and their creations to [email protected]. There will be two prizes, one determined by popular vote and one selected by our judges. All the rules and submission instructions are at www.GingerbreadNewBern.com or 252.638.8558. Entry is due by December 12. Want more confidence in your efforts? Make sure your house stays together and stands up? Take the 1.5 hour Introduction to Gingerbread House Construction hosted by our partners at Craven Community College on November 14. For information and registration, visit https://cravencc.edu/aep/kitchen-cuisine/#ginger.

58 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 59 60 NEW BERN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 NEW BERN MAGAZINE 61 ORIENTAL History of Eastern North Carolina Hurricanes Open Mic Night November 1 through January 2021 November 4, 11, 18, 25 • 7pm Oriental History Museum • 803 Broad St. The Silos Restaurant Hurricanes have 1111 Broad St. ravaged North Join us on Wednesdays as Carolina, especially local musicians make music on the coastal areas, The Silos stage. for centuries. What For information, www.silosnc.com. do you know about those that have Home on the Neuse River on Janeiro Rd. visited Oriental Thanksgiving Morning and the surrounding near Dawson Creek. Hurricane Irene 2011. area? Many senior residents still remember the Hur- Bike Ride ricane of 1933 that did extensive damage to Oriental November 26 • 9am and its waterfront. Visit the Museum’s new exhibit and Town Dock learn about each of these hurricanes...Bertha, Connie, (Across from The Bean) Ione, Isabel, Irene, Florence, and Dennis to name a few. Join us for a Thanksgiving bike Maps, descriptions, and photos tell a cautionary and ride around Oriental. educational story about Eastern North Carolina during No registration necessary. hurricane season. Free but donations are gratefully accepted. Hours: Fri 11–1, Sat 1–4, Sun closed. For information, [email protected].

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