It was Brazilian artist and painter Romero Britto who said, “Art is too important not to share.” After all, the sharing of art in public spaces fosters connection and an appreciation for diversity by promoting dialogue, inspiring creativity, and inviting the expression of personal perspectives. Shared art democratizes access to culture, enriches public spaces, and encourages collaboration — all of which enhances the collective human experience.
Now, owing to the collaboration of two area nonprofits, the work of nationally recognized artists who live right here in Western Wake is accessible to the public.
From February 28 through June 23, downtown Cary’s chic and comfortable The Mayton inn is transformed into a vibrant gallery space. In the inaugural Master Artists at the Mayton exhibit, 36 Triangle-area artists — including 14 who have been recognized nationally — have their work showcased.
Making the act of bringing community art into the community even more inspiring is that the cause of art for all has long been championed by the very two nonprofit organizations that have partnered together to establish this significant event.
The Fine Arts League of Cary (FALC) has been connecting and supporting emerging and accomplished artists in the community for close to 30 years — cultivating artistic growth and community connection through exhibitions, workshops, and other events.
With an aligned aim to bring art to the community and support area artists, fellow Cary nonprofit Cary Visual Art (CVA) has been placing art in public for over 25 years. From the cows on Kildaire Farm Road to the sculpture in Bond Park, CVA has long sought to, as President Susan Alexander describes the endeavor, “place art in the public … to benefit the Town.”
Yet despite pursuing a similar mission for so long, the Masters at the Mayton exhibit marks the first time these two arts organizations have come together with the express purpose of promoting creativity and community through an exhibition showcase. Thanks to The Mayton, the invited artists — creatives who are, according to Chairman of the Fine Arts League of Cary Sarah Redpath, “treasures right under our noses” — have the space to do so.
Take David B. Foster, a contemporary realist who started painting later in life with a focus on oil and charcoal mediums. A civil engineer by trade, David never experienced any interest in making art; he “didn’t have the patience,” he says.
It wasn’t until he bought his daughter some art lessons and joined her so she wouldn’t be alone in the classes that he realized how much he enjoyed the artistic process. Although he has long been involved with music, David describes himself as someone who was always much more inclined to be outdoors and participate in activities like surfing than lifting a charcoal pencil or paintbrush.
David B. Foster and his wife have noticed an emotional difference since starting to display art in their home.
It was only after a challenging period in his personal life that David returned to the idea of pursuing art. And even then, it took some time for him to get to a place where he felt ready to begin. Once he did, David found “tremendous joy” in art, something he says was also an “important part of my healing process.”
As an active member of the prestigious Oil Painters of America, David’s work was, in 2015, juried into the organization’s 24th National Exhibition. As he explains: “2,000 to 4,000 artists submit to these kinds of exhibitions, but only 200 to 400 are selected.” When a fellow FALC member — fitting, as FALC works hard as an organization to connect its members — notified David of his achievement, he was shocked.
The painting he exhibited in St. Augustine — which he ultimately purchased himself when he realized it was going to sell, and he wasn’t quite ready to lose such a “milestone piece” in his artistic journey — is the same one on display in the Master Artists exhibit. Odd Man Out is a downward view of three apples on a red-and-white checkered cloth. The 9-by-12-inch oil painting took David several sessions to paint. But, of course, the life journey of the piece started long before it was on display in St. Augustine and, once again, in The Mayton.
A similar oil painting was accepted in the 2024 National Juried Salon. David, who sees his life as a journey that shapes and reveals him, says, “My art is an expression of that journey.” He has continued his studies in fine art with internationally acclaimed master art instructors and has had his work published in numerous national publications including Fine Arts Connoisseur and Southwest Art Magazine. David is also a co-founder of Cary’s original Waverly Artists Group and a lifetime member of the FALC.
Yet, despite his many successes, David considers it “an honor, an affirmation” to show in the Master Artists at the Mayton exhibit. Making art is, he explains, often a “solo endeavor. This kind of recognition is the affirmation all artists need to keep going, keep learning. … We all need that affirmation.”
Supporters of both the Fine Arts League of Cary and Cary Visual Art were on hand to celebrate the showcase’s opening.
Public art — and the feedback it provides the sometimes solitary artist — elevates ordinary environments and encourages engagement and dialogue, but The Mayton is no blank canvas. While the introduction of additional art to a thoughtfully designed space could easily prove jarring, the curation of the Masters Artists’ work and the considerate placement among the inn’s established décor enhances what already exists. The mediums are varied, and the themes and messages conveyed are disparate, but the visual language invites dialogue.
On the exhibition’s opening Meet the Artists night on February 28, conversation was centered on the artwork dotting the communal gathering spaces and punctuating the walls between rooms on the second and third floors. Set off by sublime herringbone wooden floors and white walls with black accents were vibrant paired works. These pieces were united on walls in what felt like intentional drivers for discussion between the inn’s 44 rooms and suites.
Indeed, for those present to support the exhibiting artists or simply to admire their work — and, in several cases, to purchase it — conversation centered on that work on the walls. Whether chatting with the artist or simply taking a moment of reflection to consider the piece itself, guests were encouraged to engage with the art and each other.
In this way, like all art made public, the Master Artists at the Mayton exhibit fosters identity and belonging by reflecting the area’s culture and history. Through June 23, individuals are invited to experience and appreciate the artistic expression of others — which contributes to a more vibrant and inclusive Western Wake.
As what Sarah describes as a “regional art leader,” the FALC has several additional initiatives planned for 2025. In addition to the Masters at the Mayton exhibit, Meet the Artist events, the Wake Teen exhibition, and the 30th annual Juried Exhibition, Art Swarm will be buzzing September 3–7. The inaugural event invites studio artists, plein air artists, art instructors, and members of the public to downtown Cary to “join together in making, sharing, and enjoying the visual arts.” There are multiple opportunities to paint, exhibit, or join a workshop in the regional event that celebrates art and art makers.
FALC also looks to “encourage the next level of creative thinkers” with scholarships that Sarah describes as “life-changing,” as the affirmation and financial support provided by a scholarship convinced one recipient’s parents that art was a viable career path. CVA, too, invests in future art makers by offering annual scholarships to college-bound high school seniors who are residents of Cary. These scholarships are “awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional talent and dedication to their art form, as well as a deep commitment to their community” and are yet another way of bringing community art into the community.
There’s a quote that resonates with David about how when we cease to surround ourselves with beauty, we cease to hope. Art, especially art in public, “connects us as humans and gives us hope.”
He shares that he and his wife started buying art after Odd Man Out showed in St. Augustine. Spending his days painting, in the company of the art hanging on his walls, has made what he describes as an “emotional difference” in his life.
Fortunately, thanks to the FALC, CVA, and The Mayton, we are all able to experience that difference for ourselves.
After all, art is too important not to be shared.
fineartsleagueofcary.org/event-details/falc-master-artists-at-the-mayton-exhibit
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