ROCKINGHAM — Local artist Margaret (Peggy) Andersen will be making room for new works of art in her studio in an upcoming gallery sale, and she hopes to spread the word to other artists that more exhibits are in the works for later this year.

Anderson said the county’s once-thriving artist community has fallen by the wayside to some extent and would like to see more open-air art events such as live group paintings in the downtown area. She said she’d like to see Rockingham known as an arts community.

The Pee Dee Arts Club, now known as the Pee Dee Artist Guild, was formed several years ago by Andersen and other core members — May McCallum, Diane Lewis and Pat Halligan. Andersen said the next big exhibit will be organized in September for a hanging from Oct. 1 through Thanksgiving weekend, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, whose chairman is Judy McIntyre.

“I’m on the steering committee for the Friends of the Library, and we’ve done three major art shows this year,” Andersen said. “And we have some famous alumni from our group. Jeanine Hough, who lives in Aspen, Colorado now, has been tremendously successful. Her paintings now sell for $20,000 and up. Then there’s Rosa Ellerbe, who now lives in Texas.”

But Andersen said the most important thing about the Pee Dee Artist Guild is that it is open to any and all artists regardless of medium, and that when they have exhibits in the public libraries and other venues, participation is completely free for the artists.

“We don’t charge hanging fees or any fees at all to the artists,” she said. “And when we host an exhibit, if anyone is interested in buying an artist’s painting, that transaction is between the buyer and the artist. We give interested buyers a gallery sheet with contact information for the artists so they can contact them.”

Andersen is remodeling her studio and must make room for the renovations. She invites art lovers to come and choose from a large variety of subjects and sizes of framed and unframed oil paintings.

To learn more about the Pee Dee Artist Guild, visit the group’s Facebook page at https://goo.gl/53tv2N.

Reach reporter Melonie McLaurin at 910-817-2673 and follow her on Twitter@meloniemclaurin.

Melonie McLaurin | Daily Journal Local artist and core member of the Pee Dee Artist Guild Margaret (Peggy) Andersen will have a gallery sale from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 at 632 Anson Avenue in Richmond Park. Andersen is remodeling her gallery and no longer has room for all her paintings.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_StudioSale.jpgMelonie McLaurin | Daily Journal Local artist and core member of the Pee Dee Artist Guild Margaret (Peggy) Andersen will have a gallery sale from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 at 632 Anson Avenue in Richmond Park. Andersen is remodeling her gallery and no longer has room for all her paintings.

By Melonie McLaurin

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