Events
Crafts Center events bring together the NC State community and public for fun, socializing and artistic enrichment. All events and exhibitions take place at the Crafts Center unless otherwise noted.
Supported by NCSU Foundation
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Colors of the Nile:
The Nile Project Mural
Reception and unveiling of The Nile Project Mural by Dare Coulter with special musical guest, ETHEL:
Friday, April 21, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Colors of the Nile is an interactive mural project sponsored by the Crafts Center and The Nile Project at NC State Live! as part of a series of programs/events in collaboration with The Nile Project residency on campus this spring. The mural was designed by local artist and recent College of Design graduate Dare Coulter. The mural is the culmination of weeks of work between Ms. Coulter, NC State students, and community members. The result is an extraordinary 36′ x 7′ mural comprised of 9 wood panels. Colors of the Nile celebrates this river as a gift of life giving water to all the countries of the Nile River basin and promotes a spirit of cooperation among nations in the sharing and sustainability of the water. 
To celebrate the unveiling of this ambitious mural, indie-classical quartet ETHEL will interpret the work through live music. Described as “vital and brilliant” by The New Yorker, ETHEL seeks to break down barriers in the arts, engaging with diverse communities and working across genres. ETHEL’s Documerica, a multimedia concert inspired by EPA photographs of America, will be presented by NC State LIVE on Saturday, April 22 in Stewart Theatre. After the Colors of the Nile reveal on April 21 the mural will remain on exhibition through the summer in the Crafts Center.
Welcome Reception
for Carol Nix
Monday, March 20, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at the Crafts Center
Come meet our new Crafts Center Director, Carol Nix, and join us in welcoming her to our team.
Carol Fountain Nix, the new Director of the Crafts Center, officially joined us on March 1st. Welcome, Carol!
A practicing artist and creator, Carol Fountain Nix produces artwork that combines mixed media with lettering and abstract marks on canvas and on paper. She is a certified calligraphy/lettering instructor and conducts typography and lettering sessions internationally. Recent guest residencies include being a featured instructor at the International Adobe Max 2014 conference and at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California.
Carol’s career has encompassed many areas of graphic, interactive media and product design. Carol started an award-winning interactive media and brand/marketing firm, NIXdesign, in 1992. The company was consistently ranked as one of the Triangle Business Journal’s Top 25 Design Firms with work published in PRINT magazine’s Digital Design edition, AIGA annuals, The American Center for Design [ACD] annual and Communication Arts magazine. Carol has received many design awards including the American Center for Design’s 100 Show, AIGA national awards, and national awards from the American Advertising Federation [ADDY] and recently, Hermes Platinum Awards for Publication Design.
Carol taught courses in user experience design and interactive media at Elon University and, beginning in 2011, Carol served as an Associate Professor of the Practice at NC State’s College of Design where she taught graduate level courses in “The Business of Design” and UX Design. She subsequently took on the role of Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations where she led the branding effort and created the College of Design’s marketing plan and brand platform.
Carol also owns FountainArts®, an e-commerce company she incorporated in 2011, where she designs wine-related products for wine/gourmet retailers and direct consumers. Carol owns several patents and trademarks for her products ranging from serving ware to premium leather goods at www.fountainarts.com.
Carol earned her B.A. degree in English Journalism with minors in Art and Corporate Communications from Elon University, and her M.A. in Product/Graphic Design from NC State University’s College of Design.
Woodturning Demonstration by Nick Agar
Thursday, February 9, at 6:00 p.m.
British artist Nick Agar will demonstrate his famous Viking Sunset bowl at the NC State Crafts Center courtesy of the Woodturners Guild of North Carolina.
The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the center’s woodshop and will be open to the NC State students and the general public.
Nick has become one of the most sought after instructors on the world woodturning stage. He is one of the most creative makers in the field and has an unsurpassed understanding of the many processes that are now used in this creative medium.
Specializing in surface enhancement and renowned for his wall sculptures, Nick’s award winning work often incorporates carving , airbrushing , ceramic and metal effects. Nick, with more than 25 years’ experience, has inspired many woodturners with his work and has traveled across the world to demonstrate his skills. Nick is a popular demonstrator /teacher on the Woodturning Cruise.
Inspired by organic forms, pottery, sea life ,ancient cultures and his natural surroundings at his riverside studio, he specializes in hollow forms, large diameter work, and surface enhancement.
He is renowned for his wall sculptures in particular. His award-winning work often incorporates carving, weaving and metalwork. He is co-author of the book "woodturning evolution” an elected member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, and a Registered Professional Turner.
A member of the AWGB and AAW, Nick has a wide range of clients including HRH Prince of Wales, Dukes, Duchesses and the Royal Jewelers, Aspreys. He and his work have also featured on BBC and ITV lifestyle television program. Here is a document detailing some of his his process for the Viking Sunset bowl.
Art at the Atomic Scale
Wednesday, February 15, at 6:00 p.m.
Join us for this free talk by Professor James M. LeBeau presented in conjunction with our exhibition Art at the Atomic Scale».
Ideation in Wood
Thursday, February 23, at 7:30 p.m.
Woodworking has come a long way since the days when budding crafters were driven predominantly by historical style and joinery techniques. No longer are they confined to a traditional narrative. Instead, digitization, along with the spontaneity of ideation fed by Google, Pinterest, and other social media, has played a new role in how we create. Join us for a special presentation on this subject led by Dr. Russell Flinchum of NC State College of Design. This discussion is sponsored by the Triangle Woodworkers Association.