No Boundaries Colony Brings Local Artists Together on Bald Head Island
The quality of the light on Bald Head Island, particularly brilliant in the fall, is just one draw for artists from around the world who come to participate in the No Boundaries art colony.
Held each November, No Boundaries is a non-profit organization that brings artists to Bald Head Island for two weeks of work, play and friendship-building. Every other year, artists from all over the world come to participate; past years have seen artists from Macedonia, Iraq, Peru and China, to name just a few. Although this year's event, which took place November 2-16, was limited to local artists, the talent and enthusiasm represented was limitless.
"This place is an artists' paradise," said MJ Cunningham, a mixed-media painter from Wilmington, NC, who participated in No Boundaries for the second year in a row. "Everywhere you look, you see something beautiful. It's incredibly inspiring."
No Boundaries was founded in 1998 by Wilmington artists Dick Roberts, Pam Toll and Gayle Tustin after their participation at Macedonian art colonies convinced them art has the power to break down political and geographical barriers.
The generosity of Kent Mitchell, President of Bald Head Island Limited, has made the colony possible with his donation of the three historic Captain Charlie's Station cottages for the artists to reside in during their stay. In addition to space, Mitchell provides ferry tickets, extra golf carts for on-island transportation, and the use of the vehicle barge to transport finished art work from island to mainland. Donations are valued at more than $10,000.
"The support from Kent Mitchell, as well as the whole community, is so important to this event," said Cunningham. "It's a huge honor to be participating."
The art created at No Boundaries will be hanging at the Shoals Club through December 9th.
