Job Perks: A Cheap Joe's Art Exhibit!

Hello, everyone!

This week, I’d like to talk about something very exciting that’s happening over here: our first company-wide art exhibit in a museum!

The lovely folks over at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum offered us the chance to display some of our employees’ artwork in our own gallery, and of course, we jumped at it!

“The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is a non-profit organization located at 159 Chestnut Street (on the corner of Chestnut and Main streets) in Blowing Rock, Watauga County, North Carolina, a small village nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Its mission is to promote visual arts and history and to celebrate the rich heritage of the mountains.”

Not only has the museum insured all of our works for whatever price we see fit, but they’ve offered to sell our pieces without taking a commission!  This is incredible exposure for those who would otherwise be unable to sell or even display, their works publicly.

Here are some shots from immediately after everyone’s pieces were in place, courtesy of Edwina May.  (Click to enlarge and take a closer look!)

These two are from Amy Allen, who works in the Distribution Center as a Picker/Packer.

These three are by Jana Smith, who also works in the Distribution Center in Inventory Receiving.

These four are from our Workshop Coordinator, Edwina May.

These four are by Byron Cook, our Webmaster who runs the entire Cheap Joe’s website.

These three are by Cathy Cranford Futral, local art instructor, and friend of Cheap Joe’s.

The three on the left in this photo are by Web Alexander, the Call Center Supervisor, and his daughter, Katie, provided the three on the right–the artistic apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!

These three are from our Contract Artist/Customer Service Expert, Julie Thompson Davis.

These six are from Robert Gragg’s (one of our IT specialists) grandchildren, Ezra, Josiah, and Emma.

The bottom four are by the Assistant Manager of our Outlet Store, Amanda Chapman, and the piece at the top right is by one of our Customer Service Representatives, Taylor Simmons.

This one is from another Customer Service Representative, Michelle Dineen.

These two are from Erin Guffey, one of our Graphic Designers who works on the catalog and flyers.

These five are by Jessica Pressley, one of our Retail Associates in the Outlet Store.

These three are by Tippy Kleinman, another Retail Associate in the Outlet Store.

These three are from Alicia Orlando, another integral member of our Distribution Center.

This sculpture and the two pieces beneath it are by Derrick Fowler, another Customer Service Representative in the Call Center.

These five are by another Retail Associate, Nicole McBride.

And last, but certainly not least, these five are from our very own Cheap Joe himself!

Here are some views of the gallery as a whole:

It’s extremely important to maintain artisan culture, especially in your local community, and this was such a wonderful opportunity in which to participate.

There will be a reception on July 23rd from 6-8 pm, and I urge any and all of you locals reading this to come out and join us for this special event!