This Friday is 2nd Friday! and for the historic area of downtown Cornelius, that means a celebration of arts and community. Every 2nd Friday of the month, the Oak Street Mill transforms into a bustling hub of activity with artists, performers, musicians, food and local craft beer. 2nd Friday! is unique evening of creative expression and community like no other.
Organized by Cornelius Cultural Arts Group and hosted by Bella Love Inc., this monthly art crawl features some of the area’s most talented and innovative artisans, live performances, food trucks, local craft beer, and much more.
Join us on Friday, October 10th from 6pm – 10pm at Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St 28031 (behind the police station on Catawba Ave). Something for everyone at 2nd Friday! Bring your family, friends, neighbors and pets. 
Food Trucks:
- Amazing Pizza Co.
- The Plated Palette
- Juan Taco Truck
- Yappy Hour Bakery (bring your dog!)
And talented local artisans:
Althea’s Brokendown Palace, Adabahdye, 1up Glass, Natural Stone Jewelry, Mo’s Arts Crafts & More, Prana Love, Maddy’s Fatty’s, Vikkie’s Workshop, Kate Lacey, Cotton Queen Cotton Candy, Good Measure Baked Goods, Eartesan.com, Natural Art by Shamrock, Byar Birdhouses, Uncle Louie G’s Ice Cream, Carolyn Lowery and Nella Naturals.
ART RECEPTION AT BRICK ROW
Friday, Brick Row Gallery will also open the series, “Together Alone” by Derek Van Wickle. Van Wickle’s journey as an artist arrived in Charlotte just over a year ago. Group tours will leave from Oak Street Mill to Brick row Gallery twice an hour to view Van Wickle’s work. Old Town Public House will sponsor a special beer tasting at Brick Row.
Bella Love: Growing up, did you always know you would become a painter?
Van Wickle: I guess I grew up liking to draw, painting came a bit later. By high school my future path started to gel. I went to Savannah College of Art & Design then transferred to University of Georgia where I got a BFA in Painting.
BL: And after college?
Van Wickle: After college I moved to LA where I spent a stint writing songs. While out there I spent some of my advance money on art supplies and began working on series of paintings about Sherman’s March to the Sea. Moving back to Atlanta, they eventually turned into 20 really large paintings. Though galleries weren’t interested some people heard about what I was working on and the entire series were exhibited in two museums.
BL: And that was what solidified your identity as an artist?
Van Wickle: I taught art to kids and painted several murals. After that I worked for Publix Supermarkets building elaborate sales displays (customers used to steal them all the time) while sleeping in fire stations as research for some paintings about firefighting. I was always a bit out of step with the abstract expressionist type of work galleries were displaying, but friends would throw cocktail parties showing several new paintings and people liked and bought them.
“The Commute Home” by Derek Van Wickle
BL: Selling work at cocktail parties, an unconventional way to reach a market…
Van Wickle: Yes, even more unconventional was when I moved to Chicago in 2002, where I painted at nights and weekends. A local bar ( a converted five and dime store), had two large display windows and began showing my work, which at that point consisted of a lot of landscapes and tornado scenes. They all sold really well, but when someone was interested the bartenders would give them my phone number and I would get these drunken calls at 2am, “Duuuuude, I love your paintings, I wannna buy one”! I moved to Charlotte last year with my wife and three year old daughter, who regularly joins me in the studio where we swipe each others best ideas.
Information: brickrowgallery@bellalove.com or call (704) 765-1794
