Open house brings holiday season to downtown

Credit: By Chyna Broadnax

Steve Baldwin and Etta Inman look through a collection of Baldwin’s handmade scarves at the open house.

By: Chyna Broadnax | Mooresville Tribune
Published: November 09, 2009

For the last 15 years, Gloria Hager has helped kick off the holiday season in Statesville.

This year was no exception, as Hager held her annual Open House at GG's Art, Frames, Gifts in downtown on Sunday afternoon.

During the four-hour event, customers had the opportunity to browse through the store — which sells items by local artists and authors — and purchase Christmas gifts for friends and family.

Hager has been offering this event for 15 years.

"Somehow along the way it became a tradition ... a nice downtown tradition," she said.

Hager said the open house makes it feel like Christmas is coming.

"It gets people in the mood for the holiday season," she said

The event featured artists and artisans, including silversmith/ goldsmith Gaines Kiker; Statesville Fire Chief David Bullins; author Sheba Harris; potter Melissa Bentley; potter Robin F. McGuirt; folk artists Tim and Lisa Kluttz; and artist Michael Joe Moore.

As people shopped and chatted, holiday music was being performed by Brenda Wallace, JP Van Hoy and Clay Lunsford.

Customer Etta Inman purchased several handmade scarves by Steve Baldwin.

Inman is a frequent attendee of Hager's holiday open houses.

"This is one of the greatest holiday events Statesville does," she said. "I always come to buy presents."

Inman said she loves coming to the store because "there's something for everybody in here."

For artist Michael Joe Moore, who has original watercolors of Statesville landmarks on display, this is his third year being part of the event.

"This is one of the bright spots of the year," he said.

Moore has been painting for 40 years and some of his watercolor pieces include paintings of Mitchell Community College, the old city hall, a snow covered downtown and the Playhouse Theater.

Author Sheba Harris made the 30-minute trip from Jonesville to participate for the first time in the celebration.

"I love it; it's exciting," she said. "This is a very unique store."

Harris signed copies of her books. One of her featured books was "Life Lessons from Behind the Razor Wire," which is about the

10 years she spent as a prison nurse.