The Iredell Arts Council will celebrate gratitude with two events at the Old Jail in Statesville this week. The community exhibit, The Art of Gratitude, will open on Wednesday, November 4, followed by SEASONS CHANGE: Spoken Word + Poetry featuring Charlotte-area poet Elaine Hill on Thursday, November 5.
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The Art of Gratitude is part of the IAC’s 2026 Artist Series, created in partnership with the Center for Creative Theology. This exhibit is the result of an open call that invited poets, musicians, and visual artists to share their expressions of gratitude, resulting in around 30 submissions, one of the strongest responses the Arts Council has received.
The exhibit will showcase a variety of art forms, including mosaic, painting, pastel, photography, ink, glass, and clay, alongside original poetry. Artists involved include Regina Calton Burchett, Ginger Eklund, Jinna Kim, Ginnifer Scott, and Taryn Scott, among others. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. on November 4, with poet and host Derick Lee leading a set of readings from featured poets around 5:45 p.m.
SEASONS CHANGE: Spoken Word + Poetry will conclude the season with an evening focused on storytelling and gratitude. The event, hosted by Derick Lee, will include performances from regional artists and writers, including poets from The Art of Gratitude open call. Elaine Hill, a noted poet and educator based in Charlotte, will be a featured performer. Her work often addresses themes of emotional awareness, mental health, and women's experiences, and she has previously participated in the IAC's Spoken Word Spotlight series. This event will begin at 7:30 p.m. on November 5.
The Iredell Arts Council is located at 203 S. Meeting Street in Statesville. The organization aims to provide a hub for the arts in Iredell County and is dedicated to making the arts accessible to its diverse community. More information can be found at iredellartscouncil.com or by following @IredellArtsCouncil on Instagram.