Davidson residents Scott Galloway and Susan Montague are in the spotlights this month at the Cornelius Arts Center, in the Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius. Ms. Montague’s work is on display in the arts center lobby. And Mr. Galloway will give a talk there Feb. 26 about the film he co-directed, “A Man Named Pearl.” And Pearl Fryar, the film’s subject, will be honored at a reception this afternoon (Wednesday, Feb. 20) at Cornelius Town Hall.

LARGE SCALE ART

Painting by Susan Montague at Cornelius Arts Center.

Ms. Montague, an abstract painter for 30 years, has several large pieces on display in the lobby of the Cornelius Arts Center. The center houses both the Creative Art Exchange and The Children’s Arts Project, a non-profit organization that Ms. Montague has worked with for 10 years. She also teaches art at a YMCA after-school program at the Lake Norman YMCA.

“I’ve always had a fascination with looking at things in a different way,” she says. “A lot of my childhood was spent hanging upside down imagining the world. I approach my art the same way, looking at it from all angles, imagining the composition upside down and sideways.”

Ms. Montague, who holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, says of her approach: “I like to work on large canvases that are flat on the floor so I can move around them to get different views. I tilt the works to manipulate the wet paint, creating drips and puddles. I also use brushes, knives and other tools to apply paint, adding and subtracting until I’m satisfied the work is complete.”

She has been involved with preschool education since 1994, when her son Max entered school in Chicago. “As a volunteer I found my second calling, working with children,” she recalls. “I find I’m always amazed and inspired by children’s art.”

Ms. Montague teaches preschool art classes for The Children’s Arts Project, and finds herself frequently endorsing its philosophy: Art for little ones is all about the process of doing, not about making products to take home. She and her co-teachers offer stations for printing, painting, drawing, collage and construction at each class, for children as young as 18 months.

Ms. Montague, who grew up in Madison, Wis., paints on a commission basis. She has lived in Davidson since 1996 with her husband Rob Sommer, and their two sons, Max and Quinn.

For more information on preschool art, other elementary-age classes and summer camps at The Children’s Arts Project, go to www.childrensartsproject.org or call 704-896-8823.

GALLOWAY FILM

Davidson resident Scott Galloway, co-director of the documentary “A Man Named Pearl,” also is being featured by the Creative Art Exchange at a “Meet the Director” reception on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. Mr. Galloway will talk about the movie, and he’ll be joined by film editor Greg Grzeszczak and composer Fred Story, who will share stories about making the documentary. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, with all proceeds benefiting Creative Art Exchange.

Mr. Galloway lives in Davidson with his wife, Monica, and their three children, Beach, Brody and Bella.

The Creative Arts Exchange has teamed up with the the Cornelius Park, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department to offer a variety of activities around the award-winning film. “A Man Named Pearl” features the inspiring story of a self-taught topiary artist, Pearl Fryar of Bishopville, S.C. The public is invited to meet Mr. Fryar today (Wednesday, Feb. 20) at Cornelius Town Hall at 4 p.m. The event is free.

Regal Cinemas at Birkdale Village in Huntersville will show “A Man Named Pearl” Feb. 22-28. Shows are daily at noon,
2:05 p.m., 4:10 p.m., 7:20 p.m., 9:25 p.m.

The arts center is in the historic Oak Mill Village, behind the Cornelius Police Department. For tickets or more information, go to http://www.creativeartexchange.org/.