SILER CITY — An event planned for the evening of April 13 will celebrate the local arts scene and, more specifically, the multi-media work of well-known local artist Roger Person, designer of the Chatham Rabbit mural on Second Street downtown.
Saturday’s second annual Person 2 Person Celebration will run from 4 to 8 p.m.
“It’s partially a birthday celebration,” said Person’s wife, Linda, one of five people organizing the weekend event, “and a celebration of art in general.”
Last year’s inaugural Person 2 Person Celebration, which drew a couple of hundred people to downtown, was timed to coincide with the artist’s 80th birthday — there was plenty of cake for everyone — and this year’s event again doubles as a birthday party on the occasion of Person’s 81st birthday.
Linda promises cake again this year, and more.
The more includes a lot of art, a raffle for a chance to take home an original work by Person, studios open for browsing, shopping, food vendors, live music (by Joe’s Cousin) a magician, and the “Step Into It” art show featuring local art inspired by shoes.
“There will be a whole variety of entertainment going on downtown,” said Linda, referring to the event as a “little downtown party.”
Since re-locating to Siler City in the mid-2000’s and establishing two galleries here — Person 2 Person and Wingnut Gallery, which have recently been consolidated into a single shop — Person has been “a fixture in town,” Linda said.
While perhaps best-known for the prominent Chatham Rabbit mural of his design, Person has been plying his craft for more than 30 years, working in a variety of media.
“He does a little bit of everything: painting, sculpture,” Linda said.
And he’s still at it, working, his wife said, a few hours every day.
Originally from California, where he worked in construction and engineering, Person was injured in an accident in 1990 that left him in a wheelchair.
Following the accident, Person began creating art, working with his wife, herself an artist. A friend introduced the couple to Siler City and, impressed by the town and its arts scene, the Persons moved here and established themselves in the community.
Person’s colorful creations have been a fixture of downtown since.
Visitors are welcome to join the fun Saturday evening. In advance of the event, tickets for the Roger Person art raffle are available at Courtyard Coffee @ Peppercorn.
Peppercorn, where the art show will be held, will also be running a video prepared for the event featuring highlights from Person’s more than 30 years as an artist, including pieces he created years ago that local admirers may not have seen before.