When Sid Godwin, a former college art professor, moved from Monmouth County NJ, he and his wife, Susan, a former art and child-life therapist, wanted a retirement that had a slower pace of life, great weather and was a short distance to the beach. The great surprise was the wealth of resources and number of active artists here. Sid’s art has been showcased and won numerous awards in most of the galleries here; Susan has rekindled her love of pottery participating in weekly workshops and producing stellar work. Both are thrilled to be part of such an active, dynamic art community.

One of the little known facts outside of our Southport-Oak Island-St James, NC area is that we have an active art community. The multiple galleries: Franklin Gallery, (www.FranklinSquareGallery.com); The Ricky Evans Gallery, (www.RickyEvansGallery.com) and the St James Artisan Gallery (www.StJamesArtisans.com) promote local artists’ work and there is plenty to see and appreciate. You can be a patron of local artists by purchasing any of their works shown at these galleries.