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About the Artist
"Cotton" Ketchie’s Landmark Galleries is home to nationally
known watercolorist and Mooresville native, "Cotton" Ketchie. From the
beginning, "Cotton" chose Landmark Galleries as the name for his gallery.
"I feel an obligation to preserve our landmarks and our heritage through my
paintings" he explains. His works include lighthouses of North Carolina and
Maine, scenes from the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Mountains of NC,
local and state landmarks, as well as, beautiful florals.
"Cotton" and his wife, Vickie, invite you to visit Landmark Galleries. Let
his paintings take you back to places you have traveled and inspire you to explore the
unending beauty of our world. Listen as "Cotton" makes his works come alive
as he shares his stories with you. Preserving our heritage today is his passion and
will surely someday be his legacy.
"Cotton began his career as an artist 25 years ago. At that time, he was a
menswear buyer for Belk Department Store. During sales meetings, he would sketch on
his sales books and co-workers would take the covers and have them framed. During this
time he was also sketching original pencil drawings of friend’s homeplaces to supplement
his income…the growing demand for his work soon launched his career. Today
"Cotton" Ketchie’s works can be found in collections throughout Europe, Asia,
the United States, and Canada including the private collections of the former Governor
of North Carolina, Jim Martin and the former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles.
"Cotton" was selected as the featured artist for the 2004 North
Carolina Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
The Mooresville-Lake Norman Exchange Club has established a "Cotton"
Ketchie Arts Festival in 2004 to honor him for the contribution that he has
made to the arts and to recognize other artisans and their works. The Exchange Club
is a civic organization that is working to make America a better place to live through
programs in four areas of service: Americanism, Youth, Community Service and Child
Abuse Prevention. The proceeds from the "Cotton" Ketchie Arts
Festival help fund the SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) Center of Iredell County.
"Cotton" is a member of the Board of Directors of the Child Abuse Prevention
Center of Iredell County and a District Director for the NC District Exchange Club.
He also serves on the local Wachovia Bank Board of Directors and is an active Rotarian
and a Paul Harris Fellow.
In addition to "Cotton’s original watercolors, visitors to his gallery can find
hand-carved decoys, NC made pottery, and a complete framing service. "Cotton’s"
works are available in limited edition prints, giclée and decorator editions, greeting
cards, puzzles, music boxes, tiles, and most recently on outdoor furniture by Riverwood
Casuals. Screensavers, featuring "Cotton’s" photography are also available.
On almost any day, a visitor to Landmark Galleries will find "Cotton" working
on an original watercolor or giving guided tour of his upstairs museum that houses his
collections of hand-carved decoys, model boats, lighthouse models, and North Carolina
pottery that features pieces dating back to the 1800’s.
"Cotton" Ketchie’s Landmark Galleries is located at 212 North
Main Street in downtown Mooresville, NC.
The hours of operations are Monday-Saturday from 9:00am-5:00pm…Sundays and evenings are by
appointment. For more information visit our gallery
or sign up for our e-newsletter.
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