Holly Springs, NC --Holly Springs is the home of a unique, locally-owned business that has been providing not only custom framing but has also been an outlet for Wake County artists to showcase their art and sell it on consignment for 30 years.

On Saturday February 20, Judie Howard will celebrate her three decades as owner of The Nature of Art, the business she started as The Gallows on Kildaire Farm Road in Cary on February 1, 1980.

Local residents are invited to a birthday party from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Nature of Art at Sunset Lake Commons at the corner of Holly Springs and Sunset Lake Roads. Several cooks will demonstrate their culinary skills in a birthday cake contest and percussionist Andrew Munger will perform to celebrate the landmark event.

Judie has moved her business three times in 30 years: from Kildaire Plaza in Cary to Waverly Place, and then to Holly Springs in May, 2007 due to scheduled renovations at Waverly Place that caused most of the tenants to relocate. While at Kildaire Plaza she began building a large clientele of decorators and homeowners who continue to rely on her framing skills. Artists ranging from potters to painters also started to depend on her shop as one of the few outlets in Wake County where they can present their creations to the public on a consignment basis.

In her current location at Sunset Lake Commons, Judie worked with the Holly Springs Cultural Center to start an art walk called Art After Dark 2nd Friday. The art walk now includes eight or more local businesses in Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina who showcase local artists. For this event, participating venues host a free open house with refreshments from 6 to 8 p.m. on the second Friday of each month and it has been hailed as an important part of the character and culture of the area.

“I don't know what I would have done without having Judie and her store help me to show, share and sell my art,” said Kathleen Master, a Holly Springs artist. “She is the reason I have my art business now.”

“Judie’s shop has been such an encouragement to me,” said Holly Springs artist Lynne Wogan. “It has meant so much to have a store nearby that has carried my paintings, and given me a chance to get s feedback from the community. It’s so much fun to go by the store and see my latest work in the window.”

Fuquay-Varina artist Rocky Alexander has only discovered the store within the last year and has already been featured as the Artist of the Month and held classes for the public in water based oil colors there.

“The Nature of Art is a delightful, comfortable and relaxed atmosphere in which to give, take and enjoy art classes because you are surrounded by lovely people, soothing music and colorful artwork by many local designers,” Alexander said. “I think the store has a sunny disposition.”

Rocky’s classes are one of more than a dozen art classes ranging from Chinese brush painting to watercolor batik and to oil painting that are offered at the shop on a regular basis.

Apex artist and long-time customer Jeannette Barringer said “I practically live here. It is my home away from home.” Raleigh artist Luz Frye agrees, “It is a place that sparks the imagination.”

Judie’s first shop, The Gallows, was opened right about the time that Artsplosure, was just getting underway. During those early years, she sponsored a public hanging of works by local artists participating in Artsplosure.

“We approached Artsplosure because there was nothing going on related to it in the Cary Area at the time,” she recalled. Now of course Artsplosure has developed into one of Wake County’s premiere festivals for local artists.

“I've always felt like there was so much local talent right here that people may not be aware of or have access to and I wanted to help bring together the artists with people who would enjoy and appreciate their work,” said Judie. “It seemed to tie in so well with my original idea of a frame shop that the whole concept just developed naturally over the years.”